What began as a trade fair presentation at FACHPACK 2024 became a prime example of successful innovation through collaboration within just a few months. The Stuttgart-based start-up Evopack presented a new type of packaging system there for the first time – a 1,000-litre bag-in-box solution for the chemical industry. The idea: maximum functionality, minimum use of materials and no biocides for product protection.
However, despite the strong idea and positive response, Evopack was faced with the question of how to proceed without an experienced industrial partner in the summer of 2024. The chemical industry was struggling with economic uncertainties, the implementation of the solution was more complex than expected – and the resources of the young start-up were limited. “At the time, we talked about all eventualities, including ending Evopack. Of course, that made us very sad, especially when you look back at how much passion and energy had gone into the project. Both we and many customers remained fully convinced of the bag-in-box packaging approach for chemical products and knew that if we didn't do it, someone else would,” recalls Florian Ebinger, co-founder of Evopack.
During this critical phase, a conversation with Ringmetall at FACHPACK proved to be a turning point. The existing connections with the company's subsidiaries were intensified there, and it soon became clear that Ringmetall was not only a technical enabler, but also the ideal partner for the market launch of the Boxli concept. With its own production facilities for flexible packaging components – from 1,000-litre film bags to injection-moulded outlet taps – Ringmetall has the necessary industrial clout.
Rainer Carqueville, Vice President Ringmetall Group and Head of Business Unit Industrial Packaging Liner, was immediately convinced by the innovative spirit of Evopack's founders: “This is something we are no longer used to from established companies and their approach has created a great deal of momentum. The personalities of the founders and their in-depth expertise was another plus point. We saw this as an opportunity to help an innovative idea become a success.”
A third partner, Tricor, a specialist in large-volume industrial cardboard packaging, was brought on board to make the concept ready for industrial production. “The meeting with Tricor is another important step. Thanks to the joint focus on the customer and solving their problems with regard to convenience, we were able to significantly improve our Boxli 1000 once again and almost halve the assembly time,” explains Ebinger and Tricor CEO Philipp Kosloh adds: “I was very quickly impressed with Evopack because it is a solution that works as a system and is also patented. We were able to ideally combine Evopack's lid module with our Quickbin large containers to create a stable packaging system.”
The result of this three-way alliance is more than just a product – it is a new concept for bulk packaging. Evopack's patented lid module system ensures that the integrated 3D liner unfolds automatically when opened and is positioned precisely in the octagonal container. The highlight: the container is ready for use within a minute – a time advantage over conventional solutions, which take five to ten minutes. The liner reliably protects the product from contact with oxygen – from filling to final emptying - and thus enables biocide-free product preservation.
With a carbon footprint that is around 50% lower than that of an IBC and a plastic content of just 2.3 kg, the solution also demonstrates what is possible today in terms of environmental compatibility. The use of up to 90% recyclable material from non-fossil sources and the elimination of recycling and cleaning processes make the solution one of the most sustainable packaging solutions for containers of this type on the market.
Evopack GmbH has been a 25% subsidiary of Ringmetall SE since the beginning of 2025, where it is part of the Industrial Packaging Liner (IPL) division. Joining forces with established partners not only brought economic stability, but also opened up new growth prospects and offers large customers the necessary security of supply.
Evopack's ambitions now go far beyond the Boxli 1000. By 2040, the company wants to design the packaging of 50% of all paints and precursors manufactured in Europe in such a way that the shelf life is not guaranteed by biocides but by intelligent packaging systems. A large part of this journey should be completed by 2030.
“With Evopack, we want to enable the chemical industry to switch to biocide-free products. Our focus is on offering packaging concepts that ensure product preservation until the last drop instead of the first opening,” says the start-up founder. Evopack is positioning itself as a full solution provider for sustainable industrial packaging in all sizes. The combination of innovative spirit, technical expertise and strong partners makes this a tangible reality.
“After last year's success, we are looking forward to FACHPACK 2025. In addition to Boxli 1000, we have other sizes and products in the pipeline. All with the aim of preserving products in the long term and solving the industry's problems. And who knows, maybe one day we'll realise our idea of serving drinks from the Boxli 1000 at a trade fair,” says Ebinger.
