Houweling Group
Royal Houweling is a 100-year-old, family-owned Dutch industrial packaging manufacturer and distributor serving 3,000 B2B customers across 30+ countries with jerrycans, IBCs, drums, workwear/PPE, and horticulture products, supported by its own recycled-plastic production, solar-powered manufacturing, and circular-economy Recoservice collection and reconditioning operations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1925
- HeadquartersBleiswijk, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Houweling Group does
Houweling Group (now Royal Houweling following the Dutch King's Royal Designation in September 2025) is a family-owned industrial packaging, workwear/PPE, and horticulture products company founded in 1925 in Ouderkerk aan den IJssel and now headquartered in Bleiswijk, Netherlands. It designs, manufactures, distributes, and recycles rigid plastic packaging — jerrycans (5-25L, including a 2022 world-first 100% ocean-plastic variant), IBCs (300-1,000L), drums (30-250L), buckets, pallets, and politainers — alongside a dedicated workwear and PPE range sold through veiligheid.houweling.shop. Adjacent product lines include microplastic-free greenhouse coatings (Bright Eco Coating, 2023) and biostimulants (StimBlue+, distributed for Kelp Blue since February 2026).
The technical backbone comprises Houweling Production bv (in-house blow molding of 100% post-consumer-recycled and ocean-plastic containers, powered by a 3.7 MWp on-site solar array), an IBC/drum reconditioning line achieving 95% CO2 reduction vs. new production, the Join-the-Loop blockchain-based closed-loop tracking PoC, and Recoservice logistics that collected and processed approximately 800,000 kg of plastic in 2022. UN-certified packaging for hazardous substances, ISO 9001:2015 quality management, and EcoVadis Gold (2024, upgraded from 2022 Silver) underpin regulatory credibility across chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and laboratory customers.
Commercially, Houweling operates a sales-led B2B motion across 13 industry verticals serving roughly 3,000 customers in more than 30 countries, supported by 12 wholly-owned subsidiaries spanning international sales, production, horticulture, safety, transport (Netherlands and Belgium), warehousing, property, polymer logistics, and Belgian distribution. The company reports 180,000 SKUs, 140,000 m² of warehousing at Bleiswijk, and a multi-language digital presence (Dutch, English, French, German). Revenue is not publicly disclosed; group-level revenue bands are inferred from operational scale.
Houweling Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Houweling Group
- Legal name
- Houweling Holding bv
- Website
- https://houweling.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1925
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Royal Houweling is a 100-year-old, family-owned Dutch industrial packaging manufacturer and distributor serving 3,000 B2B customers across 30+ countries with jerrycans, IBCs, drums, workwear/PPE, and horticulture products, supported by its own recycled-plastic production, solar-powered manufacturing, and circular-economy Recoservice collection and reconditioning operations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Houweling Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Packaging
- NAICS
- Plastics Packaging Materials and Unlaminated Film and Sheet Manufacturing (32611)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Foodservice & Single-Use Plastic Packaging (Cups, Lids, Cutlery) Manufacturing (IMANAEAI)
Keywords
Where Houweling Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bleiswijk
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Houweling Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Packaging Products: Sale of new and recycled packaging including IBCs, jerrycans, drums, buckets, and pallets. Products available in virgin or recycled plastic materials with UN certifications for hazardous substances.
- Workwear and PPE: Sale of workwear and personal protective equipment through dedicated webshop with next-day delivery for stock items.
- Recoservice: Collection and processing service for used packaging, workwear, and PPE. Fees charged based on packaging type (cleanable, non-cleanable, toxic) and quantity. Revenue from both collection fees and resale of reconditioned materials.
- Horticulture Products: Products and solutions for horticulture sector including greenhouse coatings, irrigation solutions, and growth stimulants.
