The path to a sustainable economy in the future will not be paved solely by groundbreaking technologies, but above all by companies that are prepared to take bold steps. This is precisely what the MUT Founders’ Award NRW, one of the most prestigious awards for young companies in the federal state, recognises. This year, 114 founders applied, from which 10 finalists were selected. On 9 December, the jury finally selected the three winners of the MUT Founders’ Award NRW 2025.
Solipac was proud to be among the top 10. For our company, this ranking is a significant success and proof that our vision of sustainable packaging solutions is being recognised and valued.
A competition that highlights innovation, courage and responsibility for the future
The MUT Start-up Award NRW honours founders who develop economically strong, socially responsible and ecologically relevant business models. The award ceremony once again provided an impressive stage for entrepreneurial stories that show how much energy, ingenuity and commitment lie behind young companies in North Rhine-Westphalia.
This year, another topic played a special role: the successful company takeover by Kevin Tödtmann, which was highlighted several times during the event. His story exemplifies the courage to take on responsibility, continue existing structures and at the same time set his own course – a value that fits perfectly with the spirit of the MUT Award. The attention given to this topic underlines how diverse the paths to self-employment can be and that company successions also make an important contribution to the economic stability and innovative strength of the state.
Top 10 out of 114 applications – what this success means for Solipac
Being ranked among the top ten founders is a strong signal for Solipac. Being selected from 114 applications clearly shows that our solutions are not just in line with a trend, they address an urgent structural problem – the transformation of the packaging industry.
For us, our top ten ranking means:
- Technical and strategic validation: A jury of experts sees Solipac as a viable, innovative business model with future potential.
- Relevance in the market: The response to the competition shows that companies, politicians and the public urgently need sustainable packaging alternatives.
- Visibility and networking opportunities: The nomination opens doors to new collaborations, partnerships and funding opportunities.
- Motivation for the team: For all of us, the award is both a boost to our motivation and a tailwind.
Why sustainable packaging is making a difference now
The packaging industry is undergoing change. Companies and consumers are looking for environmentally responsible, recyclable and, at the same time, economically viable solutions.
This is exactly where Solipac comes in: our aim is to think of packaging not as a disposable product, but as part of a sustainable material cycle. With innovative materials, well-thought-out processes and the clear goal of drastically reducing resource consumption, we are contributing to solving one of the biggest environmental problems of our time.
The fact that we made it into the top 10 of the MUT Start-up Award shows how important this work is – and how great the potential for real change in the industry can be.
Motivated for the next phase of development
The competition and the award ceremony were both an inspiration and a confirmation for us. The stories of the other finalists – as well as Kevin Tödtmann’s company takeover – impressively demonstrated how diverse courage can be.
For Solipac, this recognition marks the beginning of the next phase: we will continue to refine our products, implement new pilot projects and strategically expand our network. Our goal remains unchanged: to make sustainable packaging solutions the new standard.
Thank you!
Such successes can only be achieved together.
That is why we would like to thank everyone who accompanies Solipac on its journey: our customers, partners, supporters from the start-up scene and, of course, our entire team.
Every contribution, every conversation and every collaboration helps us to make the world a little bit more sustainable.
We look forward to continuing on this path together – with courage, innovative strength and the firm belief that real change is possible.
