Sensors that travel smarter: CLCircular brings circular innovation to Rotterdam

When Elisa Alonso moved from Spain to Rotterdam in 2023, she did not simply relocate for work. She became the local face of CLCircular, a family-founded company rethinking how the world monitors cargo. Today, she leads Northern European operations, bringing circular-economy principles into one of the most traditional areas of global trade: container logistics.

From single use to circular sensors

CLCircular was founded in 2020, during the pandemic. The founders, Elisa’s parents, had long worked with sensors but recognised a critical problem: most devices were designed for single use. They were costly to produce, discarded after a single journey and generated unnecessary waste.

CLCircular instead developed a reusable model. Their electronic devices monitor temperature, humidity, shocks, CO₂ levels and even container openings, sending data to the cloud in real time. The key difference lies in the business model. “We rent out the sensors instead of selling them,” Elisa explains. “We recover and reuse them, making them both more sustainable and more affordable.” Each sensor can be used multiple times a year and has a lifespan of up to five years.

Why Rotterdam matters

For CLCircular, the Port of Rotterdam is more than just another point on the map. It is a hub where many of their sensors arrive, travel through and are recovered for reuse. “Rotterdam is one of the biggest receivers of our devices,” Elisa says. “Our customers ship fresh products, vegetables and pharmaceuticals from South America and Africa and much of it enters Europe through the Port of Rotterdam.”

This makes Rotterdam not only commercially strategic, but also an ideal testbed for innovation. CLCircular joined PortXL in 2024, becoming part of the world’s first maritime accelerator based in the city. The programme has helped them connect with local partners, importers, quality-control companies and logistics providers.

Tackling bigger challenges

The company also sees a role in addressing a significant challenge faced by ports worldwide: drug trafficking. “Our sensors can detect when a container door is opened during transport,” Elisa explains. “That information could help customs identify suspicious shipments more efficiently.” CLCircular is exploring collaborations with customs and other port stakeholders to apply its technology for both security and cargo quality.

Innovation through sustainability

For Elisa, the strength of CLCircular lies not only in its hardware, but in the systems that surround it. “Our innovation is the recovery process, the circular model,” she says. “By providing visibility in the supply chain at a lower cost, we help companies reduce cargo waste and cut emissions.”

As the European Union tightens regulations on real-time monitoring and supply-chain transparency, demand for such solutions is increasing. CLCircular is already preparing for further international expansion but sees Rotterdam as its launchpad. “This port is not only one of the largest in the world, it is also open to new ideas. If you want to prove something works in logistics, you start here,” Elisa concludes.

Interested in connecting?

CLCircular may be a young company, but its circular approach to cargo monitoring is already making waves in Rotterdam’s port community. Elisa and her team are keen to exchange ideas and explore opportunities with partners across the supply chain.

Elisa Alonso - Northern Europe Lead
Email: elisa.alonso@clcircular.com

www.clcircular.com