What Stichting CircularPET does

Stichting CircularPET is a Dutch foundation (Stichting) founded in 2019 and headquartered in Zaandam, Netherlands. The company designs and operates a fully integrated circular softcup system for events, combining the supply of 100% recycled PET (rPET) softcups, on-site collection logistics staffed by trained controllers, real-time data registration via a proprietary app, a customer portal for post-event certificates and reporting, and full handling of the ILT (Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport) notification required under Dutch SUP single-use plastics regulations. The system is offered in 'Regular' and 'Lite' tiers, with pricing structured as a quote-based bundle covering cups, logistics, controllers, recycling, and a circularity certificate, plus a closed-loop return token system or a minimum €1 sustainability surcharge per token/beaker.

The business serves event organizers (festivals, concerts, sports events), Dutch municipalities running city-wide event programs, entertainment companies operating multiple venues, and the broader horeca (hospitality) sector. Named customers include Vierdaagsefeesten, REBiRTH Festival, Feijenoord Stadion (De Kuip), Bevrijdingsfestival across multiple cities, Libéma Entertainment, and several others. The company also provides advisory services and blueprint design for city-wide rollouts and offers tokens, laser engraving (for orders of 30,000+ cups), and custom visitor communication as add-on products. A webshop for direct cup and accessory sales is in development. The core team comprises 11 people, led by General Director Tjeerd Bijnsdorp and Director of Operations & Growth Sanja Bunic.

The go-to-market is sales-led, driven by direct outreach, a website quote request form, and a 'check' tool that helps prospects self-assess which service tier they need. The primary distribution channel is the company's own website, supplemented by partner referrals from Bordex Packaging, which took a participation stake in CircularPET in March 2024 to integrate rPET cup production with the circular service system. Strategic positioning centers on regulatory compliance (SUP/ILT) and the elimination of hardcup logistics—washing stations, storage, and return transport—through a single bundled service backed by real-time data and certified recycling.

Name

Stichting CircularPET

Legal name

Stichting CircularPET

Website

https://circularpet.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stichting CircularPET operates a fully integrated circular softcup system for events in the Netherlands, supplying rPET cups, on-site collection, real-time data tracking, and ILT compliance reporting. It serves festival organizers, municipalities, sports venues, and entertainment companies, with a strategic partnership with cup manufacturer Bordex Packaging.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Circular Packaging Services

NAICS

Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261)

SIC

Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)

akta.pro primary industry

Recycled-Content Plastic Packaging (rPET, rHDPE, rPP) (IMALAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reusable & Refill Packaging Systems (Returnable Packaging, Refill-at-Home/In-Store) (IMALAMAE), Packaging Recovery & Closed-Loop Programs (Take-Back, Deposit-Return, EPR Support) (IMALAMAF), Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops) (EUAIANAE)

Keywords

• Circular cup systems
• Event waste management
• PET cup recycling
• SUP compliance services
• RPET softcup supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Zaandam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Softcup Sales (inclusive of system): CircularPET sells softcups as part of a bundled offering that includes the complete circular system: cups, collection logistics, on-site controllers, data registration, recycling, and certificate. Pricing is quoted per event based on volume and complexity.
2. System Services (Regular & Lite): Service tiers: 'Regular' for full-complexity city-wide events, 'Lite' for smaller-scale events. Services include design and planning, on-site control and collection, high-quality recycling, certificate and reporting, and data management.
3. Additional Products (tokens, laser engraving, custom communication): CircularPET offers complementary products including tokens, laser engraving on cups for events with 30,000+ units, and custom visitor communication materials.
4. Advisory Services for Municipalities: For municipalities and larger organizations, CircularPET offers workshops, presentations, and advisory services. During the design phase, they create a blueprint to enable city-wide or organization-wide event rollouts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stichting CircularPET designs and operates a 100% circular softcup system for events, festivals, sports venues, and hospitality in the Netherlands. The integrated offering supplies rPET (recycled PET) single-use cups, manages on-site collection and control by trained personnel, performs high-quality recycling through partner Bordex Packaging, and delivers full regulatory compliance via ILT (Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport) reporting and circularity certificates.

