Miwa lands €2.7M from EIC Accelerator to expand reusable tech for supermarkets

27 Mar 2023 --- Czech start-up Miwa Technologies, which developed and operates technology minimizing packaging waste through installing reusable containers across European supermarkets, has been granted €2.7 million (US$2.9 million) by the European Innovation Council’s (EIC) “EIC Accelerator” program for the company’s growth and its installments.

The EIC Accelerator supports small and medium-sized enterprises companies to “develop and scale game-changing innovations.” Miwa’s success in this program also means recognition for the whole segment of reusable packaging innovators, it says. In 2022, Miwa received the €2.5 million (US$2.7 million) subsidy to finance the completion of the development of several new features.

“According to an independent LCA conducted by experts from the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, Miwa has a 71% lower overall environmental impact than single-use packaging. This number includes individual parameters, such as carbon footprint (62% lower than single-use packaging) or material footprint (90% lower than single-use packaging),” Ivana Sobolíková, responsible for impact strategy and investor relations at Miwa, tells PackagingInsights.

Supply chain unlocking
Miwa’s system enables customers in supermarkets to shop in reusable containers and unlocks the entire supply chain due to smart reusable B2B capsules, which work in tandem with electronic dispensers. Data flows allow effective management of the packaging pool and efficient operations of the system, such as stock management.

“By opening valves in a controlled way thanks to the smart features, Miwa prevents customers from cheating, buying expired products and cross-contamination of reusable packaging,” says Sobolíková.

Miwa’s system enables customers in supermarkets to shop in reusable containers.“We take care of sanitation and return the packaging into the loop. We are ready to recycle the packaging that cannot be reused anymore into new packaging, so basically, no waste is created. Miwa also ensures that all the hygiene and product safety requirements are met.”

Ecological shopping
Currently, the solution is used in Aldi in the UK, in the Netherlands in Albert Heijn and several supermarkets in Czechia and Portugal. It allows customers in these stores to shop ecologically and minimize packaging waste.

To finance commercial expansion in Europe and shift to serial production, Miwa is also opening an investment round of €7 million (US$7.5 million) to private investors in the coming weeks. Thanks to the EIC Fund, nearly 40% of this sum is now confirmed.

“Miwa’s material footprint is 90% lower, which means we only need 10% of material to produce packaging for the same amount of product, compared to single-use packaging,” explains Sobolíková.

“Miwa offers customers to buy their favorite product using reusable packaging – their containers brought from home or our smart Miwa Cups, which are deposited and in a closed loop (reused and eventually recycled).”

Sobolíková continues that the company will soon launch a new smartphone app for customers, allowing retailers to tailor a loyalty program and reward system. “Customers can thus be rewarded for responsible behavior. For example, every 10th purchase might be for free, or they provide a discount.”

EIC Accelerator
Competition at the EIC Accelerator program is high, with thousands of projects applying yearly, and only about 4% succeeding. Applicants have to go through a three-round selection process carried out by experts and entrepreneurs in the given field.

Miwa says that it is the only start-up from the food reusable packaging segment that has ever succeeded. It is also “the first” Czech company to have grown in so-called blended financing, which combines a subsidy and an investment.

“We will be revealing single solutions this year in alignment with launching pilot testing projects. The main goal is to broaden the range of products sold through Miwa,” concludes Sobolíková.

By Natalie Schwertheim

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