Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg

What Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg does

Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg (SIM) is a non-profit foundation under German civil law (Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts), founded in 1996 and headquartered in Taubenstraße, Berlin. Its explicit mission is the promotion of reusable packaging systems, resource conservation, and waste avoidance (Mehrwegförderung, Ressourcenschonung, Abfallvermeidung). SIM does not develop or sell technology products; instead it operates a research-advocacy platform built on four pillars: (i) commissioned scientific studies, principally from Fraunhofer IML and Fraunhofer UMSICHT (Reuse vs Recycle 2025/2026, Bruchquoten-Studie 2025, Circular Plastics Economy 2022, Carbon Footprint 2018, Save Food 2013, LCA 2009); (ii) policy advocacy targeting the EU PPWR and the German Packaging Act with its 70% reusable quota; (iii) industry convening anchored by the annual Reuse & Logistics Leadership Days, the co-located German Reusable Packaging Conference, and the Reusable Innovation Award (16th edition in 2026, co-organized with Deutsche Umwelthilfe); and (iv) consumer-facing campaigns such as "Mehrweg ist Klimaschutz" and the Carbon Footprint Calculator 2020 for fruit-and-vegetable supply chains. The reported quantitative outcomes include a 35x lower breakage rate for reusable crates vs. cardboard (0.12% vs. 4.2%), up to 30% CO2 reduction vs. single-use packaging with payback after the 6th use, up to 86% storage/transport savings with collapsible containers, and superiority of reusable systems in 14 of 17 categories analyzed in the Fraunhofer Circular Plastics Economy study.

The foundation's governance is structurally concentrated around the reusable-packaging industry. SIM's Board of Directors and Board of Trustees include the Managing Directors of IFCO (Christoph Trixl, Deputy Chairman), Schoeller Allibert (Frank Reininghaus, Chairman of the Board), WALTHER Faltsysteme (Dominik Lemken, Chair of the Board of Trustees), bekuplast (Jörg Deglmann), WBG-Pooling/Runden Group (Florian Runden), Polytec Group (Gerhard Augeneder), Container Centralen, Euro Pool System (Frank van Gorp), and Plöckl Media Group, alongside trade associations (GFGH, PRO MEHRWEG, Arbeitskreis Mehrweg), environmental NGOs (Deutsche Umwelthilfe, with Thomas Fischer on the Board of Trustees), and research institutions (Fraunhofer IML's Dr. Volker Lange on the Board of Trustees; GS1 Austria / Logistikverbund Mehrweg). Operating Managing Director is Dr. Jens Oldenburg. SIM is a member of the Bundesverband deutscher Stiftungen and joined the international New ERA network for reusable packaging in March 2025. Operating geographies include Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and the Netherlands; the foundation has 11–50 employees.

SIM's revenue model is non-commercial. The foundation is financed by grants, donations, and membership contributions from industry partners and trade associations, and is tax-exempt under §§51ff AO (confirmed by Berlin tax authority 26 June 2017 and Brandenburg tax authority covering 2016–2018). It sells no products or licensing royalties. The only commercial transaction surface is conference tickets (RLLD 2026 2-day tickets at 699 EUR net via Stripe through booking partner FIVE11) and exhibitor booth bookings via Typeform, which are immaterial relative to contribution income. Target audiences split across retail trade, food-and-beverage producers (including beverage wholesale), automotive manufacturers and suppliers (via standardized small load carriers / KLT), policy makers and regulators at EU and German federal level, research institutions, and end consumers. Service to all five audiences is delivered without a transactional pricing model.

Name

Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg

Legal name

Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg

Website

https://stiftung-mehrweg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg (SIM) is a 1996-founded Berlin non-profit foundation that promotes reusable packaging systems in Germany and the EU through Fraunhofer-commissioned research, policy advocacy, industry convening, and the annual Reusable Innovation Award co-organized with Deutsche Umwelthilfe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reusable Packaging Advocacy and Sustainability Research

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Business Associations (81391)

akta.pro primary industry

Reusable & Refill Packaging Systems (Returnable Packaging, Refill-at-Home/In-Store) (IMALAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops) (EUAIANAE), Reusable Packaging & Container Return Programs (On-site) (BPABALAJ)

