Ringo.Eco

About Ringo.Eco

Ringo.Eco, founded in 2020 by Janek Balonski and Karla Polli, is a company operating in the circular economy to reduce single-use packaging waste. The founders' background in the reusable freight packaging sector with a previous company, Bepco, provided them with insights into the packaging industry, which spurred the creation of Ringo.Eco. The company is based in Tallinn, Estonia, and has expanded its services from the Baltics to Sweden.

The core of Ringo.Eco's business is a packaging-as-a-service model, centered around an open platform for reusable packaging. This model serves a diverse client base that includes retailers, food producers, restaurants, and e-commerce businesses. The company makes money by managing the entire lifecycle of reusable packages, which includes their collection, industrial cleaning, and handling of deposits. For consumers, the system involves paying a deposit for a reusable package, which is refunded after they scan a QR code on the empty package and return it to one of the numerous collection boxes.

Ringo.Eco has established an extensive network of return points, with over 300 locations in Tallinn alone, making the return process convenient for users. A significant component of their infrastructure is a large-scale cleaning and hygiene center in Tallinn, capable of processing up to one million packaging units per month using advanced cleaning technologies like ozone and UV light to ensure high levels of cleanliness. The company's services are not limited to food containers; they have also ventured into providing reusable packaging solutions for e-commerce in partnership with logistics companies. This open platform approach allows other retailers and packaging providers to integrate their own containers into Ringo's logistics and deposit system.

The company has achieved several milestones, including raising €500,000 in a seed round from investors like SuperAngels VC and Martin Villig to expand its network and services. It has also secured support from the Environmental Investment Center and collaborated on pilot projects with the city of Tallinn to promote reusable packaging. Ringo.Eco has partnered with major events like the Tartu Marathon and has been recognized as a top greentech company in Estonia.