Refork
Refork SE is a Prague-based manufacturer of biodegradable cutlery, straws, toothbrushes, and related foodservice products made from wood flour and PHBH biopolymer, selling primarily B2B across the European HORECA, aviation, and distributor channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersPrague, Czechia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Refork does
Refork SE is a Prague-based manufacturer of biodegradable single-use foodservice products, including cutlery (forks, knives, spoons), drinking straws, cutlery sets, and toothbrushes, with specialty extensions such as the Gelato Spoon. Its core technology combines wood flour — a low-cost by-product of wood processing — with PHBH biopolymer sourced from Kaneka Corporation, producing a fully compostable material that breaks down in home compost, soil, freshwater, and marine environments without leaving microplastics or toxic residues. Manufacturing is conducted at a 1,800 m² Prague factory using injection moulding for cutlery, extrusion moulding for straws and tubes, and thermoforming (introduced in 2023) for complex 3D packaging; the site has stated monthly production capacity of 10–20 million pieces.
The company sells primarily through a direct B2B enterprise sales motion plus a network of regional distributors and channel partners (e.g., Sier Disposables in the Netherlands), targeting the hospitality and HORECA sector (restaurants, cafés, hotels, catering), the aviation sector, consumer-facing food brands, and distributor/reseller channels across the UK, EU, and EEA — with recent expansion into Nordic countries, Spain, and Portugal. Pricing is unit-based with pallet-minimum bulk orders; no consumer e-commerce channel is publicly listed. Founded in 2019 by Josef Homola, Refork initially funded R&D and its first production site through a 2019 EFK token Initial Coin Offering that raised over USD 7 million; subsequent governance disruption in 2023 (accounting irregularities, CFO replacement, and a 54% share transfer from PE&VC Partners Group SE to BICZ Customer Portfolio Eternity s.r.o.) marks the company's only disclosed institutional capital event since inception.
Refork firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Refork
- Legal name
- REFORK SE
- Website
- https://refork.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Refork SE is a Prague-based manufacturer of biodegradable cutlery, straws, toothbrushes, and related foodservice products made from wood flour and PHBH biopolymer, selling primarily B2B across the European HORECA, aviation, and distributor channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Refork industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biodegradable Food-Service Tableware
- NAICS
- Converted Paper Product Manufacturing (3222), All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (326199)
- SIC
- Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420), Papers & Allied Products (2600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disposable Tableware (Plates, Cups, Cutlery) (CRAJAGAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Foodservice Disposables (cups, plates, bowls, trays, clamshells) (IMAMAHAI), Biodegradable Packaging Materials (films, trays, foams) (IMAEAOAB), Foodservice/To-Go Packaging (Cups, Clamshells, Cutlery) (IMALAHAM), Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB)
Keywords
Where Refork is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Prague
- HQ country
- Czechia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Refork business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Biodegradable Cutlery, Straws, and Sets Sales: Refork generates revenue primarily from selling manufactured biodegradable cutlery, straws, and cutlery sets. Products are available in bulk (pallet minimums for enterprise orders). Pricing is unit-based. The company operates a direct B2B sales team and sells to distributors across the EU, UK, and EEA.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Enterprise bulk / pallet minimum order |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Refork product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Refork manufactures and sells biodegradable single-use cutlery and food-service items — including spoons, forks, knives, drinking straws, cutlery sets, toothbrushes, and gelato spoons — made from a proprietary blend of wood flour and the PHBH biopolymer. Products are sold primarily to corporate buyers in the hospitality, foodservice, and aviation sectors as compostable alternatives to conventional plastic utensils.
Product overview
Refork is a manufacturing company that produces biodegradable cutlery, straws, toothbrushes, and related products from naturally occurring materials including wood flour and natural binding polymers (PHBH). The product portfolio includes Cutlery (forks, knives, spoons), Straws, Sets (combined cutlery packages), Toothbrushes, and specialty items like the Gelato Spoon. The company operates a factory in Prague, Czech Republic with a monthly production capacity of 20 million pieces. Products are designed to be reusable, hand-washable, and fully biodegradable in home compost, soil, freshwater, and marine environments without leaving microplastics or toxic residues.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EFK Token: A cryptocurrency token launched in 2019 via ICO that evolved into the EFK platform, which bridges ecology and blockchain technology. The platform aims to tackle environmental challenges using blockchain and emerging technologies.
- EFK Platform
Products and services
- Biodegradable Cutlery (spoons, forks, knives) Wood-flour and PHBH biopolymer spoons, forks, and knives sold as industrially compostable alternatives to single-use plastic cutlery for hospitality, foodservice, and airline customers.
- Drinking Straws Biodegradable wood-flour and biopolymer drinking straws positioned as compostable substitutes for plastic straws in hospitality and foodservice.
- Cutlery Sets Pre-packaged biodegradable cutlery sets combining forks, knives, and spoons in compostable form for foodservice and hospitality operators.
- Biodegradable Toothbrushes Wood-flour and PHBH biopolymer toothbrushes sold as a compostable alternative to conventional plastic toothbrushes, primarily for hospitality and travel-industry buyers.
