The Business That Turns Packaging Into Pounds | Dragons' Den

Branding buddies Martin Grimer and Shaun Jones entered the Den looking to secure a 40k investment in return for a 15% share in their company Punkbox.
Inspired by the pile of delivery boxes occupying space in their hallways, they devised a way to make clutter cool with their activity packs. Aimed at encouraging imaginative play in children, the packs include stickers and various items to transform empty boxes into castles, cars and more.
An international sensation, Dragon's Den features entrepreneurs pitching for investment in the Den from our Dragons, five venture capitalists willing to invest their own money in exchange for equity.
#DragonsDen #PunkBox

[@magusxxx]

Inventors: "This will make kids use those unwanted boxes." House Cat: "I'm out."

[@janesjanes8229]

😂😂😂😂🤣

[@stephjovi]

Yes my cats agree with you! Boxes are for them big ones small ones they're all theirs 😂

[@JAKOB1977]

spot on, everytime we get a new packaging box, that our cat can crawl in...its his, no questions ask.. to the point that we starting to cut out windows, play holes etc..

[@jjclowe]

All it takes is for Amazon to include free sticker packs in their boxes as a green marketing initiative and they will be blown out of the water.

[@hellenmzungu2393]

True Shoe manufacturers Cereal manufacturers Then boom..

[@d-thec-tieve4648]

To be fair you could effectively say that any bissinus at this point😅

[@gerardford9706]

@@d-thec-tieve4648 bissinus

[@XAMPOL]

@@gerardford9706 bissinus

[@jonathandansem]

They won’t do that, guaranteed.

[@remchaill9898]

The trick they missed when Deborah was attacking them over the product failing to prevent waste, was that they SHOULD have said that the boxes become toys, instead of kids buying NEW toys (with more packaging). They should have said they're getting kids to use recycled material to make their own toys instead of creative demand for more commercial products.

[@tobithetonewheel]

What do you think was delivered in the boxes in the first place?

[@gggggggianni]

right!!

[@adamhawkins5697]

I don't agree to be honest, inevitably the boxes get binned quickly as they are no where near as durable as toys

[@calsmyth4483]

I don't think it's realistic that a box with stickers on it will stop the kids wanting a new toy. It's not a bad idea, and will give a few hours entertainment, but it will likely be thrown away within days and doesn't replace a toy.

[@Cypher791]

Deborah be all….. but I like selling commercial products…… 🙃

[@theoneeyedfool]

I love how Deborah came to the conclusion/realization that producing things does, in fact, lead to producing things.

[@teddym2808]

well yeah it's like electric cars.. the energy used to make one ends up actually being worse for the planet LOL. It's crazy.

[@lisagreen1941]

Doesn’t it help reduce waste by encouraging reusing a box rather than purchasing another toy from a store that would contain more packaging? I’d rather my child build a toy kitchen etc from boxes and stickers rather than purchasing a toy one with plastic accessories.

[@callum9999]

​@@teddym2808It doesn't though.... LOL

[@BenjaminGoose]

The irony being that she and her fellow dragons wouldn't be rich if not for packaging.

[@kurtisstanley7660]

@@callum9999you need to look into the electric car market. It’s a scam. Carbon isn’t a problem. More co2 means more plant growth and more crops.

[@jamesjohno1180]

I love that Sara gets so into things you could come in and pitch a banana she will nod with excitement and enthusiasm, she’s super friendly I can imagine her to make your experience at the den much easier

[@angelmercy5261]

She’s very courteous because this was the dumbest “product” I’ve ever seen

[@royfr8136]

For ther cameras

[@aljabirxiju9475]

she got so bent out of shape when someone called her "Sara" instead of "SAW-ra". Her accent effects how she pronounces words. She says "m-UH-nee" when she says money for instance. It is not unreasonable for someone think her name was Sara when they hear you say SAW-ra. She was so offended though for an honest mistake. when she dies, that little scene will be replayed in her life review and she will see how offensive she was. she made the poor man feel two foot small she did

[@npc-bl2vw]

if everyone was fake nice all the time the show would send everyone to sleep.

[@gamewithadam7235]

Meanwhile about 5 years ago Peter: "It's just a box you're winging it mate."

[@knuckalar]

I wish there was an emoji to represent that approving nodding face Sara does every clip

[@rebeccasykes3862]

It probably is the same shot edited in every time

[@ArcaneAnouki]

😌

[@arsenalfan7462]

@@rebeccasykes3862 easily done when she only owns one dress

[@TRY208]

@@arsenalfan7462 🤣🤣🤣

[@richardmoores]

It could be a gif

[@i.canalista7718]

It would be nice if it comes with a mini booklet on how to build castles houses cars etc. Also with just stickers it's to simple. Maybe with wheels and some extra stuff to build something worth keeping

[@RustyKeys72]

Wow, you're such an expert. Why don't you set that up as your own business?