- Distribution Services: Distribution partnership for third-party products like Kelp Blue's StimBlue+ biostimulant, expanding the company's sustainable product portfolio.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cleanable packaging - standard rate |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Non-cleanable or damaged packaging |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Toxic substance packaging |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk drum orders (100+ pieces) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Workwear and PPE webshop |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Houweling Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Houweling Group manufactures and distributes industrial packaging (jerrycans, IBCs, drums, buckets, pallets, politainers), workwear and personal protective equipment, and horticulture products across more than 30 countries. The company operates an in-house recycled plastic production facility powered by solar energy and provides Recoservice — a circular economy collection, cleaning, reconditioning, and recycling service for used packaging and PPE. Products are available in virgin, post-consumer recycled (PCR), and ocean plastic variants with UN certification for hazardous substances.
Product overview
Houweling Group (Royal Houweling since 2025) operates as a family-owned distributor and manufacturer of industrial packaging, workwear/PPE, and horticulture products across 30+ countries. The product portfolio spans jerrycans, IBCs, drums, buckets, and pallets — available in virgin, recycled PCR, or ocean-plastic variants — alongside a dedicated workwear and PPE webshop. These are supported by the Recoservice (circular collection and recycling), Houweling Production bv (in-house recycled plastic manufacturing), and digital ordering platforms (webshop and online catalogue). Recent additions include Bright Eco Coating (microplastic-free greenhouse coating) and distributed horticulture biostimulant StimBlue+. The offering is structured as a multi-brand, multi-channel portfolio unified under a circular economy mission rather than a single software platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Jerrycans Plastic containers (5L–25L) for storing and transporting liquids such as chemicals, fuels, food, and pharmaceuticals. Available in virgin plastic, 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, or ocean plastic variants, with UN certifications for hazardous substances.
- IBC Intermediate Bulk Containers Large reusable containers (typically 300–1000L) for bulk liquid storage and transport. Available new, refurbished, or recycled, with optional UN certification for hazardous goods.
- Drums Steel, plastic, or fiber drums (30–250L) for storing and transporting liquids and solids, available with UN certification for hazardous substances.
- Buckets Plastic buckets in various sizes for liquids and solid products, available in PCR recycled plastic or virgin plastic.
- Pallets Wood and plastic pallets (EURO 120x80cm, CP1, CP2, CP3, CP9, PE variants) for logistics and transport, available in various materials and sizes.
- Politainers Flexible inner packaging with EVOH-PA barrier layer for liquid products (medical, dyes, adhesives, disinfectants), 1–30L sizes, 50–75% less plastic than rigid packaging, can be paired with UN-certified outer cartons.
- Workwear & PPE Work clothing and personal protective equipment including garments, safety shoes, helmets, and gloves, available through the dedicated B2B webshop at veiligheid.houweling.shop with next-day delivery for stock items.
- Recycled & Reconditioned Packaging Refurbished and reconditioned IBCs, drums, jerrycans, and pallets collected via Recoservice, cleaned and inspected for reuse. Includes rHDPE and PP post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic products.
- Bright Eco Coating First 100% microplastic-free greenhouse coating for horticulture, protecting greenhouse plants from excess sunlight while eliminating microplastic pollution.
- StimBlue+ Biostimulant Carbon-neutral, organic biostimulant based on Macrocystis pyrifera (kelp), distributed by Royal Houweling for Kelp Blue. Improves plant resilience, nutrient uptake, and soil vitality across various crops.
- Recoservice Circular Economy Service Circular economy service that collects used packaging (IBCs, jerrycans, drums, pallets, buckets), workwear, and PPE from customers for reuse or material recycling. Includes pickup scheduling, cleaning, inspection, and reprocessing.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% CO2 reduction through IBC reconditioning vs new production
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Houweling Group
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments11 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Houweling Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Houweling Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Kelp BluecoreStrategic distribution partnership for StimBlue+ biostimulant across Europe and North America. Kelp Blue cultivates seaweed on offshore platforms and harvests only the top 10% to preserve ecosystems. Royal Houweling distributes this carbon-neutral, organic product made from Macrocystis pyrifera, which enhances plant resilience, nutrient uptake, and soil vitality. The partnership aligns with Royal Houweling's 100-year tradition of innovative and regenerative solutions.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Houweling Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SCHÜTZ GmbH & Co. KGaA: German-headquartered global manufacturer of IBCs (SCHÜTZ IBC) and industrial packaging. Directly comparable to Houweling on IBC manufacturing, multi-region distribution, and reconditioning services, with a similar European industrial-customer focus.
