We all have seen the images of our oceans slowly turning into a plastic soup, of beaches covered with packaging and of microplastics endangering the lives of of all kinds of sea creatures. The sustainable packaging developed by the German startup Superseven might be a way to reduce the current amount of plastic waste that harms our environment. With their brand Repaq, the startup has invented packaging solutions consisting of cellulose which come with similar features as plastics but are also 100% biodegradable within 42 days. For comparison a conventional plastic bag can take up to 500 years to be completely disaggregated. With their packaging alternative, Superseven made it to the six nominees of the Green Alley Award 2018, Europe’s first startup prize for the circular economy. Read here how their idea can solve the problem of microplastics and why every producer should switch their packaging to Repaq.
Packaging based on cellulose is not a new idea. What is your USP? What can you do better than established packaging producers in the market?
Cellulose in origin was applicable for just a few types of packaging. We all know the small glued bags for cookies and pralines. Our USP is, that we make cellulose usable for a lot more products and applications. We design it to make it work for the circular economy. First, we are the only company in Europe, that has received the certificate “home- and garden compostable” for our fully 4C printed packaging out of cellulose film by the German TÜV / DinCertco. This is the highest ecological standard worldwide. Second, we developed and patented a new type of hot seal geometry for improving the packaging mechanical strength. Hence, we can pack bigger and heavier products. Third, we combine cellulose film with other compostable materials into compounds. In this way we are able to provide fully home compostable laminates with unique barrier values and mechanical properties. Moreover, we communicate the benefits of our compostable packaging (www.repaq.de) and other recyclable products to business partners and to consumers in a very simply and clear way (www.superseven.eu) and inform about all topics around the circular economy on our blog (www.verycompostable.com). There we promote our customers products with editorial success stories and advertising images.
How can Repaq contribute to solving the problem of microplastics in the environment?
It does not matter where Repaq will end up after its useful life, it has more ecological benefits than any other packaging material. It is non-toxic and does not harm the environment. Even if it flies around onshore or offshore, Repaq will never be microplastics. Every bioactive environment and organism is able to assimilate it. Repaq biodegrades in nature within 42 days. Every mineral oil based indestructable packaging changed into Repaq is a valuable contribution to reduce the amount of microplastics. It is one of many other necessary measures to solve our plastic problem.
Who are your (potential) customers and why should they switch their packaging to Repaq?
Repaq is suitable for a lot of products that need to be protected. The restriction is in the size and the weight of the product, but not in the application. We can provide flexible packaging for nearly every market. Our potential customers sell high quality products and obviously feel the need to have a good packaging that fits their purposes. In the awareness of their common sense, these producers will be an active part of a change. The facts and the story about Repaq products will make a switch very easy. There are many ecological, economical and marketing arguments to turn into good. At the end your product makes the difference in a purchase decision.
About Green Alley Award
The Green Alley Award is the first award for start-ups and entrepreneurs in the circular economy. Its mission is to turn the linear into a circular economy and transform the waste and recycling industry as we know it today. The annual European prize was created in 2014 by Landbell Group, the leading supplier of global environmental services, along with Germany’s crowdfunding pioneer, Seedmatch. Over time, more partners have joined – Bethnal Green Ventures, a UK accelerator programme for startups using tech for good, and R2Pi, an EU Horizon 2020 project on circular economy business models.
For more information: www.green-alley-award.com
Foto Lutz Roeßler – LN Existenzgründerpreis 2018