- Gelato Spoons Small-format biodegradable tasting and gelato spoons manufactured from Refork's wood-flour and biopolymer blend for ice-cream and dessert-service operators.
Quantifiable outcome
- Replaced 6,986,385 metres of single-use plastic straws with biodegradable alternatives by end of 2023
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Refork
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Refork technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Refork partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Tretter's Obecní důmminorRefork collaborated with Tretter's Obecní dům to serve signature spring cocktails with Refork's biodegradable straws, showcasing the products in a high-profile Prague bar setting.
- Café LouvrecoreThe historic Café Louvre in Prague partnered with Refork to serve biodegradable cutlery and straws as part of its sustainability commitment. Café owner Sylvio Spohr chose Refork to support the venue's green transition.
- Sier DisposablescoreSier Disposables is a Dutch distributor and channel partner that showcases and sells Refork products at trade shows and through its distribution network. Refork announced Sier Disposables as a valued partner at Ambiente Messe Frankfurt 2024.
- Manifesto MarketcoreManifesto Market, the largest Czech food market concept, collaborated with Refork as of 2021 for biodegradable cutlery supply across its locations, demonstrating early HORECA sector traction.
- DPD GroupminorDPD Group is Refork's delivery partner — the largest private parcel carrier in the Czech Republic, part of the international DPD network, handling European shipments.
- Kaneka CorporationcoreKaneka Corporation's breakthrough microbial fermentation process produces PHBH (poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate)) — the key biopolymer used in Refork's products. This is a critical inbound technology partnership for Refork's proprietary material.
- TÜV AUSTRIAminorRefork is conducting home compostability studies for its final products with TÜV AUSTRIA and the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague (VŠCHT), to certify home compostability claims.
- University of Chemistry and Technology Prague (VŠCHT)minorRefork collaborates with VŠCHT on home compostability studies for final products, combining academic research capabilities with product testing to substantiate biodegradability claims.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Refork competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vegware: Edinburgh-based manufacturer of compostable foodservice packaging (cutlery, straws, containers). Directly competes with Refork in biodegradable single-use products for HORECA customers across the UK and Europe with similar plant-based material positioning.
- BioPak: Australian-headquartered manufacturer of compostable foodservice packaging including cutlery and straws. Direct competitor serving hospitality and foodservice operators globally with similar product portfolio and sustainability positioning as Refork.
- World Centric: US-based manufacturer of compostable foodservice products including cutlery and straws from plant-based materials. Directly comparable product range targeting similar sustainability-focused HORECA customers, though primarily serving North American markets.
Broad incumbents
- Huhtamäki: Global food packaging major with European operations including foodservice disposables. Offers broader packaging portfolio with growing sustainable product lines, competing with Refork in HORECA channel at greater scale and with deeper distribution.
- Pactiv Evergreen: Large North American foodservice and beverage packaging manufacturer. Competes with Refork in foodservice disposables space and has been expanding sustainable product lines, though primarily serving US markets at significantly greater scale.
- Eco-Products (Novolex): Novolex-owned manufacturer of compostable single-use foodservice products including cutlery, straws, and containers. Competes with Refork across product categories and HORECA customers but operates at substantially larger scale under Novolex's portfolio.
Others
- Stora Enso:
- Sier Disposables: Dutch distributor and channel partner for foodservice disposables including Refork products. Functions as both channel partner and indirect competitor carrying competing biodegradable brands in Netherlands and broader European markets.
- Kaneka Corporation: Japanese chemical company that produces the PHBH biopolymer used in Refork's products. Functions as Refork's critical upstream supplier while also exploring its own biodegradable product applications that could compete downstream.
Emerging players
- TIPA Corp: Israeli company developing fully compostable flexible packaging films for food and consumer goods applications. Adjacent emerging player in biodegradable packaging space with partial product overlap and similar sustainability positioning to Refork.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Refork social profiles
Digital presenceRefork compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Refork financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Refork leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Refork funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Refork 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 Refork
What does Refork do?
Refork manufactures and sells biodegradable single-use cutlery and food-service items — including spoons, forks, knives, drinking straws, cutlery sets, toothbrushes, and gelato spoons — made from a proprietary blend of wood flour and the PHBH biopolymer. Products are sold primarily to corporate buyers in the hospitality, foodservice, and aviation sectors as compostable alternatives to conventional plastic utensils.
Is Refork a public or private company?
Refork is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Refork founded?
Refork was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Refork based?
Refork is headquartered in Prague, Czechia, in the Europe region.
How does Refork make money?
One revenue line is on record: biodegradable Cutlery, Straws, and Sets Sales.
Who are Refork's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vegware, BioPak and World Centric. Broad incumbents are Huhtamäki, Pactiv Evergreen and Eco-Products (Novolex). Others are Stora Enso, Sier Disposables and Kaneka Corporation. TIPA Corp is listed as an emerging player.
Does Refork have an API?
No public API is recorded for Refork.
What industry is Refork in?
Refork's product category is Biodegradable Food-Service Tableware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAJAGAG, Disposable Tableware (Plates, Cups, Cutlery), with a secondary code of IMAMAHAI, Foodservice Disposables (cups, plates, bowls, trays, clamshells). Its NAICS code is 3222 and its SIC code is 3420.