In its search for more sustainable packaging solutions, the Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd entrepreneurial group is partnering with Techfounders, the entrepreneurship accelerator program. The goal of this collaboration is to promote sustainable solutions and innovations in the field of packaging and plastic reduction in collaboration with startups.
ADAC, Datev, Festo, Miele, Knorr-Bremse — TechFounders is experienced in bringing large companies together with startups. The startup accelerator is now pleased to announce another partnership: Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd will be collaborating with the Garching-based accelerator. The partnership aims to develop new solutions to improve the sustainability of packaging materials.
Under the motto "Avoid. Reuse. Recycle," the supermarket chain aims to implement various measures to reduce packaging waste. As part of the "Aldi Packaging Mission," the two discounters aim to reduce the amount of material used in packaging by 30 percent by 2025. Furthermore, 100 percent of all private-label product packaging is to be recyclable by the end of 2022.
Promoting sustainable packaging
The cooperation with Techfounders is intended to be a further step towards achieving these goals. Rayk Mende, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi Nord, says:
“With this partnership, we want to actively support young founders and, together with them, advance the topic of plastic reduction and sustainable packaging in the industry.”
The focus of this partnership is not only on providing financial support to startups. The group also intends to support the participants of the accelerator program as a source of inspiration and mentor.
Together with Techfounders, Aldi Nord and Süd will initially identify startups for innovative collaboration projects. As part of the subsequent 20-week accelerator program The startups are encouraged to further develop their ideas and business models. Techfounders provides the startups with coaching on a wide range of topics, including pitching, business cases, HR, sales & marketing, venture capital, and legal issues, as well as access to top-notch mentors.
“Win-win”
Heiko Huber, Managing Director of Techfounders, commented on the new partnership as follows:
"We identify the most exciting startups worldwide for Aldi Süd and Aldi Nord and initiate pilot projects to develop sustainable packaging and approaches to avoiding packaging. Our strength lies in our understanding of the needs of both startups and established companies. Collaborations are a win-win: Aldi benefits from the startups' innovative strength and agility, while the founders benefit from individual coaching and our unique network of mentors and investors."