Keywords

• Reusable packaging advocacy
• Circular economy research
• Sustainable packaging systems
• Reusable transport packaging
• Packaging policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation funding (grants and donations): As a charitable foundation (Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts), SIM is financed through grants, donations, and membership contributions from industry partners and trade associations. The foundation does not sell products or services for revenue. Non-profit status confirmed by Brandenburg tax authorities (2020 confirmation covering 2016-2018; confirmed by Berlin tax authorities 26 June 2017), exempt from corporate income tax and trade tax under §§51ff AO.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg (SIM) is a non-profit foundation that promotes reusable packaging systems across multiple industry sectors (beverages, fruit & vegetables, meat, flowers, automotive, pallets). Its core offerings include commissioned scientific studies (e.g., Fraunhofer IML and UMSICHT reports), policy advocacy and demand catalogs, the annual Reusable Innovation Award co-organized with Deutsche Umwelthilfe, the Reuse & Logistics Leadership Days conference, and the Mehrweg-Allianz coalition. The foundation does not sell commercial products; it operates as an advocacy, research, and industry-convening platform funded by grants, donations, and member contributions.

Product overview

Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg (SIM) is a non-profit foundation established in 1996 that promotes reusable packaging systems and resource conservation in Germany. Rather than offering a unified software product, SIM operates a portfolio of initiatives, tools, and programs: the Carbon Footprint Calculator 2020 for environmental impact assessment; the Mehrweg-Innovationspreis annual award program recognizing innovative reusable solutions; environmental research studies (Reuse vs Recycle, Breakage Rates, Carbon Footprint, LCA); and reusable system initiatives spanning fruit & vegetables (plastic crates), flowers & plants (PlanT trays), beverages (deposit bottles), vegan/vegetarian foods (BigBox), meat products (specialized containers), automotive (small load carriers), and pallets (Euro pallets). The foundation serves as an umbrella organization connecting industry, trade, research, and policy stakeholders to advance circular economy principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Carbon Footprint Calculator 2020
• Mehrweg-Innovationspreis (Reusable Innovation Award)
• Environmental Impact Studies
• Reuse & Logistics Leadership Days (RLLD) Conference
• Mehrweg ist Klimaschutz Consumer Campaign