- Mauser Packaging Solutions: Global manufacturer and reconditioner of industrial packaging including IBCs, steel and plastic drums, and reconditioning services. Closest direct competitor to Houweling's core rigid-container and Recoservice-equivalent offerings, with substantially larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
- Hoover Container Solutions: US-based IBC manufacturer and reconditioner with growing European presence (Hoover Ferriotec). Highly comparable to Houweling's combination of new IBC manufacturing and reconditioning/Recoservice-type reverse logistics for chemical and food customers.
- CABKA Group: European manufacturer of plastic pallets and large rigid plastic containers with a strong recycled-plastic and circular-economy focus. Comparable to Houweling on the plastic pallets line, recycled-content manufacturing, and sustainability positioning in industrial packaging.
Others
- Nefab Group: Global engineered packaging and logistics-services provider with industrial packaging distribution and reusable packaging solutions. Comparable to Houweling on the distribution and reusable-packaging side, though less focused on recycled-rigid-container manufacturing.
Broad incumbents
- Greif, Inc. NYSE-listed global industrial packaging producer of steel drums, plastic drums, IBCs, containerboard and corrugated products. Overlaps with Houweling's rigid plastic container and drum portfolio but operates at much greater scale across multiple packaging categories.
Emerging players
- Brødrene Hartmann: Danish manufacturer of molded-fiber egg packaging and sustainable fiber-based industrial packaging. Adjacent peer — not a rigid-plastic competitor, but a comparable European sustainable-packaging manufacturer competing for the same ESG-driven customers.
Regional players
- Indufin Group: Belgium-based distributor and converter of industrial packaging (drums, IBCs, jerrycans, pallets) serving Benelux industrial customers. Closest regional distribution peer to Houweling's Belgian operations and a direct Benelux competitor in rigid-container distribution.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Houweling Group social profiles
Digital presenceHouweling Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Houweling Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Houweling Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Houweling Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries11 records
Houweling Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Houweling Group 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 Houweling Group
What does Houweling Group do?
Houweling Group manufactures and distributes industrial packaging (jerrycans, IBCs, drums, buckets, pallets, politainers), workwear and personal protective equipment, and horticulture products across more than 30 countries. The company operates an in-house recycled plastic production facility powered by solar energy and provides Recoservice — a circular economy collection, cleaning, reconditioning, and recycling service for used packaging and PPE. Products are available in virgin, post-consumer recycled (PCR), and ocean plastic variants with UN certification for hazardous substances.
Is Houweling Group a public or private company?
Houweling Group is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Houweling Group founded?
Houweling Group was founded in 1925. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Houweling Group based?
Houweling Group is headquartered in Bleiswijk, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Houweling Group make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Packaging Products are the primary driver. The others are workwear and PPE, recoservice, horticulture Products and distribution Services.
Who are Houweling Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SCHÜTZ GmbH & Co. KGaA, Mauser Packaging Solutions, Hoover Container Solutions and CABKA Group. Nefab Group is listed as an others. Greif, Inc. is listed as a broad incumbent. Brødrene Hartmann is listed as an emerging player. Indufin Group is listed as a regional player.
Does Houweling Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Houweling Group.
What industry is Houweling Group in?
Houweling Group's product category is Industrial Packaging. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMANAEAI, Foodservice & Single-Use Plastic Packaging (Cups, Lids, Cutlery) Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 32611 and its SIC code is 3080.