dotch

Dotch GmbH, whose name is derived from "do the change," is a Berlin-based company founded in 2022 by Veronika Pfender, André Pietzke, and Tim Winkler. The company is positioned within the circular economy, offering a comprehensive, full-service reusable packaging system for pre-packaged foods that were previously limited to single-use solutions.

The business operates on a "packaging-as-a-service" model, targeting food producers and retailers. Dotch provides standardized, reusable glass bottles and jars, initially focusing on products like cooking oils, vinegars, and sauces, and manages the entire lifecycle of this packaging. This process includes delivering the containers for bottling, and after consumer use, managing the collection, sorting, and professional cleaning of the returned items. This approach allows even smaller producers to adopt a reusable system without investing in the complex logistics of sourcing, cleaning, and managing packaging inventory.

Consumers return the empty glass containers via existing deposit return machines in retail stores, making the process convenient. Revenue is generated by charging a usage fee to the food producers and retailers who utilize dotch's pool of bottles and jars. By managing the container pool, dotch provides a solution that is both ecologically and economically sensible, aiming to make reusable packaging as simple as single-use alternatives. The system significantly reduces CO2 emissions—by up to 70% compared to single-use glass—by professionally cleaning bottles at 85°C instead of the 1,600°C required to melt glass for recycling. In early 2024, the company successfully raised over €450,000 in a business angel funding round to expand its operations.

Keywords: reusable packaging, circular economy, packaging-as-a-service, food retail, deposit return system, sustainable packaging, glass bottle pooling, logistics service, B2B, sustainability