Annual Review – That was the NaKu Year 2024
A look back at the past year at NaKu: Important events and milestones
When we look back on the past year, we are once again aware of the numerous highlights and significant moments at NaKu. Come with us on an exciting journey through the NaKu year 2024!
When writing this review, we were surprised ourselves at what happened. From exciting TV filming days to very exciting encounters to many events and innovative new products - it was a year full of great events!
January 2024
Meeting with the NaKu team at Biofach 2024
NaKu's visit to Biofach 2024 NürnbergMesse Austria was a great event in our annual calendar right at the start of the year. As the world's leading trade fair for organic food and sustainable products, Biofach offered an ideal platform to present our innovative products made of bioplastics to a wide audience.
It was a wonderful opportunity to meet many of our valued customers in person and to inspire new people to be interested in our environmentally friendly solutions. The direct exchange with you was not only inspiring, but also incredibly valuable. Your positive feedback and constructive suggestions help us to continuously improve and develop our products.
From the media: Microplastics in PET bottles?!
At the end of 2023/beginning of 2024, there were reports in many media about microplastics and nanoplastics in PET bottles. These reports are based on a new study from the USA.
In order to provide you with comprehensive information, we have prepared this topic in detail on our website and linked to various media reports as well as the study itself. We have also created videos that clearly explain the most important findings and connections. Take a look and find out more about this controversial topic!
February 2024
NEW! Organic oil in the NaKu organic bottle
The organic sunflower oil under the Vimeksim Vieno brand is a world first and is offered for the first time in a sustainable PLA bottle that does not contain any plastic at all. Austria is the first country in which VIENO organic sunflower oil is available in this NO-PLASTIC bottle.
VIENO supplies the purest, best organic sunflower oil, quality tested in Austria and provides people with a high-quality staple food. For VIENO, however, responsibility does not stop with the content. Because packaging has a huge impact on the environment due to the enormous amounts of conventional plastic waste. That's why VIENO chose the NaKu PLA bottle.
NaKu at the Food Safety Conference 2024
At the end of January we experienced very interesting days at the Food Safety Conference 2024, organized by the imh Institut Manfred Hämmerle GmbH.
Our managing director Johann Zimmermann focused on three central topics:
- What really matters with bioplastics
- The importance of compostability for food packaging
- Challenges in the area of recyclability
The discussion under the motto “Product safety versus recyclability & sustainability of packaging – contradiction or symbiosis?” was particularly fascinating.
NaKu in the art project “More than 40.000”
In February 2024 we were on the road with the information stand as part of the art project “More than 40.000” by Artstudio Hamburg (Irina Ahrend-Liu & Xiaomin Liu) in the Quarree Wandsbek, Hamburg.
Our discussions about the topic of bioplastics and our sustainable product solutions were particularly interesting. The visitors showed great interest in our 120% sustainable NaKu PLA/rPLA bottle and in our new cheese sleeping bag made of bioplastic. The topic of recycling bioplastics was still quite new for many people.
Network meeting for the microplastic-free alliance
On February 23, 2024, we had the opportunity to attend the network meeting of the Microplastics-Free Alliance and to find out more about the highly topical and explosive issue of microplastics. After the gripping and insightful presentations, we were also able to interview Daniel Steinitz (Managing Director of the Microplastics-Free Alliance) and Ass. Prof. Mag. Dr.rer.nat. Christian Zafiu (Institute for Waste and Circular Economy ABF-BOKU) on this topic.
Our Lizzy Weinert conducted the interviews and received many interesting and important answers.
March 2024
Lizzy asks: The formation of microplastics
We are pleased to be able to present you an exciting video! In this interview, Lizzy spoke with Ass. Prof. Mag. Dr.rer.nat.Christian Zafiu from the Institute for Waste and Circular Economy at BOKU about a highly relevant topic: microplastics and their dangers to the environment.
Christian Zafiu is a recognized expert in this field and shared valuable knowledge about the formation of microplastics and the associated risks in the video.
Microplastic particles are tiny, but their impact on our environment is enormous. We learned how these particles are created, how they enter the environment and what dangers they pose to ecosystems, animals and ultimately to us humans.
April 2024
Podcast recording: The RED BULLETiN INNOVATOR Session
In April 2024 we had a very interesting date in the calendar: the recording of a podcast episode as part of The Red Bulletin Innovator Sessions.
This episode is dedicated to the path of plastic from its creation and history to the here and now. The challenges and problems associated with plastic are highlighted and finally a look into the future towards alternative materials.
May 2024
The NaKu team accompanied Martina Gleissenebner-Teskey on her WALK4FUTURE on Earth Day
On April 22.4.2024, 2024, Earth Day, which in 4 had the motto “PLANET VS. PLASTIC”, we accompanied Martina Gleissenebner-Teskey on her #WALKXNUMXFUTURE – and it was great!