[@i.canalista7718]

@@RustyKeys72 how do you feel after your comment. must feel good???

[@BenjaminGoose]

To simple? Is that a verb?

[@tubester4567]

So they are going to make recyclable boxes and packaging unrecyclable by putting stickers and crap all over it??

[@alzon5712]

exactly what i was thinking

[@kreatesse]

I was thinking the same thing, but I guess this is not meant to be used for every single box that comes into your home. I think the point is to avoid constantly buying new toys that are much more resource-heavy when it's possible to have fun with what's already in your home. I agree that this is not the most elegant solution, just playing devil's advocate.

[@matthewbell4273]

I’m surprised that Deborah didn’t make that point. I am equally surprised that the entrepreneurs didn’t counter with Victoria’s point below that it can stop the kids going on to buy other toys/items and that that’s where the really eco advantage comes from.

[@ad_2211]

Touker is cruel, says “I would love to invest”, puts a smile on their face and then says “I’m not going to invest”🤨

[@ObAbenser]

Usually when he starts with flattery it's not going to happen 🙃

[@icommentalots]

@@ObAbenser "I love this idea, and you are very credible entrepreneurs, but...."

[@ObAbenser]

@@icommentalots haha

[@b-dogs1038]

Yes, sometimes his delivery is a bit roundabout

[@reverendx4ever]

Karma is gonna bite him right in the @ss

[@theordinary1175]

In other news, I saw Rory gathering seaweed today. He looked so happy.

[@geoffdb8118]

Best job in the world

[@Winston.Smith101]

Ah Rory ... ata guy 🚣

[@jasonm4332]

LOOOOOOL !

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Touker interrupts them answering Tej's question. Imagine Touker's head-explosion if that happened the other way around?

[@CalopsitaVanderbilt1911]

Touker

[@PaulStewartAviation]

@@CalopsitaVanderbilt1911 fixed thanks

[@cekojuna6930]

That or they edited it in.

[@marksnotscene]

Imagine what Touker's offices could look like

[@James-wf8nu]

Jenny: achieves the singularity Jenny: I'm neither in nor out, I simply am

[@blowme5258]

Jenny jokes getting old

[@brothermanben7140]

@@blowme5258 Jenny: achieves the singularity Jenny: I'm neither in nor out, I simply am

[@andrewhaydock7115]

Nice to see entrepreneurs aiming for a dragon other than Peter or Deborah

[@matthewbennett3399]

They invented a device years ago to allow kids to enjoy cardboard boxes…. They’re called felt tips!

[@stevesalt8003]

As a painter and decorator I can tell you felt tips are the devil's work 😉

[@AvariceOverlord]

3:23 Peter agrees

[@gerardford9706]

You can feel my tip anytime baby

[@yousefbehbehani7889]

Duncan would've totally trashed them xD

[@anubusx]

Send them to the sin bin.

[@kingtyson999]

The whole idea is Ludacris and for that reason im OAT (in duncan’s voice)

[@OakApplegardens]

Or invested in it. Depends on his mood.

[@myshinobi1987]

@@kingtyson999 Care-baired boaxes? Stickars?....SHYTE....AM OOT!!

[@jamiebrown6194]

Still in business but not sure for how much longer. Their accounts for this year have just been published on companies house and it shows they made a loss of £42,000 this year and a loss of £44,000 last year!

[@jamiebrown6194]

@L S Yes i agree. Would need an enormous marketing budget and given the price of the product this would be very difficult to cover, let alone make any real profit from.

[@GregDeman]

If they didn't make a lot of money over the past 18 months with lockdowns then they have no hope.

[@xsirdavidianx]

Packs with instructions on how to turn rubbish into robots would be awsome. Ships, cars, buildings, train set scenery, the works!

[@MrSimonwitney7]

I love how Deborah was so hung up on the ecofriendliness of the glue, adhesive etc. and declared herself out because it wouldn't look good for the business, but thought 'screw it', i'll still play with the stickers, even though I'm sure the production killed our ecosystem slightly. I think she's great sometimes, but others she's just a hypocrite.

[@MrSimonwitney7]

I know right, at least Sara Davies didn't try to act all high and mighty and basically just said she didn't care for the environment. I care for the environment a little bit, but definitely not enough, yet I don't go around protesting or declaring my dismay for anything that doesn't resemble environmentally friendly. Deborah needs to turn it down a bit on her end with the ecofriendly act.

