The overarching mission is to get to zero waste of critical raw materials. “We’re quite aware of [the broader challenges entailed in decarbonizing in a sustainable way],” Milicevic Neumann told TechCrunch. “So we want also to focus on recycling of some other materials in the future as well.”

But if it wants to achieve real impact, wouldn’t Tozero have to license its trade secrets to others? The pair say they haven’t fully decided their approach, but prefer to retain control over the process as they scale — though they are open to partnerships.