On Sunday, April 21st, a reception took place in the Klosterneuburg town hall at which Martina Gleissenebner-Teskey launched her biggest project to date. The starting signal for her WALK4FUTURE on this day marks the beginning of a movement that campaigns against overconsumption and overproduction in the fashion industry.
With her extraordinary walk from Klosterneuburg/Vienna to Paris, Martina is making a particularly important statement for sustainability in the fashion industry. During yesterday's walk together, we not only heard a lot of interesting input and captivating stories from Martina, but the topic of bioplastics and their possible uses also played a central role.
June 2024
The long night of research – NaKu was there
As part of this event, NaKu presented itself with an information stand on the subject of bioplastics in the Technology and Research Center (TFZ) Wiener Neustadt.
The audience showed great interest in all aspects of bioplastics - from production to the circular economy to the highly topical area of recycling. Around 300 visitors to our information stand had the opportunity to find out more about the latest developments and to experience and test the innovative NaKu products made of bioplastics first hand.
An event full of interesting conversations for NaKu – The TEDx in Klagenfurt
We are overwhelmed by the many questions and the great interest we received at TEDxKlagenfurt. While many people already knew about our organic bags, the NaKu bottle made of bioplastic (sugar-based) was still a novelty for most.
It was fascinating to see how surprised the visitors were that bottles can already be made from plant-based raw materials as an alternative to PET/rPET bottles, which are also compostable and do not produce persistent microplastics when they decompose.
New in the range: The NaKu organic freezer bag 4 liters extra long
NEW! The popular NaKu organic freezer bag is now available in an extra long version – ideal for larger baked goods such as pretzel sticks, loaves of bread, and much more.
The NaKu organic freezer bag, with a 4-liter capacity and a practical 10-pack roll, is the ideal companion in your kitchen. Made from breathable and water-resistant corn-based bioplastic, it offers a sustainable solution for freezing food.
July 2024
NaKu goes 3D printing: Sustainable innovation with bioplastic recycling material
REX|LAB has started a fascinating project that also uses NaKu's bioplastic recycling material for 3D printing. The idea behind this venture is to find sustainable solutions while exploring the possibilities of 3D printing.
A very exciting example is the “Quadrifoglio” furniture series, which uses, among other things, a starch compound called NaKuR. This material was obtained from one of our recycling projects. The use of (recycled) bioplastics in 3D printing sets an example for environmental protection and resource conservation.
This was the SPEAK OUT Festival by KURIER – futurezone 2024 for NaKu
The SPEAK OUT Festival by KURIER – futurezone was once again an inspiring event with very interesting lectures and panel discussions. This year, the festival was all about the 6-R for sustainability: RETHINK, REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, REPAIR, RECYCLE.
The event began with a warm welcome from Kimiko Uriu, Claudia Zettel and Martina Salomon. Marcus Wadsak, who acted as keynote speaker, gave a lecture on the topic of "Our climate - act now". His words were thought-provoking and set the tone for the following lectures and panel discussions.
The varied program included not only lectures and discussions, but also practical workshops. Ute Zimmermann took part in the interactive puzzle workshop on biodiversity, circular economy and climate and presented the results at the end of the workshop.
August 2024
Holiday time & trade fair preparation for the NaKu team for Fachpack 2024
In August 2024, we were already in the middle of trade fair preparations, as we were participating in FACHPACK with a completely new stand concept. Planning and implementing this new concept was an exciting challenge that was worth it. Our new stand attracted a lot of interest and enabled us to present our innovative products and ideas to a wide audience.
September 2024
New edition of the NaKu company brochure in time for Fachpack
Our new NaKu company brochure was completed just in time for Fachpack. In the brochure you will find an overview of our latest innovations from the NaKu standard range as well as detailed information about our sustainable products and projects.
We highlight the versatile applications of our bioplastics and present some of our most successful packaging and product projects. We also provide insights into our collaboration with partners and show how NaKu is helping to solve environmental problems.
That was the Fachpack 2024 for NaKu!
At FACHPACK 2024, the NaKu exhibition stand offered a comprehensive source of information on the diverse possibilities of bioplastics. Visitors were able to learn how this innovative plastic is made from plants and what the differences are compared to conventional plastics. The environmental benefits that bioplastics bring with them were particularly interesting. It was also demonstrated how bioplastics can be composted or recycled.
Johann Zimmermann in an interview with vegconomist – The vegan business magazine
In the issue of CEO statements in vegconomist – The vegan business magazine on the topic of sustainable packaging: “Greenwashing or vision of the future?” in September 2024, Johann Zimmermann, managing director and owner of NaKu, expressed criticism that price is often more important than environmental aspects when it comes to choosing bottles.