[@Alephu5]

In my experience, many business people don't hold actual moral values but they still speak about them. Why? Because they're important for business. For environmental issues it's called "greenwashing" and is in fashion at the moment. But that doesn't mean all environmentalists are like this, some care very deeply about the environment. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is a good example in my opinion.

[@MrSimonwitney7]

@@Alephu5 Fair enough. I think this is why I don't like business generally, it's too much smoke and mirrors and immoral.

[@obgprasa]

I agree wholeheartedly with you, Simon. Deborah comes across as a fraud. If she is eco about everything she should stop farting or breathing as these produce Carbon dioxide and or methane which are harmful greenhouse gases! 😂😂

[@LeonieJMerry]

She's expected as one of the dragons to engage with the people presenting, and to engage with the products if they are given examples to play around with. If she "refused to engage with the stickers" because of her eco stance, she'd be accused of being rude to the presenters. It would be the same as expecting a vegetarian dragon to dismissively toss a meat product aside. You have to be professional in that environment. No one can be 100% eco-friendly, it's virtually impossible in this day and age. But her points were still valid in my opinion - about the adhesive not being biodegradable (in the guy's own words he said it was a "grey area", which is a lie. It either is or it isn't). Also about him adding to the manufacturing and packaging problem. I respect your opinion, but, I also have to respectfully disagree on that one.

[@rebeccasykes3862]

Doesn't putting stickers on recyclable material make it unrecyclable?

[@MrRilarios]

That was the problem with the glue

[@highten443]

Rebecca Sykes that’s a very good point.

[@azmanntoz3672]

Probably depends where you live but I believe labels, tapes, adhesives etc are removed during the recycling process.

[@taranullius9221]

I've been taught to remove everything from my cardboard. I peel off all the packing tape and labels. Even if they do it at processing plant, we can still save them a lot of time by cleaning our own stuff and doing it all properly.

[@ivymainhouse7865]

wen u see in ur own eyes were all the recycling stuff go u realise there is no such thing as recycling, its more and more contaminated waste.

[@MADMAX7330]

Here's an idea: Spend money to have fun with trash boxes for a day, and then chuck that into a bin, only to repeat for another box. And let's market this under the 'Sustainability' banner while we're at it. 😐 First world problems, I tell you ..

[@sneakycheeky531]

11:00 a proud moment in the den for peter jones as he makes a pun

[@scottyk200]

This was one of Touker’s variations on: “My head says don’t invest…so I won’t.”

[@JCRoberts97]

Every week you upload this one

[@strangemachines_]

Deborah and Peter destroyed them with what I was thinking as soon as I heard the pitch lol.

[@billyalexander5645]

2:13 the universal face of approval hahaha

[@jmharris251]

Imagine Peter making forts and cars out of boxes with his children. Sara too, a crafter.

[@peaty32]

The gist of this pitch - I love it so I'm out.

[@BigWes95]

You mean that they like the idea but don't think it will make a lot of money?

[@jackhackett4557]

Jenny, is that you?

[@geoffdb8118]

Duncan Bannatyne - it's rubbish, you're barking mad and I'm oat

[@rickm6232]

4:08 then "I LOVE IT!" LOL

[@eddiediesel9035]

I use to love collecting stickers and labels when I was growing up. I use to write to companies and ask them if they had any spare stickers they could send me. It was very exciting to receive a company envelope in the mail with stickers inside. At the same time it was very disappointing when you never heard back at all.

[@eh4372]

I’m betting Debra has a huge house, which would be completely anti environmentally friendly.

[@ELIT3__]

Multiple houses in fact, that consume more energy than several small ones.

[@hellohello9400]

She rides around in a private jet. Has multiple vehicles. Only became a vegan this year. Has multiple homes and factories. She probably emits as much co2 as a small village in India. Hypocrite and a fraud is what she is.

[@PhilosophyofElivagar]

@@hellohello9400 While I essentially agree, there's a difference between personal pollution and corporate pollution. That she only invests in, say, a construction tool with renewable and biodigradable plastic is a huge step forward in terms of standard practice, seeing as millions of them are produced in every household. Seeing that only 100 companies account for 71% of the world's global emissions, it's these practices that are far more important than having several vehicles or homes. It's these companies that _want_ you to believe that you need to be a wagon-travelling gypsy to be green. Renewable energy (electric, solar, wind, etc.) can make all but the jet (as far as I know) efficient. That she doesn't hold her business peers accountable to the same standard and thus put her neck on the line, however, is where I agree with the hypocrite/fraud aspect.

[@namnack]

Yeah, she built one out of delivery boxes..

[@OakApplegardens]

Its not actually. Seen photos on twitter and its not massive.

