Logo CU Mehrweg (Copyright: CU Mehrweg)
26
Oct
current, Projects

CU Mehrweg

Posted on by Katharina Heilmaier
Growth Capital for CU Mehrweg

Deposit-based reuse system for FMCG packaging

Societal Challenge

Einwegverpackungen werden für Lebensmittelmarken zum Kosten- und Compliance-Risiko. Ab 2030 verbietet die EU-Verpackungsverordnung (PPWR) schlecht recycelbare Verpackungen: Rund 80 % der Verpackungen müssen neu gestaltet werden, und 2030 fehlen voraussichtlich 3,5 Mio. Tonnen Recyclingmaterial, das die Vorgaben erfüllt. Zugleich senkt Mehrweg im großen Maßstab und bei guter Umsetzung Treibhausgasemissionen, Materialeinsatz und Wasserverbrauch.

Solution

CU Mehrweg brings the bottle deposit system to food on supermarket shelves. Brands such as Seeberger, Haribo and Müller’s Mühle fill their products into reusable containers, the CUps. Consumers return them at the deposit machine, like bottles, and CU manages the entire cycle as “packaging-as-a-service”. The system is independent: because the CUps have a uniform shape, they can be reused across brands and retailers. In pilots with REWE and EDEKA, it is already in use.
Gründerteam CU (Copyright: CU Mehrweg)

The Team Behind CU Mehrweg

CU Mehrweg was founded by Tatiana Tsarkova (CEO), Jonathan Schröder (CPO) and Mette-Maria Meyer (COO). Together, they want to establish reuse for food across Europe, supported by Dr. Kurt Jäger, former Managing Director of Euro Pool System. He sums up the idea: “For reuse to work in FMCG, the system must be independent and shared across all retailers and manufacturers.”

Curious? Get in touch with Tom Josczok for more information about the investment opportunity.