Startup Date with Fabian Eckert – Co-Founder of RECUP

Here you can access the Livestream.

After the inspiring Startup Dates of the past few months, we can look forward to another highlight: On January 21, we welcome Fabian Eckert, one of the co-founders of RECUP & REBOWL, Germany’s leading reusable system for the catering industry.

Fabian Eckert is one of the driving forces behind a movement that has become an integral part of many people’s everyday lives. The turquoise RECUP cups and REBOWL lunch boxes represent a simple, practical, and effective contribution to waste reduction—and have thus become a symbol of practical climate protection. What seems obvious today began in 2015 with an idea in a Swedish lecture hall: the question of how to avoid billions of disposable containers and change an entire system. The fact that his co-founder Florian developed the same idea at the same time at another university was the coincidence that made RECUP possible.

In this interview, Fabian takes us back to the early days of the company’s founding, telling us about courageous decisions, setbacks, and the challenges that arise when a market first has to develop – and then suddenly explodes. He talks about how political changes, competition, and his own pursuit of further development have shaped RECUP. And he openly shows what it means to become a market leader in a short period of time, to manage growth, and at the same time to develop a product that really makes a lasting difference.
Fabian provides insights into an intense journey: from the founding ideal to phases of complete exhaustion to the realization of why strong partners, a functioning team, and a clear purpose are crucial. And he looks back on nearly nine years of RECUP – years in which a vision became a Germany-wide, well-known, and effective recycling system.

At Startup Date, you will have the opportunity to meet one of the key drivers of the German reusable movement in person – approachable, reflective, and with a story that shows how much courage it takes to tackle a real social problem. As always, after our interview, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and talk directly with Fabian.

The event will take place online on Wednesday, January 21, at 5 p.m. You can get free tickets via the registration link. The interview will be in German.

Take the opportunity to get to know one of the minds behind RECUP – and be inspired by a founding story that shows how an idea can lead to real change.