ABOUT AREKAPAK

• Arekapak is a German startup established in 2018 by co-founders Alexandra Matthies and Nicole Plock. The pair travelled to India in 2014 and were confronted with the "massive global problem plastic actually poses", but equally inspired by traditional usages of natural materials. They returned with the concept for Arekapak, which became the focus of their bachelor thesis, developing a prototype which they baked at home.

• Arekapak's vision is to create sustainable and aesthetic product packaging without the use of chemical coatings or plastic.

• The company comprises an Indian-German team led by Matthies, Plock, and their partner in India, Babu Ravanepalli. The products are made in cooperation with local manufacturers in rural communities located in the southern region of India.

• Arekapak's self-titled packaging collection is made entirely from areca palm leaves, an agricultural waste material that's commonly burned. Areca palms naturally shed their leaves, so no trees are cleared to source the material. The leaves are simply collected and transported to a nearby facility where they're washed, sun-dried, pressed into shape, and polished.

• The end product combines minimalistic design with functionality, and the raw material is left untreated, using no synthetic additives or coatings. As a result, the packaging is compostable once it reaches the end of its lifecycle, and can be disposed of in the organic waste stream.

• The company is passionate about supporting small farmers and women's independence. Adding economic and social value to the communities Arekapak relies on is an integral part of its sustainability approach, ensuring fair production and trading conditions. Since the raw material and final product are sourced from manufacturers who are local to the palm plantations, there is complete transparency across Arekapak's supply chain.

• The company is looking to predominantly serve the food industry, creating containers that are ideal for storing small-particle fruits, fresh vegetables, and dried foods such as nuts, as well as serving on-the-go meals. The range is also suitable for non-food items such as soap bars and other waterless beauty and personal care products. Its stability means it offers "optimal pressure protection for transport." 

• Arekapak says it worked with a number of potential clients to inform the product's development so that it "can actually replace some of the classic plastic packaging". The startup is still in its infancy, however, with an online shop under construction, so it remains to be seen how scalable production will be given that Arekapak is handmade.

• The company received initial funding from the Berlin Startup Stipendium in 2018, but it's unclear what funding, if any, has been awarded or raised since.