Rotterdam-based Pieter Pot, the sustainable packaging company, recently announced that it has raised €100K via crowdfunding.
Max van der Mars, co-owner of Pieter Pot, also announced the company’s two “most important plans”, which would be realised using this capital.
The first initiative features a stainless steel refill pot designed to reduce CO2 emissions, cut costs, and enhance customer convenience. This shows the Dutch company’s commitment to providing eco-friendly solutions while meeting customer needs.
In addition, the company plans to increase its product offerings from 350 to 500 items. As a result, the company will introduce an array of new products, including soups, sauces, and lunch spreads, all packaged in sustainable jars.
Since the relaunch in January this year, the Dutch company has generated €2.8M in sales. The online supermarket is currently making a loss, but it reports having its first profitable weeks based on EBITDA, says the report.
This crowdfunding campaign comes over a year after the Dutch company was declared bankrupt. According to the bankruptcy declaration, Pieter Pot faced a debt of €1.8M.
However, a week later, the holding company — Pieter Pot Beheer BV initiated a crowdfunding campaign, intending to issue shares to interested investors, with a minimum goal of €1.25M.
Pieter Pot: Addressing issues of packaging waste
Founded in 2019 by Jouri Schoemaker and Martijn Bijmolt, Pieter Pot’s innovative concept sought to address the issue of packaging waste by offering customers the option to buy groceries without any packaging.
With limited alternatives available for purchasing packaging-free groceries, Pieter Pot filled this gap by replacing traditional single-use plastic packaging with reusable pots.
Customers could receive their orders in these pots and return them for cleaning and reuse, creating a circular system that aimed to minimise waste.
The startup saved an estimated four million packages from entering landfills, demonstrating the positive impact of its mission.
01
From port to startup fort: How Lars Crama is ‘Making it Happen’ in Rotterdam