In conversation with Amcor Lift-Off winner circolution: Part I

Frank Lehmann (FL): Alessandro, it’s a pleasure to speak with you. You’re circolution’s co-founder and CFO, and one of our Amcor Lift-Off winners! Tell us a little about your company and yourself. When was circolution founded? And, what do you do?

Alessandro Marchiaro (AM): circolution was born in 2019 out of the incubation program, Futury. We are a Frankfurt-based FoodTech startup driven by a commitment to create a positive impact. Our mission is to tackle the issue of single-use packaging waste through a highly scalable digital platform for reusable food packaging.

What we do is offer a wide range of smart reusable containers, which are seamlessly integrated into our digital platform. Through real-time data tracking, we provide complete visibility of each container's lifecycle.

By doing so, we enable food producers to make a convenient and cost-effective switch from single-use to reusable packaging. This allows them to maintain profitability while also meeting their sustainability objectives with a truly circular system.

As for my role, I’m personally responsible for the more analytical aspects of our business – including financial and ecological assessments.

FL: That's very exciting. We’ve begun working together thanks to the Amcor Lift-Off program. What did you think when you first heard about the Lift-Off program? What were your first thoughts and what made you want to participate in our program?

AM: I immediately thought it was a great initiative for Amcor to be involved in corporate venturing and engaging with early-stage start-ups.

As a start-up ourselves, we know how valuable it can be to have the support and resources of an established company like Amcor, and we believe that initiatives like the Amcor Lift-Off program can help drive innovation and growth in the packaging industry.

It was a relatively easy decision to participate since we were already working with Amcor as it is providing the lid sealing solution for Anita in Steel – our first packaging solution launched on the market in November, 2022, in the coffee, cacao and powder category. That's why we were even more excited about the potential benefits of participating in the Lift-Off program.

FL: What did you think about the application process? Was it helpful? And, what did you learn?

AM: I would definitely encourage a start-up within the same space to apply. The application process and pitch itself went pretty smoothly for us. It left us with a positive feeling.

Obviously, after the pitch, we still had some open questions that were then answered during our follow-up calls, but most of the preparation involved us figuring out how to best structure the cooperation between circolution and Amcor, and then define where the greatest value would be.

It was essential for us to really understand the program guidelines and requirements to make sure they matched our goals and objectives.

For other start-ups considering applying for Lift-Off, I’d advise them to do in-depth research. By looking through the guidelines and requirements of the program, we truly came to understand how heavily committed Amcor is to advancing the circular economy, which was crucial for us.

Read more about circolution being selected as a Lift-Off winner, as well as the Lift-Off program.