Summary

Reath works with brands — ranging from food and drink to cosmetics — to track their respective reusable pacakaging and also provides the brands with metrics about reusability. This data (e.g., how many times a container has been reused, how long it took for the container to be returned, etc.), can then be used to manage and grown reuse systems by customers of Reath. The company gives each item of reusable packaging a “digital passport,” which collects ‘stamps’ in as it is reused. These data-related incentives are designed to support and encourage reuse both by brands and consumers of the brands.

Story

Co-founders Emily Rogers and Claire Rampen both had experience in tech before coming together to found Reath. Rogers had a background in inventory management and data management and Rampen had experience at a bike-share startup. They were both frustrated by their limited options for reducing the amount of single-use packaging they consumers, and were dismayed by the fact that even most recyclables are in fact incinerated. Together, they set out to make reusables a more appealing alternative for brands to consider by eliminating the obvious pain points. When they interviewed over 100 businesses they found the two main challenges. One, legislation around consumer goods requires a batch code for traceability in case there is a recall, which typically makes single-use containers more attractive for businesses. Second, they found that managing a circular system is a challenge when there is limited understanding of where all the packaging is in the system and how long consumers tend to hold onto a produce before sending it back. Also, taxation around packaging often encourages companies to prioritize a lower weight over durability. (Source) Reath was created to address all these challenges.

Pic Credit: Presseed now (right) and Reath (top)