One space that’s usually neglected is the function of meals packaging in environmental air pollution.

Whereas the packaging supplies have their advantages, they do have a sure downside with regards to sustainability – all of them finally find yourself as waste.

European Inexperienced Deal

In accordance with the European Fee, every European generates nearly 180kg of packaging waste per yr on common. 

Consequently, the European Fee proposed a brand new regulation to chop down on packaging waste.

Beneath the proposal, all 27 EU members will likely be required to cut back packaging waste per capita by 15 per cent in 2040 in contrast with 2018 ranges. 

Meet Ozarka

One such firm working in the direction of the mission of bringing an finish to single-use meals and beverage packaging waste is Ozarka.

Primarily based out of Amsterdam, Ozarka is dedicated to fixing the issue of disposable meals packaging at each stage by reusable meals packaging, zero-waste supply, logistics, and industrial meals service. 

Raised €500K funding

To advance its operations to the subsequent stage, the Amsterdam startup introduced that it has raised €500K in a Seed spherical of funding from angel buyers, all of whom are present or former C-level or senior executives from Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Fb, Apple, NVIDIA, Netflix, Lyft, Airbnb, and BUNQ.

Joanna Invests, Amsterdam’s women-led funding agency for feminine founders, helped Ozarka shut the seed spherical. 

The announcement follows the Dutch startup’s Pre-Seed funding spherical of €240K.

As part of our Founders on funding sequence, Silicon Canals reached out to Beth Massa, founder and CEO of Ozarka, to raised perceive the corporate’s objective, funding technique, challenges, and different associated subjects. Right here’s what she needed to say.

Offered home to bootstrap Ozarka

Beth Massa spent the preliminary a part of her profession at Amazon and Microsoft within the Netherlands. 

Throughout her stint at Microsoft, Massa realized in regards to the plastic air pollution disaster from her scientific analysis shoppers and obtained obsessive about discovering sensible methods to deal with this international concern.

“This environmental concern obsessed me as a result of it’s a large dumb, horrifically harmful drawback that’s the results of company greed and irresponsible advertising and marketing,” says Massa. 

Massa got here up with the thought for Ozarka at a café throughout a solo weekend in Paris.

“I realised that, given the coincidence of my skilled background, I had the expertise to unravel the issue of meals packaging air pollution at scale, on the client stage. So, I got here dwelling from that little break in Paris, left my job, and offered my home to bootstrap Ozarka.”

Getting Ozarka up and working

In accordance with Massa, inside struggles somewhat than exterior conditions offered the largest problem.

Massa initially conceptualised Ozarka as a bodily grocery retailer, the place all of the packaging can be ‘grab-n-go’ and reusable. Nevertheless, she realised that the mannequin was dangerous, capital-intensive, and had skinny margins.

“I knew this, nevertheless it was such a lovely imaginative and prescient. I would like a paradigm shift: to transform my perceived rivals into prospects. Luckily, the trail to profitability was simpler and sooner. The environmental affect was higher. And our potential to scale elevated by a bazillion,” she shares. 

Thus, Ozarka got here into the world as a B2B proposition.

Function of Ozarka

The Amsterdam-based startup goals to finish single-use meals and beverage packaging waste. 

Ozarka focuses on ready-to-consume and made-to-order meals packaging in company {and professional} catering, stadiums, workplace parks, occasions and festivals, meals halls, meals courts, takeaway, and supply. 

Massa says, “We supply our reusable containers from European producers and distributors. Our packaging have to be free from poisonous chemical substances, in fact, sturdy as much as 1000 makes use of, and tolerate industrial dishwashers.”

“We additionally select containers that present one of the best buyer expertise, leak-proof, stackable and nestable, and in any other case gastronomy appropriate. It’s essential since you don’t need to disrupt a consumer’s processes, and space for storing is all the time a problem,” she provides.

‘By present, we raised consciousness’

Measuring affect is a vital a part of working a accountable and sustainable enterprise. 

Massa says, “We use just a few instruments to measure our affect from an LCA perspective. We take a look at the general discount of fabric waste, meals waste, CO2, transportation, and logistics elements.” 

On the affect Ozarka created, Massa provides, “Simply by present, we’ve raised a whole lot of consciousness across the total concern of packaging air pollution, not simply in our lane, however the concern as an entire.” 

Balancing ‘Progress and profitability

Massa says, “Ozarka and our shoppers are buffered in opposition to unsure financial situations to a big extent due to our reusable mannequin, and hyperlocal provide chain.” 

“Ozarka units the value on the charges for utilizing our containers and isn’t dependent or catastrophically weak to the fluctuating costs of uncooked supplies or worldwide provide chain disruptions.”

On Ozarka’s progress plan, Massa states, “The aim is to get as few meals containers as doable to be reused as usually as doable. In reaching this optimum infrastructure, our margins get fatter, our path to profitability is shortened, and our affect on decreasing waste turns into greater.”

Beginning a enterprise will be confronting

In accordance with Massa, the largest lesson she realized throughout her entrepreneur journey is that “beginning a enterprise will be confronting.” 

“Everybody has shortcomings or unhealthy habits, and all of us have them, nevertheless it doesn’t magically evaporate simply since you are beginning your personal firm. For instance, I’ve to test with myself that I don’t get distracted or overly enthusiastic about new concepts or alternatives on the expense of the execution of present initiatives,” she says

Beth’s worthwhile insights 

On looking for funding

“I wrote out an extended checklist of everybody I met in my complete life who may need taken a particular curiosity in me, who possibly all the time supported me or given me encouragement from the sidelines. I obtained a whole lot of angel funding on this approach, pulling individuals out of the woodwork. I’m acutely conscious that this recommendation comes from a spot of privilege,” she says

“When it’s time to attain out past your instant community, perceive and empathise with the day-in-the-life of an investor. Don’t be one in a cloud of mosquitoes buzzing round their heads. Be the butterfly that lands within the palm of their hand,” she provides. 

For aspiring entrepreneurs and startup founders

Massa says, “Your ambitions will be monumental, however don’t allow them to paralyse you in getting began. For those who have been challenged to launch your concept six weeks from immediately, how small would it’s worthwhile to get to launch?”

She continues, “Be sure you aren’t losing your psychological power hiding in a darkish little nook worrying about somebody stealing your concept. Good concepts aren’t uncommon and don’t assume your concept is so treasured, even whether it is distinctive.”

“Share, ask for assist, give assist. Get entangled, encourage, and be inspired,” she says. 

“Early on, I realized to mood my environmental righteousness when chatting with buyers. Your organization must become profitable, plenty of cash. Don’t draw back from that. Place the environmental affect consequently, not the aim. The aim is to construct a sturdy, worthwhile, scalable,” concludes Massa.