Inner bottle
Innerbottle is a South Korea-based B2B sustainable packaging company that sells a proprietary elastic polymer "bottle-within-a-bottle" insert to beauty and cosmetics brands, reducing product residue to under 1% and enabling refillable, recyclable packaging via its IREON marketplace and RE-Turn circular economy platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSeongnam, South Korea
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Inner bottle does
Innerbottle is a South Korea-based B2B sustainable packaging company founded in 2018, headquartered in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, with an R&D and manufacturing center in Gwangju-si. The company's core innovation is a "bottle-within-a-bottle" packaging architecture built around a specially formulated elastic polymer inner container that expands when filled with product and contracts to original size upon dispensing, leaving less than 1% residue compared to up to 25% residue from conventional dispensers. The inner bottle is designed to be compatible with any outer packaging material — heavy blow, glass, PCR100% PET, or pulp — enabling customers to maintain brand-specific outer aesthetics while inheriting improved recyclability and a claimed 30% reduction in carbon emissions per packaging unit. Innerbottle holds CGMP certification for its filling facility, allowing it to deliver a Total Packaging Service spanning formulation support, custom outer container development, filling, and post-consumer disposal guidance using separable labels.
The business model combines hardware sales of Innerbottle inserts in sizes from 30ml to 1000ml, contract filling and packaging services, and custom packaging development for B2B customers in the beauty and cosmetics vertical. Distribution is executed through direct enterprise field sales (globally) and, since April 2022, through the IREON online refill marketplace, which functions as both a consumer channel and a collaboration platform for vegan, zero-waste, and clean beauty brands. The RE-Turn circular economy platform extends the offering into end-of-life recycling through partnerships with LG Chemical, CJ Logistics, and YM Logis (용마로지스). Capital sources to date include LG Chem (2021 lead round), Shinhan Bank, D3 Jubilee, Intervalue Partners, Korea Credit Guarantee Fund, Bluepoint, and a 2023 crowdfunding round raising over 600 million KRW.
Inner bottle firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Inner bottle
- Legal name
- Innerbottle
- Website
- https://innerbottle.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Innerbottle is a South Korea-based B2B sustainable packaging company that sells a proprietary elastic polymer "bottle-within-a-bottle" insert to beauty and cosmetics brands, reducing product residue to under 1% and enabling refillable, recyclable packaging via its IREON marketplace and RE-Turn circular economy platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Inner bottle industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Packaging
- NAICS
- Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (32619)
- SIC
- Gaskets, Packg & Sealg Devices & Rubber & Plastics Hose (3050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spouts, Fitments & Pouring Closures (IMALALAH)
Keywords
Where Inner bottle is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seongnam
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Inner bottle business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Inner Bottle Product Sales: Sale of proprietary inner bottle packaging products in various sizes (30ml to 1000ml) and colors to beauty and cosmetics brands
- Filling and Packaging Services: CGMP-certified filling and packaging services at Innerbottle's manufacturing facility, supporting product development from light serums to rich creams
- Custom Packaging Development: Custom outer packaging design and development services, with support for various materials including heavy blow, glass, PCR100% PET, and pulp containers
- IREON Online Refill Platform: E-commerce platform for online refill services, collaborating with clean beauty brands and enabling circular economy through the RE-Turn program
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Inner bottle product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Innerbottle develops and manufactures proprietary elastic polymer inner bottles that fit inside any outer container, expanding when filled and contracting to original size, leaving less than 1% residue compared to up to 25% from conventional dispensers. The company provides total packaging services covering formulation support (light serums to high-viscosity creams), custom outer container design, CGMP-certified filling and packaging, and end-of-life separation for eco-friendly disposal.
Product overview
Inner Bottle offers a unified eco-friendly packaging solution centered on its proprietary 'bottle within a bottle' technology. The core Inner Bottle product is an elastic polymer inner container that expands when filled and contracts to dispense nearly all contents (less than 1% residue), compatible with any outer packaging material. The company operates two related platforms: RE-Turn, a circular economy initiative for recycling and reuse partnerships with LG Chemical, CJ Logistics, and Yongmalogis; and IREON, an online refill marketplace launched in April 2022. Total Packaging services provide end-to-end support from formulation through filling and sustainable disposal.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- IREON: Innerbottle Online Refill Shop - an online marketplace for refillable products using Innerbottle solution, launched April 2022, collaborating with vegan, zero-waste, and clean beauty brands.
- RE-Turn
Products and services
- Inner Bottle Eco-friendly inner bottle packaging solution featuring a 'bottle within a bottle' design made from specially formulated elastic polymer. The inner container expands when filled with product and contracts back to original size, leaving less than 1% residue while minimizing oxidation and blocking external contaminants. Available in sizes ranging from 30ml to 1000ml with various colors, applicable to any outer packaging material.
- Inner Bottle (2nd Generation) Improved version of the Inner Bottle with redesigned inner container enabling easier filling using existing equipment. Maintains less than 1% residue and contamination-blocking benefits of original design.
