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Fixing the economics of tech recycling using robots with Rob Lawson-Shanks, CEO and Co-founder of Molg

02 July 2026 32:03 BCG

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About this episode

For years the pattern in consumer electronics has been ‘use, update, discard.’ And ready access to Asian manufacturing meant there was little incentive for companies to even try recovering scrapped components. But now, as governments wake up to the scale of the global e-waste problem, and geopolitical instability threatens vital supply chains, the tech industry is recognizing the need to do things differently.

Enter Rob Lawson-Shanks, the CEO and Co-founder of Molg, a company using robotics and automation to make tech recycling economically viable. Headquartered in northern Virginia’s so-called ‘Data Center Alley’, Rob and his team have become an indispensable tool for hyperscalers looking to squeeze as much life as possible out of their (increasingly) expensive server assets.

So why has it historically been such a struggle to make tech recycling work at scale? How does Molg’s circular manufacturing platform change that calculus? And will they be able to branch out from data centers to the broader consumer tech industry?

Let’s find out.

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To learn more about Molg, you can check them out at: https://www.molg.ai/

If you have any feedback on today's episode, shoot us an email at [email protected]

For more information on BCG’s commitment to sustainable investing, and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/sustainability-in-private-equity

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