Product overview

CircularPET operates a unified circular cup ecosystem consisting of the core CircularPET Systeem platform with its integrated service modules: rPET Softcups (available in standard sizes and custom laser-engraved variants from 30,000 pieces), On-site Controle & Inzameling (trained controllers deployed at events), ILT Melding Service (compliance reporting to Dutch authorities), CircularPET App & Portal (real-time data tracking and customer access portal), Circulariteitscertificaat (recycling certificates based on ILT-approved calculations), and add-on products including Tokens and Gravure services. The system offers both Regular (full-service for city-wide events) and Lite (simplified for smaller events) configurations, unified by the shared data platform and compliance framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CircularPET Systeem (Circular Cup System) The complete 100% circular cup system for events, encompassing design and planning, on-site collection and control by trained personnel, high-quality recycling, certificate and reporting, and full data management and administration. Available in Regular (full-complexity city-wide events) and Lite (smaller-scale events) configurations. Targets festival organizers, municipalities, sports venues, and entertainment companies in the Netherlands.
• rPET Softcups Single-use cups made from 100% recycled PET (rPET) plastic. The 20cl variant weighs 4.8 grams per cup. Fully circular and food-grade recyclable. Available with laser-engraved branding for orders from 30,000 pieces. Sold as part of the CircularPET system bundle and through the company's webshop.
• CircularPET App & Portal Mobile app providing real-time performance tracking per bar and location, with check-ins, weights, photo reports, and counts. Paired with a customer web portal at portal.circularpet.nl that provides consolidated data access, certificates, and compliance documentation for event organizers.
• Tokens & Laser Engraving Add-on products including recycling tokens for the closed-loop return system and laser engraving services for softcups, providing ink-free branding for events. Available for orders from 30,000 cups.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% collection rate required for SUP compliance, with CircularPET consistently exceeding this target at major events like Vierdaagsefeesten, REBiRTH, and De Kuip
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• rCUP: UK-based reusable cup system for events and venues using a durable polypropylene cup with deposit-return mechanics. Comparable closed-loop event-cup model with similar data tracking and compliance positioning to CircularPET.
• Relevo: German reusable cup deposit-return system competing with Recup. Targets events and hospitality with a similar bundled cup-and-logistics offering, including app-based data tracking — directly comparable to CircularPET's app + portal approach.
• TURN: German reusable cup system offering deposit-based reusable cups for events and hospitality. Operates a regional pool model comparable to CircularPET's bundled circular system for event organizers.
• Recup: Germany's leading reusable cup deposit-return system, operating a pooled cup network across cafés, restaurants and events. Directly comparable to CircularPET's closed-loop event cup model, with the key difference being reusable hardcups versus CircularPET's rPET single-use softcups.
• Again: French circular cup platform providing reusable cup solutions for events, festivals, stadiums and corporate clients across France. Directly comparable event-focused offering, leveraging deposit-return and event logistics similar to CircularPET's model.
• Rentcup: Belgian reusable cup rental and washing service for events. Geographically adjacent to CircularPET's Dutch market and offers a comparable service for Belgian festivals and event organizers — relevant as a cross-border competitor and potential partner.
• FairCup: German reusable cup pool operator serving events and hospitality venues with a deposit-based system. Comparable in target market (events/horeca) and operational model (cup supply, collection, washing, redistribution), serving as a reusable-cup alternative to CircularPET's softcup system.
• Rezero: Swiss circular economy platform operating reusable cup and food container systems for events and the food service industry. Comparable closed-loop model with a focus on measurable collection and return rates — similar to CircularPET's ILT data reporting approach.

Others

• Stichting Retourmatras: Dutch foundation focused on circular mattress and bulk waste take-back systems. Comparable only at the legal-form and circular-economy-services level; not a direct competitor in cups but adjacent as another Dutch 'Stichting' operating take-back/recovery infrastructure.
• Bordex Packaging: Dutch rPET cup producer and CircularPET's strategic partner/equity participant. Bordex supplies the rPET softcups that CircularPET puts into its circular system, so while not a direct competitor, it is the critical upstream supplier whose interests and capabilities shape CircularPET's offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circularpet

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stichting CircularPET