Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd are working with start-ups to reduce packaging. Together with the TechFounders accelerator programme, the corporate groups are supporting start-ups in the field of packaging and plastic reduction. Today, seven founders presented their ideas at a pitch event in Essen.
A total of around 80 start-ups applied to Aldi for funding. Seven start-ups were invited to the pitch event to present their ideas and business models to Aldi. The field of applicants was particularly international this time: the participating start-ups came from Austria, Bulgaria, Germany and the UK. They all had one thing in common: Sustainable product suggestions and environmentally friendly packaging.
Water-soluble sanitary towels and edible cutlery
The two founders of packaging mint a solution for plastic-free Natural cosmetics for self-mixing. The startup Polipop has developed a sanitary towel. This can be disposed of in the toilet as it dissolves in water. And the young company Spoontainable presented a real alternative to disposable plastic forks and spoons with edible cutlery made from renewable raw materials. But also solutions for durable Toothbrushes and edible coffee cups were included.
"Today, the various start-ups have presented concrete solutions for less packaging. We are now analysing our joint feedback and will support the most promising start-ups. One aim is to make the presented Solutions ready for the market so that we can soon offer them to our customers."
Rayk MendeManaging Director Corporate Responsibility & Quality Assurance at Aldi Nord
20-week support programme
At the beginning of the event, the start-up Wisefood from the first funding round from their experience with the programme: Together with the start-ups Cyclic Design and Ogata and TechFounders and mentors from Aldi have been 20-week funding phase developed their products and business models. The result: all start-ups should make it onto the shelves. The sustainable drinking straws from Wisefood are already available in December as Promotional items at Aldi.
The winners of the second pitch event can now also look forward to this support. After the event, Aldi will evaluate the results and select its favourites. The winners will then be decided in mid-December.
"Through the support programme, we offer young start-ups the opportunity to further develop their business model and ideally offer their product to a broad customer base. As a company, we are always on the lookout for innovative products and new ideas. We benefit twice over from the collaboration: we get fresh ideas from outside and at the same time reduce packaging within our range."
Kristina BellGroup Buying Director at Aldi Süd
Start-up solutions for reducing packaging
Under the motto Avoid. Reuse. Recycle. Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd are taking various measures to consistently reduce the amount of waste generated by packaging. As part of the Aldi packaging mission Aldi has set itself the goal of minimising the use of materials in Packaging by 30 per cent by 2025 to reduce the number of employees. In addition 100 per cent of all own-brand product packaging at Aldi to be recyclable by 2022 be. The cooperation with TechFounders is a further step towards achieving these goals.
Source: Aldi
