News & Podcast

Where in Munich can you repair, borrow, or buy secondhand? GoCircular Munich brings together over 200 local options on a digital map.

With “Ocean Move”, the startup The Ocean Package relies on foldable reusable moving boxes made of polypropylene, which according to the company can be used up to 20 times and subsequently 99 percent recycled. Co-founder Philip Mayer aims to establish an alternative to single-use cardboard boxes that integrates into the existing workflows of moving companies without replacing the familiar cardboard box with a bulky hard-shell container.

Single-use cardboard boxes cause costs, waste, and CO2 emissions – and are no longer appropriate for e-commerce. The Ocean Package relies on a closed-loop reusable packaging system for shipping boxes. Founder Joshua Linn explains why the system is radically different and why speed is crucial.

Circular Republic and Knorr-Bremse are calling startups to apply for the Circular Technology Award. Prize money, proof-of-concept projects, and strong industry partners await.

The goal is to expand specialized logistics and take-back solutions for lithium-ion batteries across Europe in the growing battery recycling market.

The Munich-based startup Hey Circle gains Butterfly & Elephant, the investment company of GS1 Germany, as a new investor. The fresh capital strengthens the development of sustainable reusable shipping solutions.

Munich-based climatetech company Tozero is cooperating with Japanese EPC specialist JGC Japan to expand recycling infrastructure for lithium-ion batteries in Japan.

The Munich-based startup Tozero aims to build Europe’s leading recycling facility for lithium-ion batteries. On this path, the young company has achieved important progress: a battery cell test with 100 percent recycled graphite has succeeded.

To make its package shipping more sustainable, Germany’s second-largest shipping service provider DPD is cooperating with Hey Circle. The Munich-based reusable startup offers a sustainable alternative to single-use shipping packaging with its shipping solution.

Tozero secures 11 million euros in an oversubscribed seed round led by NordicNinja. New investors participating in this financing round include In-Q-Tel (IQT), Honda and the JGC Group, a globally operating infrastructure technology company. Existing investors, including Atlantic Labs, Verve Ventures and Possible Ventures, have also doubled their capital. With the fresh investment, the Munich-based startup plans to build its first industrial facility and expand its team, among other things.

Companies in the culture and creative industries are often pioneers in integrating circular economy concepts into their business models. In our series on this topic, we feature selected young companies from the culture and creative industries that think about circular economy from the core. This time: Manaomea. We spoke with founder Christine (Tine) Artl about how she integrated circular practices into her business model. And she shares what startups can learn from her company.

Fashion label Drykorn relies on Hey Circle’s reusable packaging. The environmentally friendly shipping boxes from the Munich startup are designed to replace around 50 single-use cardboard boxes each.