October 2024
Trade fair follow-up from Fachpack
October 2024 was all about follow-up to the trade fair. Our team had their hands full sending out samples and dealing with numerous enquiries resulting from the successful trade fair appearances. It was a busy but rewarding time that demonstrated our commitment and dedication.
November 2024
LVA Further Education – The new “green” FCM with Johann Zimmermann from NaKu
On November 27, 2024, an extremely interesting seminar on the topic "The new 'green' FCM" took place at LVA GmbH. The event attracted numerous participants interested in sustainable solutions in the food packaging industry.
Our Managing Director, Johann Zimmermann, gave an impressive presentation on the topic of "Sustainable Articles". He highlighted the challenges and opportunities associated with developing environmentally friendly packaging materials, emphasizing the need to meet both sustainability requirements and strict food safety regulations.
EspressoTalk.OmniBlick with Johann Zimmermann
At the EspressoTalk, Dr. Margarita Misheva spoke with Johann Zimmermann about the exciting connections between nature and plastic and how changes pave the way for innovation. Johann Zimmermann, who is in charge of technical management and development at NaKu, impressively demonstrated how nature and plastic can be combined in an innovative way.
During the conversation, Johann shared fascinating insights into his work and explained how bio-based materials can revolutionize the future of the plastics industry. The discussion highlighted the importance of sustainable solutions and how innovation and environmental awareness can go hand in hand.
Guest lecture by NaKu at the Central European University
In November 2024, we were invited as guest speakers at the Central European University in Vienna to talk about the topic of microplastics and their impact on the environment and human health. The lecture provided a comprehensive overview of the threat posed by microplastics and highlighted various aspects of bioplastics decomposition and composting as well as bioplastics recycling.
An illustrative topic of the lecture was the rotting and composting of products made of bioplastics using the example of the NaKu PLA/rPLA bottle and the NaKu biobag in industrial compost according to DIN 13432. Johann Zimmermann explained the plastic cycle using the NaKu Double Loop of Sustainability and explained the challenges and possibilities of recycling bioplastics.
Limited, signed edition of the art calendar "More than 40.000"
In November 2024 we received the limited edition of the art calendar "More than 40.000", signed by the artists Irina Ahrend-Liu and Xiaomin Liu (Artstudio Hamburg). This special art calendar was printed on the environmentally friendly NaKu biopolymer film at Renner Print Media GmbH Daniel Linzmayr.
Special features of the material: The NaKu biopolymer film used to make the calendar is made from rapidly renewable plant-based raw materials such as sugar and corn starch. It contains neither wood nor conventional plastic and is completely biodegradable. This special film is ideal for applications where conventional films are to be replaced with environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives. It is recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable, making it particularly suitable for products that could potentially enter the environment, as no permanent microplastics are produced during decomposition.
December 2024
Research, Technology, Innovation – “Highlights of the Biobased Industry” – NaKu was there
Our Managing Director Johann Zimmermann took part in the panel discussion at the event “Research, Technology, Innovation: Highlights of the Bio-based Industry”. This event was organized by the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation & Technology (BMK) in cooperation with the Austrian Chemical Industry Association (FCIO) and the FFG Austrian Research Promotion Agency mbH.
The focus of this year's event was on bio-based material solutions made from secondary raw materials. Against this background, the panel discussion addressed various questions - from the possibilities to the challenges surrounding the topic of "bio-based materials" and what the switch to such materials would mean for Austria. You can find the video review on this at ÖGUT - Austrian Society for Environment and Technology right here.
Further events where NaKu or the NaKu team is or has been present can be found here. Follow us on LinkedIn!
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about the NaKu Highlights 2024
What were the highlights for NaKu in 2024?
Highlights of 2024 included participation in major trade fairs such as Biofach 2024 and Fachpack 2024 , the launch of new products like the VIENO organic sunflower oil bottle and the extra-long NaKu organic freezer bag . NaKu was also represented at events such as the "Long Night of Research" and TEDx Klagenfurt.
What has NaKu done in the area of media and public relations?
In 2024, NaKu published a video on microplastics , participated in a podcast episode about alternative materials, and addressed the topic in the media and with the "Microplastic-Free Alliance ." Managing Director Johann Zimmermann was quoted in vegconomist's CEO statement series on sustainable packaging.
What were the innovative projects and new products?
NaKu supported a project at the University of Innsbruck on 3D printing with recycled bioplastic material by supplying PLA . New products included the VIENO organic sunflower oil bottle and the extra-long NaKu bio freezer bag . The company brochure was also redesigned.