[@jessicamoise8454]

How nice Peter show softer side of him,😍

[@bluesque9687]

Love Shawn's hair! Head and face!!

[@andrewgurney6019]

Not as much as Shawn loves himself

[@ImDavidJames]

Everytime Touka opens his face it's just a matter of seconds before he mentions his offices you can work from or Marks and Spencer

[@annaagapova3583]

Touker

[@andrewhaydock7115]

Touker loves throwing the marks n spark name about hahahahah

[@rinainlondon9672]

Amazing

[@Jamie-2004]

12:53 Had me thinking he was gonna say Touker was going to get out of bed...

[@sebbepersson6819]

Finally after watching for over 8 minutes Peter brings up the biggest problem, most of us saw straight away! 8:37 is a great summary of why their product isn't as good as they think.

[@007kash007]

no it's not. It adds value to the cardboard that would be thrown away. It stops the parent buying yet another toy for £10. So what if it delays going to the tip.. it has had a double use.

[@ALEXMGFASHION]

They need to invent boxes that after been opened and left outside for 3 days disintegrate naturally and become dust. That’s what Amazon need to start researching.

[@robertkustos2931]

I think they do . It's something like spores from mushrooms , plant based wrappers and packaging .

[@dmythica]

If you have a compost heap use ripped up cardboard boxes and grass to make great compost quick.

[@gamewithadam7235]

"We want kids at an early age to think about being eco-friendly." Mate, you want them to drive cars in boxes so they get cars as adults lmao.

[@petece3673]

Electric cars?

[@mohammedyakub3760]

@@petece3673 electric cars are not much more eco friendly than normal cars. The amount of pollution caused by manufacturing the battery etc is equivalent to the pollution of 100,000 miles worth of fuel

[@neilpa]

Wonder what Richard Farley would have thought of this pitch?

[@tms977]

Shame he left, was the kindest and most reasonable dragon

[@da3v1ls93]

I can't believe this episode went for 15 minutes and no investment

[@green_firefly]

This is a product that will be boring pretty fast and after the 5th box having received again stickers and stuff it will get annoying. And if those stickers are not precisely matched for each box you'll end up with a load of stickers, which means it will be adding to the waste.

[@SiriusMined]

Yes, Deborah, they are manufacturing. That's how products work. And you support tons of things that don't reduce manufacturing. I wish she was consistent.

[@JamieLikesGames]

Take a shot every time they play that backwards piano sound effect

[@michelleodaniel3306]

I don’t know about the reuse of cardboard boxes in England but in Los Angeles the cardboard boxes are building blocks of shelter for the 1000s of homeless . To put stickers on them is just adding insult to injury.

[@jesusbermudez6775]

Deborah makes these faces pretending she is very conscientious. Aha!, Aha!

[@CanEverything]

8:43 wow.. first time I heard her telling stuff, what my head doesn’t immediately catches. I’m normally smart.. but this time she got it before me and it’s so logical.. why I got that myself

[@AyoAYO-cm6hb]

They should’ve said in opposition to peters argument about sustainability, they don’t need to buy plastic toys anymore as they are making toys out of products already…

[@robertj5208]

A better caption would read: "Peter Jones pun paralyzes narrator !"

[@ashleyj0]

This is really cute, but playing with garbage isn't exactly "reusing" it.

[@remchaill9898]

It is if it reduces the need to buy them new toys. That's the argument they should have gone with.

[@ashleyj0]

@@remchaill9898 right! Or it's just a fun idea. Bc it is, but it's not eco friendly really.

[@marks6663]

@@remchaill9898 You can't believe for one moment that a single child will get one less toy because he/she got an empty box instead? that is like thinking that if you buy a child a pack of gum, you will give them less food.

[@IAmTheJayster]

@@remchaill9898 how long do you expect these boxes to last?

[@bridgetdaws2150]

Get the kids involved in collecting waste, recycle their made items once ready to part with them. Use it for competitions, school education, have recycling drops at schools

[@muratmhcoglu4184]

The guy with the beard is a dead ringer for that famous face used in alt-right memes.

[@andrewl2744]

Unless they are trying to claim that a box with stickers is going to replace the purchase of a real toy, then there is no environmental benefit to this. It’s all still going to end up in the bin eventually. Just with stickers attached..

[@seitanicgoat3194]

Guys, I love the idea, its is absolutely fantastic, I can see my kids playing with those, and for that reason, I'm out.

[@anovosedlik]

Deborah's carbon footprint is at least 20 times bigger than mine. Oh and by the way, her whole 'get rich but also be a total eco-warrior but also fly all over the world for my fancy holidays' deal is SO contradictory. She could have just said to the guys 'cool idea, lets change the material to be totally eco, and put a little story for kids to read about why reusing stuff is great!'. I wanna know if she ever buys stuff online.

