Recup operates a reusable packaging system for the out-of-home market, which according to company information includes around 21,000 gastronomy locations in Germany. Since its founding in 2016, the Munich startup has pursued the vision of creating a circular ecosystem to avoid single-use packaging. The Hanover-based startup Crafting Future, in turn, has made a name for itself as a developer and producer of demonstrably sustainable reusable containers. This also includes the Rebowls introduced by Recup in 2020. With them, the Munich-based company expanded its business from coffee-to-go into the food sector.
With the merger that has now taken place, the two companies are pooling their respective expertise. In a reusable packaging market changed by mandatory reusable packaging offerings, packaging taxes, and new regulations in the European Packaging Regulation (PPWR), they aim to offer the best solution and establish a “standard for reusable packaging”.
Recup wants to be the “pioneer of reusable packaging”
“We want to continue to be pioneers and trailblazers of reusable packaging and show that the future on the market belongs to thinking in ecological and closed-loop cycles and strong partnerships”,
says Recup founder Fabian Eckert about the merger.
“We know that the problem of ‘single-use packaging’ cannot be solved alone, and we are delighted to further expand our already existing partnership, to jointly serve the entire reusable packaging value chain, and thus make reusable packaging the standard in the long term”,
adds Can Lewandowski, one of the founders of Crafting Future.
Recup successfully raised 12 million euros from investors last year. In addition to the former shareholder Müller Medien, the Blueworld Group, Summiteer, and GLS Bank participated in the round. The companies have not disclosed further details about the acquisition. However, Crafting Future appears to remain as an independent brand in order to continue placing its white-label solutions on the market.
