Smart idea results in a win-win situation
Three years ago, Godsinlösen was just a small idea. Today, the company has 40 employees and premises in Staffanstorp covering 2,000 m2, which is already beginning to feel too small. Operations will soon also be launched in Stockholm, with a resulting opportunity to recruit an additional 20 members of staff during the year.
“One person’s waste is another person’s resource, but there is a need for a link to connect the two. We provide that link”, says CEO and co-founder Christian Jansson.
Working closely with insurance companies
There are several strands to the operations, but what unites them all is a firm foundation in the circular economy. The basic idea is to reuse and to find a purpose for materials that would previously have just been thrown away, while also educating others in how they can make significant savings by reusing products.
“We show them how the model of the circular economy can be transformed into a reality”, says co-founder Patrik Zalewski.
Godsinlösen has developed a close collaboration with the insurance companies. The company collects items that, although damaged, can still be used, but the condition of which prevents them from being sold within the regular retail industry. The products are instead sold at discounted prices in Godsinlösen’s Returhuset store, or in their online stores.
Circular goods management
Godsinlösen also collects everything from bicycles to electronic items from private insurance customers, and gives the products a new lease of life. Among other things, they also reconstruct fully-functioning mobile telephones. Those who send in a faulty mobile generally receive a similar phone in return.
“We have helped the insurance companies to introduce a new procedure: circular goods management. If a policy-holder makes a claim for something, the product must first be sent to us. 23.4 percent independently decide to drop their claim, but the rest do send their items to us”, explains Christian Jansson.
Lower premiums expected
Christian Jansson acknowledges that changing the insurance companies’ procedures was not something that happened overnight, but the result was two-fold.
“We have created a faster process of damage cover while, at the same time, the insurance companies have made significant savings by reducing the amounts paid out unnecessarily. This will ultimately result in lower premiums for insurance customers.”
Source: Sysav