- RE-Turn Circular Economy Platform Circular economy platform for sustainability and resource reuse, recycling used Innerbottles into industrial materials and oils. Developed in partnership with LG Chem, CJ Logistics, and YM Logis, with refill-type packaging design support.
- IREON (Innerbottle Refill Online Shop) Online refill marketplace launched in April 2022 that enables e-commerce-based refill shopping with Innerbottle solution applied. Collaborates with vegan, zero-waste, and clean beauty brands to provide sustainable beauty products using 100% PCR containers.
- Total Packaging Service Comprehensive packaging solution offering formulation support from light serums to high-viscosity creams, pre-molded and custom outer container design, CGMP-certified filling and packaging services, and complete separation of packaging components for eco-friendly disposal.
Quantifiable outcome
- Less than 1% product residue compared to up to 25% residue from conventional dispensers
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Inner bottle
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Inner bottle technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Inner bottle partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CJ LogisticscoreStrategic partner in the RE-Turn circular economy platform, handling logistics for collecting and transporting used Innerbottles to recycling facilities.
- YM Logis (용마로지스)coreLogistics partner in the RE-Turn circular economy platform, supporting the recycling and resource recovery operations for used Innerbottle packaging.
- IREONcoreInnerbottle Online Refill platform launched April 2022, a collaborative e-commerce platform where Innerbottle solution is applied, enabling online refill services for clean beauty brands and consumers.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Inner bottle competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AptarGroup: Global leader in dispensing systems, pumps, and closures for beauty, personal care, and food/beverage. Directly comparable to Innerbottle because it supplies the same brand-owner customers with the conventional pumps/closures that Innerbottle's elastic-liner technology aims to replace.
- Albea Group: Major cosmetics and beauty packaging manufacturer offering bottles, pumps, tubes, and dispensing solutions. Comparable as an established incumbent serving the same beauty brand-owner customers that Innerbottle targets with its refill-oriented system.
- ALPLA (Alpla-Werke): Global plastic and recycled-PET packaging specialist with deep beauty/personal care exposure. Comparable as a large incumbent scaling PCR-PET and refill-friendly packaging formats that overlap with Innerbottle's material-agnostic value proposition.
Direct peers
- TerraCycle / Loop: Loop is a circular, refillable-packaging platform partnering with major CPG and beauty brands to enable reusable containers. Closest functional peer to Innerbottle's IREON/RE-Turn refill model, addressing the same product-waste problem in the same end markets.
- Guala Pack (Guala Closures): Specialist in dispensing closures, spouts, and fitments for beauty, food, and home care. Closely comparable to Innerbottle's fitment/dispensing component focus and material-agnostic approach.
- Liquibox: Manufacturer of flexible bag-in-box and pouch packaging for liquids, with sustainability-focused offerings. Directly comparable on the flexible inner-container / bag-in-box architecture that underpins Innerbottle's elastic-polymer design.
- Rieke Packaging (Aptar subsidiary): Supplier of dispensing pumps, closures, and specialty packaging components for industrial and consumer markets. Comparable as a dispensing-component specialist competing for the same beauty/cosmetics socket on the bottle.
Others
- Berry Global Group: One of the world's largest plastic packaging manufacturers with deep beauty/personal care exposure, including dispensing components and PCR-resin bottles. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose PCR-PET and dispensing portfolios overlap with Innerbottle's value proposition.
Emerging players
- Ecologic Brands: Early-stage company developing refillable, paper-based and inner-pouch packaging for personal care and household products. Comparable as a smaller, sustainability-led player pursuing the same refillable inner-container use case.
- Sulapac: Finland-based maker of bio-based, microplastic-free packaging for cosmetics and food. Comparable as a sustainability-driven packaging innovator targeting the same premium beauty brand-owner customers.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Inner bottle social profiles
Digital presenceInner bottle compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Inner bottle financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Inner bottle leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Inner bottle funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Inner bottle M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Inner bottle
What does Inner bottle do?
Innerbottle develops and manufactures proprietary elastic polymer inner bottles that fit inside any outer container, expanding when filled and contracting to original size, leaving less than 1% residue compared to up to 25% from conventional dispensers. The company provides total packaging services covering formulation support (light serums to high-viscosity creams), custom outer container design, CGMP-certified filling and packaging, and end-of-life separation for eco-friendly disposal.
Is Inner bottle a public or private company?
Inner bottle is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Inner bottle founded?
Inner bottle was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Inner bottle based?
Inner bottle is headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Inner bottle make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Inner Bottle Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are filling and Packaging Services, custom Packaging Development and IREON Online Refill Platform.
Who are Inner bottle's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AptarGroup, Albea Group and ALPLA (Alpla-Werke). Direct peers are TerraCycle / Loop, Guala Pack (Guala Closures), Liquibox and Rieke Packaging (Aptar subsidiary). Berry Global Group is listed as an others. Emerging players are Ecologic Brands and Sulapac.
Does Inner bottle have an API?
No public API is recorded for Inner bottle.
What industry is Inner bottle in?
Inner bottle's product category is Sustainable Packaging. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALALAH, Spouts, Fitments & Pouring Closures. Its NAICS code is 32619 and its SIC code is 3050.