- Sprout is a pencil that has a seed capsule embedded in it that sprouts into an herb when the pencil is no longer usable. It was created by engineering students to be an environmentally friendly office product. - After launching a successful Kickstarter campaign, Sprout became an instant success selling over 250,000 pencils in under 8 months across 10 European countries. - While opportunities for growth remain, challenges include maintaining sustainability as the business grows rapidly, innovation as competition emerges, and addressing seasonality and price issues. The company aims to develop a "Green Thread" of new sustainable products building on the Sprout brand.

2. GREEN YOUR BUSINESS –
DTU 27.02.2014
• What is Sprout –
plantyourpencil.com
• Idea – kickstarter.com
• Sprout - from idea to
commercialization
• Business model
• Sprout - 1 year later
• Opportunities and challenges
• The ”Green thread” – Sprout
2.0

3. SPROUT in a few steps…..
• Simple drawing yet it illustrates sustainability in an easy 3-step way
(Patented)
• 100% natural product
• Signals green and ”you care” – recycling, upcycling, down cycling
• End to over consumption – no more use and throw away
• Use products for one purpose, then reuse for another, and finally, recycle
• A product getting a new life, rather than just being thrown away
• Not just a gimmick

4. And yes ….
Sprout pencils DO sprout

5. Ide og baggrund
• Engineering students from
MIT, Boston, USA
• Product design course:
Design an environmentally
friendly office product for the
future
• Brain-storm, desig and test
• RESULT ……
• A pencil with season seeds
capsule!?

6. Kickstarter.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72bBCGXuQ6w

7. From idea
to viable business

8. Marketing

9. We are
• Young dynamic
SUSTAINABLE business
• Green businessmodel??
• Sustainability is not ONLY
about production and
conditions – it is about the
product being used
sustainable also.
• Responsible – but profitable
– possible

10. Why Sprout became an instant success
• Sign of the times – we think
about consumption
• Walk the talk ….. Put your money
where your mouth is ….
• The sustainable consumer – our
consumer :

11. ”Dansk detail får verdens mest
bæredygtige produkt”
Det er kommet mere og mere fokus på CSR og bæredygtighed i detailbranchen
Nu skal produkterne ikke bare produceres på en måde, der skader miljøet mindst
muligt - Produkterne selv skal også være bæredygtige
Nær og grøn markedsføring
Sociolog og senioranalytiker Ane Friis fra CPH Lighthouse kan se potentialet i den
nye idé
”Vi har set utallige eksempler på bæredygtige produkter, men ofte ligger produktet
eller formålet længere væk fra forbrugeren.
I dette tilfælde har vi produktet helt tæt på forbrugerne, som ved selvsyn – og
selvpleje ikke mindst, kan se den brugte blyant genopstå i en ny funktion som
anvendelig krydderurt, siger hun”

12. CARROTMOBS

13. SPROUT TODAY
Facts ….
• Sprout Europe is a Danish
registered company
(Sprout Denmark)
• Distributors in 10 European
countries
• Joint venture with US partner
incl patent and US distribution

14. So, where are we now?
• + 250.000 Sprouts sold in less
than 8 month
• + 100.000 in Denmark alone
• 50/50 % B2C and B2B
(customized)
• Target group = women and
families
• Massive interest globally –
consumers, corporations and
media/bloggers. Sold in over
25 countries in Europe –
WITHOUT active sales force

15. OPPORTUNITIES
• Unlimited – we have barely
started
• The green and conscious
consumer is here to stay
• Develop brand and goodwill –
new sustainable, innovative
and unique products
• Optimize and reduce cost of
production and logistics –
increase the potential market
through lower prices

16. Challenges ……
• Hype or actually ”sustainable”
(businesswise)
• Growing too fast
• Innovation – listen to the
consumer /customer
• Competition – Sprout pencil =
Blue Ocean …. New products
perhaps less protected
• Seasonal (plants – heat/light)
• Price

17. ”The Green Thread” I SPROUT
INNOVATION and Product development

18. THANK YOU