ALDI is working with young founders to reduce packaging waste. Yesterday, seven start-ups presented their ideas for innovative packaging solutions at a pitch event in Mülheim. From the seven start-ups, ALDI SOUTH and ALDI North will now select two to three start-ups to be included in the 20-week funding programme of the TechFounders accelerator.
In January 2019, the ALDI North Group and ALDI SOUTH Group announced their partnership with the TechFounders accelerator programme. The aim of the programme is to work with start-ups to develop sustainable solutions and innovations in the areas of packaging and Plastic reduction to promote.
From over 80 applications received, seven selected start-ups have now been given the opportunity to present their ideas at a pitch event in Mühlheim. The young entrepreneurs answered questions from ALDI representatives, who scrutinised the products and business models for applicability and marketability.
From edible straws to intelligent waste separation systems
The start-ups presented very different ideas on how to avoid or reduce packaging: for example, one start-up presented edible straws made from apple fibres as an alternative to plastic or paper straws. But also Intelligent waste separation systems, practical and environmentally friendly Shopping bags or recyclable Packaging for drugstore items that can be easily refilled were part of the pitches.
„We heard many inspiring presentations today - the variety of topics covered and the ingenuity of the start-ups were impressive. The final selection of candidates for our funding programme will therefore not be easy.“
Rayk Mende, Managing Director Corporate Responsibility & Quality Assurance at ALDI North„We are on the road to less packaging as part of our ALDI packaging mission We are also dependent on the impetus provided by young founders. Today, the start-ups have shown us many ways in which packaging can be reduced or made more sustainable. We are therefore very much looking forward to the upcoming funding programme and further collaboration with the winning founders.“
Kristina Bell, Group Buying Director Quality Assurance & Corporate Responsibility
Mentoring and comprehensive support
In the next step, two to three start-ups will now be selected for a 20-week support programme selected. This gives them the opportunity to further develop their business model. In addition to comprehensive coaching on various topics such as the business case, HR, sales & marketing and legal issues, ALDI acts as a mentor to the start-ups.
The programme is part of the ALDI Packaging Mission, with which the discounters are raising awareness of the topic of packaging. three levels of the waste hierarchy approach: Avoid, reuse and recycle. Among other things, the aim is to reduce the total weight of all own-brand packaging - relative to sales - by 30 per cent by 2025. Furthermore, by 2022 100 per cent of private label packaging is recyclable be.
Video of the event
(Source: ALDI/ots)
