2025-11-25
Reverse Logistics Accelerator successfully completed: Startups bring a breath of fresh air to the circular economy
Source: Circular Valley
The Reverse Logistics Accelerator, a collaboration between Circular Valley and Startport, highlights regional cooperation within the wider Rhine-Ruhr area. It also serves as an indicator of North Rhine-Westphalia's growing appeal as a business location. Startups were supported in close collaboration to make reverse logistics more sustainable and efficient.
After three months of workshops, pitch training and networking events, one thing is clear: the startups participating in the Reverse Logistics Accelerator, initiated by Circular Valley and Startport, are breathing new life into the circular economy. Thirteen startups successfully completed the accelerator programme at the Demo Day event held at the Circular Valley Forum in Wuppertal's historic town hall.
New impetus for reverse logistics
All participants in the Reverse Logistics Accelerator share the goal of making reverse logistics more sustainable, efficient and digital. Several teams, including BooxIT, Circular Logistics, xpack green logistics, The Ocean Package, and Palprint, are working on innovative packaging and reusable solutions. Sacred Valley Tech, Koorvi and Urbix Hub are developing digital tools and platforms to make return processes more transparent and efficient. Meanwhile, EDEENenergy, Maxmove and Wempyre are contributing sustainable energy and transport solutions, and Designdirektive and Recarbished are providing new impetus with circular design and recycling approaches.
The intensive workshop, coaching and networking phase has successfully concluded the inaugural Reverse Logistics Accelerator programme from Circular Valley and Startport. "The startups have demonstrated the innovative potential of combining logistics and the circular economy," says Dr Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation. "With the Reverse Logistics Accelerator, we have succeeded in creating a programme that delivers tangible solutions for the transition to a circular economy."
Networking and exchange at duisport connect
An important part of the programme was the Duisport Connect networking event at the beginning of October, where the participating start-ups presented their business models to representatives from industry, science and politics. "The participating start-ups have made impressive progress in the programme's short timeframe — technically, strategically and personally," says Johannes Franke, Startport's managing director.
The Reverse Logistics Accelerator was launched to support young companies in making product returns, reuse and recycling more efficient and sustainable — a crucial factor for the circular economy.
New impetus for reverse logistics
All participants in the Reverse Logistics Accelerator share the goal of making reverse logistics more sustainable, efficient and digital. Several teams, including BooxIT, Circular Logistics, xpack green logistics, The Ocean Package, and Palprint, are working on innovative packaging and reusable solutions. Sacred Valley Tech, Koorvi and Urbix Hub are developing digital tools and platforms to make return processes more transparent and efficient. Meanwhile, EDEENenergy, Maxmove and Wempyre are contributing sustainable energy and transport solutions, and Designdirektive and Recarbished are providing new impetus with circular design and recycling approaches.
The intensive workshop, coaching and networking phase has successfully concluded the inaugural Reverse Logistics Accelerator programme from Circular Valley and Startport. "The startups have demonstrated the innovative potential of combining logistics and the circular economy," says Dr Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation. "With the Reverse Logistics Accelerator, we have succeeded in creating a programme that delivers tangible solutions for the transition to a circular economy."
Networking and exchange at duisport connect
An important part of the programme was the Duisport Connect networking event at the beginning of October, where the participating start-ups presented their business models to representatives from industry, science and politics. "The participating start-ups have made impressive progress in the programme's short timeframe — technically, strategically and personally," says Johannes Franke, Startport's managing director.
The Reverse Logistics Accelerator was launched to support young companies in making product returns, reuse and recycling more efficient and sustainable — a crucial factor for the circular economy.
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The image may be used free of charge for reporting purposes, provided you cite the source.
The non-profit Circular Valley Foundation brings together the relevant stakeholders. Across industries and technologies, companies, startups, academia, and policymakers are working together to develop solutions for the transformation to a true circular economy. Public relations, the world's first circular economy accelerator, and policy recommendations are the foundation's main areas of focus.
As a subsidiary of the Port of Duisburg, startport GmbH is committed to initiating a creative culture of innovation and actively promoting further development in the field of logistics and supply chain management. With this aim in mind, it supports and challenges young start-ups that work together with duisport and the companies based here to develop forward-looking ideas for the leading logistics hub in the heart of Europe. startport.net
