Interview with Krzysztof Dobroszek, Founder and CEO, UrCup
How did it get started? Where did the idea to introduce such a service come from?
Working for a market leader in beer production, I was looking for a supplier of services in the area of supply and handling of reusable cups for the needs of our company’s gastro-event channel. As it turned out, packaging manufacturers could be found very quickly and without any problems. But unfortunately not a contractor for service and maintenance services. Existing companies specialising in service of mass events or catering were not interested in development in the field of reusable packaging service.
After deciding to end my corporate career, I started preparing and implementing a project that I continue to develop today under the brand UrCup (yoUr Cup). 2019 was a breakthrough year for our business, as the effort put into it allowed us to be a leader in the field of comprehensive catering and event services for drinks served in reusable cups. In 2020, an outbreak was declared in Poland that continues to this day. Nevertheless, we are working on development, as our plan from the idea stage includes several avenues of growth.
What is the vision for your company? What is your goal?
Our vision is to develop the project through education and introduction of practical solutions that will lead to the widespread abandonment of single-use packaging. Our goal is to replace disposable packaging with reusable packaging in the FMCG – fast moving consumer goods – sector. It is important in this process that reusable packaging does not end up in the garbage, but serves a closed-circuit economy. Packaging can have two roles: to be packaging or as raw material for production, but never trash.
How are you helping the customer solve their problem? What does your offering change?
While realising the project we are always in direct contact with our clients, whom we call partners in the project. Being aware of the new approach we present from the very first contact, we share our knowledge transparently. For efficient implementation and execution of activities, we actively train, and present the rules and roles of individual project stakeholders.
Our offer shows a different way of serving a partner’s guests than the one existing so far. The offer introduces a fundamental change from disposable packaging to reusable packaging, which is mentally not so easy to accept. Today, disposable packaging is perceived as easy and convenient to use. Disposable packaging leaving the point of sale with the sold beverage is no longer a problem for the seller. And the huge piles of waste are still growing!
What makes your offering different from other initiatives in your industry? What are the benefits to the environment and society?
Completeness – the range of our services is constructed in such a way as to involve as little time as possible to use reusable dishes. We take away all the inconveniences resulting from various system limitations (for example, the District Sanitary-Epidemiological Station decision). Thanks to us, catering outlets that could not use reusable dishes will be able to use them. Thanks to our initiative we will create a less-waste society. Thanks to the concept of common packaging dedicated to cities, regions, events, etc. we will integrate society with a common goal, which is environmental protection.
What role does design and digitalisation play?
Digitalisation is an indispensable element of the project functioning during its implementation. For the purposes of the project we have created our own mobile application available in the app store and Google Play. Cooperation documents will be signed electronically, the entire database and billing system is in a CRM (Customer Relationship Management).
What factors have helped keep the offer successful on the market? What tips can you give to others?
The key thing that currently, for example in the period of the announced epidemic condition, helped to maintain the offer is:
Involvement of the city of Gdynia in realisation of the concept with city mugs
Partners whose activity does not suffer significantly from the current situation (Ecoterm)
Implementers of events, ordering products, services (Pol’androck, Other Sounds, UTD)
Tips for others: patience, plan, be ready before the unexpected, be quick and radical, and immediate cost reduction.
If you were a powerful politician for a day, what would you change first and why?
I would make the use of reusable packaging universally mandatory (an active debate continues in our western neighbours.
How would you like to further develop your offering?
Expanding the area of operation and the proposed range of reusable packaging.
What is your key message?
Our offer is the answer to the rapidly growing amount of waste in Poland (we are the largest receiver of waste in Europe, one of the largest in the world). As for today, we do not have adequate infrastructure for waste management. There is no Planet B. Designed according to the closed cycle, because we do not produce garbage. Our product is always a raw material from its creation to its end of life, and we make sure that it does not end up in a landfill but in a factory to create new packaging. It is innovative because it fulfils socially necessary functions. We break the stereotypes prevailing for years of the superiority of disposable packaging in favour of multiple use. We act comprehensively, taking responsible care of the process of packaging.
Is there a question we didn’t ask that we should have asked?
Is there another solution to save life on Earth today? The answer is simple.
There is no Planet B.
The best junk is that which was not created at all.
