Axia Selected as NextCyle Michigan Team
for 2025 Recycling Project Accelerator (Supply Chain Track)

February 4, 2025

MIDLAND, MI – The Axia Institute has been selected to participate in the NextCycle Michigan project accelerator program designed to help improve sustainable materials management in the state. The Axia Institute’s “ReX Your RX” team led by Dr. Bahar Aliakbarian, has proposed establishing a robust circular economy for the collection and reuse of single-use pharmaceutical pill bottles to contribute to the development of Michigan’s recycling, composting, and reuse of materials. As a part of the program, they will receive assistance to grow, find funds, and implement their plans, ultimately helping the state towards its 45% waste diversion goal by 2030 and building a robust circular economy.

NextCycle Michigan is an initiative of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), facilitated by Resource Recycling Systems Inc. (RRS), the Michigan Recycling Coalition, and Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University. It is designed to connect entrepreneurs, companies, organizations, and communities to technical support, financial resources, and capacity building for recycling, recovery and reuse projects.

“Not surprisingly, the orange pill bottles used for prescriptions are a significant source of waste,” said John Hatfield, executive director of The Axia Institute. “Our plan is to go beyond saving single-use pill bottles from a landfill as our innovation is intended to launch and create a circular economy for prescription pill bottles for their recovery, repair/sanitization, and reuse.”

The Axia Institute proposes building a robust circular economy by reusing prescription pill bottles that have been collected, thoroughly sanitized, and repaired if needed. In the United States, 194 billion plastic pill bottles are used each year, with about 90 percent going to landfills. To create a circular economy, Axia will develop innovative, dual-purpose software for pharmacies and patients. Pharmacies will use the software to request pickup, sanitization, and reordering of empty bottles at a lower cost than buying new ones. Patients and community members will use an engaging smart app to learn the importance of recycling, best practices for bottle drop-off and incentives to promote participation.

The program helps participants develop investment-attractive and implementation-ready project plans. Axia will be able to advance its recycling endeavors through:

• • No-cost consulting support provided by NextCycle Coaches and subject matter experts.
  • Attending a multi-day workshop and planning-focused accelerator camp for targeted support, training sessions, and networking
  • Participation in a Pitch Showcase where they will present to potential funders, investors, partners, and community leaders.

Past teams have benefited from state funding and private investment after participating in NextCycle Michigan.  Since 2018, it is estimated that $680 million has been invested in growing Michigan’s circular economy.

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ABOUT THE AXIA INSTITUTE
As a premier value chain innovation center, The Axia Institute^® is dedicated to improving Healthcare, Food & Agriculture and Advanced Manufacturing value chains through industry collaboration, applied research and education. Established by Michigan State University in 2013 in Midland, Mich., The Axia Institute and its Axia Lab are part of MSU’s Office of Research and Innovation.

More than 30 companies are member partners who align with three industry-specific consortia groups to collaborate and solve grand challenges that would be difficult to resolve alone. Developing sustainable and revolutionary solutions is driven by our expertise in value chain digitization, value chain optimization, traceability, circular economy, packaging design, fundamental R&D, and talent development.

For more information, see axia.msu.edu.