Quantifiable outcome

• Cardboard boxes have a breakage rate of 4.2%, which is 35x higher than the 0.12% breakage rate of reusable crates (Fraunhofer IML study)
• +5 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• New ERA (Network)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2025SIM joined the international New ERA network in March 2025. New ERA is a global network for reusable packaging and circular economy organizations.
• Container CentralencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContainer Centralen (CC) was founded in 1977 by Danish flower and potted flower exporters. CC designs and rents containers specifically for transporting potted plants and flowers, serving customers throughout Europe as a recognized standard. Containers are exchangeable 1:1 full for empty along the supply chain, reducing total container needs. CC Container is a rental unit that remains the property of Container Centralen, with long-term and seasonal rental options available.
• Euro Pool SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuro Pool System (EPS) is a pooling service provider for reusable crates and pallets in the European fresh produce supply chain. Represented on SIM's board by Frank van Gorp, Director for EPS Regions DACH and Nordics.
• IFCO Systems GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFCO is the world's leading provider of reusable plastic containers (RPCs) for fresh food. With 30 years in the market, IFCO promotes circular economy, sustainability, and value chain optimization. IFCO's Vice President North & Central Europe, Christoph Trixl, serves as Deputy Chairman of SIM's board. IFCO received special commendation at the 2022 Innovation Award for reusable buckets for cut flowers.
• Schoeller Allibert GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchoeller Allibert is a leading manufacturer of reusable plastic containers, crates, and pallets. Its Managing Director, Frank Reininghaus, serves as Chairman of SIM's board of directors. The company specializes in foldable and stackable containers for food, automotive, and industrial applications.
• WALTHER Faltsysteme GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWALTHER Faltsysteme (brand: Faltbox) specializes in foldable transport containers and pallet boxes. Its Managing Director, Dominik Lemken, serves as Chair of SIM's board of trustees.
• bekuplast GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerbekuplast is a manufacturer of reusable plastic packaging solutions. Its Managing Director, Jörg Deglmann, serves on SIM's board of directors.
• WBG-Pooling GmbH & Co. KG (Runden Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWBG-Pooling (part of the Runden Group) provides pooling services for reusable transport packaging. Its Managing Director, Florian Runden, serves on SIM's board of directors.
• Polytec GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolytec Group specializes in industrial packaging solutions and reusable transport packaging. Its Director Product Lines, Gerhard Augeneder, serves on SIM's board of directors.
• Plöckl Media Group GmbH (PMG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlöckl Media Group (PMG) serves on SIM's board of directors. PMG is involved in reusable pallet and packaging logistics solutions.
• Fraunhofer UMSICHTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT conducts commissioned research studies for SIM. Key researchers include Jürgen Bertling (project lead), Lena Bersch, and Jan Blömer. Studies include 'Reuse vs Recycle' (2025/2026), 'Circular Plastics Economy' (2022), and others. SIM's Dr. Volker Lange from Fraunhofer IML also serves on the Board of Trustees.
• Fraunhofer IMLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML conducts research on reusable packaging systems for SIM, including the Bruchquoten-Studie 2025 and studies on reusable pallets. Dr. Volker Lange from Fraunhofer IML serves on SIM's Board of Trustees. Kerstin Dobers (Fraunhofer IML) is a co-author of key SIM-commissioned studies.
• GS1 Austria (Logistikverbund Mehrweg)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGS1 Austria's Logistics Association Mehrweg (Logistics Association Reusable) promotes reusable packaging standards and data exchange standards. Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Hartig serves on SIM's Board of Trustees, and Andreas Bayer (GS1 Austria) is also a member.
• Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. (DUH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeutsche Umwelthilfe (German Environmental Aid) is a leading German environmental NGO that co-organizes the Mehrweg-Innovationspreis (Reusable Innovation Award) with SIM. DUH leads the Mehrweg-Allianz coalition, which includes SIM, the Federal Association of German Beverage Wholesale Trade (GFGH), the Association of Private Breweries, and the Association of German Beverage Retail Trade. Thomas Fischer (DUH) serves on SIM's Board of Trustees.
• Bundesverband des Deutschen Getränkefachgroßhandels e.V. (GFGH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Association of the German Beverage Wholesale Trade is a member of the Mehrweg-Allianz coalition and supports SIM's advocacy for reusable packaging. Dirk Reinsberg (Executive Managing Director) serves on SIM's Board of Trustees.
• PRO MEHRWEG e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation for the Promotion of Reusable Packaging. Willy Schmidt (Executive Managing Director) serves on SIM's Board of Trustees.
• Arbeitskreis Mehrweg GbRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking group on reusable packaging. Tobias Bielenstein (Manager of the Branch Office) serves on SIM's Board of Trustees.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Global foundation promoting the circular economy across packaging, plastics, textiles, and beyond. Provides frameworks, research, and convening that overlap with SIM's reusable packaging advocacy, but with much broader scope and global remit.
• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland): One of Germany's largest environmental NGOs with ~900,000 members, broader environmental mandate spanning biodiversity, climate, and resource conservation. Operates as a larger incumbent in the same advocacy space SIM occupies for reusable packaging specifically.
• BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland): Major German environmental federation with ~650,000 members and broad environmental mandate. Engages on packaging, circular economy, and consumption policy; larger and more diversified than SIM, with overlapping policy advocacy.

Direct peers

• Zero Waste Europe: Pan-European network of zero-waste organizations, including explicit advocacy for reusable packaging systems across EU member states. Shares SIM's policy-shaping role and member-based non-profit structure, with a broader geographic footprint.
• Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH): Germany's leading consumer and environmental NGO that co-organizes the Reusable Innovation Award with SIM and leads the Mehrweg-Allianz coalition. DUH is SIM's closest advocacy partner in scope and geography, often co-positioning on reusable packaging and circular economy policy.
• Reloop Platform: International advocacy platform advancing reusable packaging, recycling, and circular economy policy globally. Operates in the same advocacy category as SIM but with a pan-European and global scope, making it a peer in mission and stakeholder type.
• PRO MEHRWEG e.V. German association explicitly promoting reusable packaging systems, with overlapping board membership at SIM. Focuses on advocacy and stakeholder coordination for reusable beverage and transport packaging, making it a direct mission-aligned peer in the same geography.

Others

• Closed Loop Partners: US-based circular economy investment platform and advisory organization funding and developing reuse and recycling infrastructure. Tangentially related to SIM through the shared circular economy and reusable packaging ecosystem, but operates as a finance/deployment platform rather than advocacy.

Regional players

• Naturpack: Spanish compliance and advisory organization focused on packaging waste prevention and recycling, with reusable packaging systems as a category. Operates in a similar advisory/advocacy role as SIM but within Spain's integrated packaging management system.
• Reusable Packaging Association: US-based trade association advocating for reusable packaging systems and convening the industry around standards and policy. SIM peers geographically on the alternative side of the Atlantic, but pursues the same evidence-based reusable advocacy niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@stiftunginitiativemehrweg6756
• Xx.com/stiftung_sim

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg