Wanted: a new and more recyclable packaging for dairy products and other carton drinks

Coöperatieve Inkoop Vereniging Superunie B.A. is a Dutch wholesale purchasing cooperative among 12 supermarket chains. In total Superunie supplies about 1500+ stores. Superunie has a Dutch marketshare of about 30%. More about Superunie

Innovation Need; A new and more recyclable packaging for our dairy packaging
The packaging of dairy (and other) drink cartons consist of multiple layers (carton, aluminum and plastics). This packaging is difficult to recycle, because of the multiple layers (big packaging companies are producing this kind of packaging and are promoting these at the different suppliers). 

We are looking for a new way of packaging which allows our customers to better recycle. The new packaging has to look like the current packaging, as our consumers are used to this. 

What are we looking for?

• Better recyclable packaging for dairy (and other) drink cartons
• Less layers preferable
• Same look and feel
• Could be used at current filling lines
• No loss of quality of the product
• Recyclable content of materials used 
• In case of using plastics, take into account the Single Used Pastic directive

What are we not looking for?

• Plastic bottles (even if they are recycled)
• No aluminum solutions
• Not without screwcap, so needs to be easy to pour out 
• Solutions which current filling lines could not handle

What we offer? 

• Opportunity to start a collaboration with either Superunie or we put you in contact with our suppliers 
• Solving this problem/challenge will have a huge impact on the environment as well as on the customers in the stores of our members. 

 How does it work?

• Send in a short and concise pitch deck with your solution
• As soon as you have uploaded your pitch, you will receive a confirmation so that you know that we have received your pitch.
• Your pitch is only visible to Superunie
• After the deadline, Superunie will assess all pitches individually and invite the companies with the most interesting / best fitting solutions for 1-on-1 introduction meetings during the BNF Matchmaking Event on April 21st, 2022. 
• If you both see potential in a collaboration, you can make agreements about follow-ups!

Pitch Format

• Send in a short and concise pitch deck of your solution (max 4 pages / 12 slides) with description of the following two parts: 
  • A description of your product or solution
    Give a short description of your product or solution, as detailed and visual as possible. In which phase is the solution?
  • A description of your company & team 
    How and when was your company founded? In which phase are you? How many people? In which market are you active? Also a short description of the (managing) team.
• The pitch deck may be submitted in free form (presentation, slide deck, letter form), but must be uploaded as a PDF file (landscape or portrait A4 - max 30MB). Videos, example websites, etc. can be included as a link.

Timeline

• March 22 at 17.00 CET: Deadline
• March 23 – April 8: Selection period 
• April 8: Announcement & invites for matchmaking event
• April 21: (Online) matchmaking event
• Q2/Q3 2022 onwards: discuss and start collaboration

Terms & conditions

• Participation is open for startups, scale-ups, SMEs, grown-ups, innovators and scientists with an innovative product and/or technology.
• You will remain the owner of your intellectual rights, concept or solution in your pitch, until you agree otherwise.
• We strongly advise you to document everything you share with others and mention that information provided is confidential and intellectual property rights remain with you/ your company until agreed otherwise.
• Be aware of the fact that your pitch (and concepts and ideas in it) will be viewed and be shared with (internal) stakeholders. Keep IP sensitive unique (technical) details out of your pitch, keep it a secret that you can share later.
• Download Terms & Conditions

Questions?

For any questions about our Open Call for Sustainable Food Solutions, reach out to our startup scout Sandra at sandra.einvall@bravenewfood.com.