[@RealfishingNL]

Put a extra sticker on a empty plastic bottle before throwing it away

[@otea5967]

the use of boring stickers ultimately ruins the whole creativity and enjoyment for a child. It limits the imagination to what their stickers are. Colouring pens do the job

[@stevebomonster]

Get the box people to come and take their packaging back

[@mikesutton381]

Brilliant idea!

[@opakocee]

Oh Sara Davies ❤️!

[@Rizwaan122]

This is a cool idea, but they're not "turning packaging" into anything, they've just taken the boxes and put stickers on them.

[@thefinalslice2791]

Hmm, why did the title change from "The Power of Reuse?"

[@Jamie_Winsh]

I guess it's more giving the boxes a second purpose. Cos they are just delaying throwing the boxes away, manufacturing the craft products, and producing more plastic

[@adedaremayowa2637]

Semo with assorted stew 🍲

[@dilwich]

Peter should have dropped his pants to reveal his green credentials . . . .

[@zoeyelh]

hahaha

[@Jessebella1]

Out of everything, the boxes were the best part of signing up to hello fresh for a month or so, load of crap, barely enough to feed my gerbil let alone a meal for two people!

[@rjvb0922]

Deborah had an extremely fair point there.

[@adedaremayowa2637]

We've seen this before 🙂

[@johnmightymole2284]

Deborah is right, always spots green wash. Stop buying on line. Use shops.

[@just_vish526]

Sara covers all of the emoticons in the den.

[@DevinsDen]

Can't remember last time I seen Sarah change that polka dot shirt.

[@x_dolly666_x]

We've seen thissssss

[@ianoian1]

So I guess it's back to the drawing board🙄😏🙄!!

[@jamiejosh96]

What is stopping every company doing this themselves, any company that they would make serious money from will easily be able to produce themselves

[@ya00007]

Jenny would've loved saying "I'm out" on this one.

[@FlameFlickers]

Absolutely terrible idea, can't believe it wasn't trashed by the dragons. Even if kids do it a couple of times, they will end up getting bored with it after a couple of days and then you have to dispose of not only the original box but also the stickers and extra packaging crap that this product creates. So, it actually adds to the problem it's trying to address. Literally a rubbish idea!

[@oman9492]

Yeah it sounded good but when you think about it it's rubbish

[@Robbsart]

I do believe that was reasons for non investment and stated therein. Would you also like to invest but be out Mr Touker? xxx

[@stevehardy7584]

St. Deborah can be a pain

[@Justin-qf9ip]

Anything involving children, Deborah always knit picks and find an excuse to not invest.

[@sinchasin3611]

Not all kids will play with box. And if they do after a week or some time they will get bored of it or it will get old and used and you will flatpack it anyways and put in the recycling. So I can’t see a point of that.

[@ahh1180]

They should have called it Fart Box

[@devicebackup664]

What happened to the original dragons den sound effects 😩

[@monicazinha]

Why does it feel like the word 'reuse' should be officially spelled like 're-use'? 🤔

[@russnunn2456]

Why wouldn’t the brands just do there own stickers and not pay these guys mark up

[@collincovid6950]

So make do and mend is trying, after a fashion, to be taught again. You know coca cola bottles and other bottles used to have a return sum on them, 6p but not now plastic is the way.

[@odysseusnissan]

I had to keep rewinding to .54 to hear Sara F bombing Peter.

[@sinchasin3611]

It’s the same rubbish in your house that you will Throw away. They will just play with it for some time.

[@Bikeadelic]

Deborah is talking about how it creates more production to make money but harms the planet. But that's the model of capitalism! That's the system that's elevated her.

[@dubjohnston]

It's fun, but no change environmentally as the box eventually gets recycled along with their stickers.. and the valuation was outrageous- it a sticker and they haven't made sales

[@prodigalparties]

I see Sara has her favorite dress on AGAIN

[@sandhyashreep]

It's just a box with stickers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@beavis4763]

£4.99 for a sheet of stickers, are they having a laugh.

[@waldo3448]

if you have a cat, build a dungeon

[@user-ns3jc4uz9r]

I dont undrestand what That idea,tell me please🙄

[@clivesangster6754]

Deborah's eco - friendly Bollocks is tiresome.

[@100percentfeelings3]

i have a rope u can use ☺️

[@dulcettonezzz8229]

Whole idea behind playing with a box is using your imagination. The stickers take the fun out of it. Deborah is right. It’s not about sustainability. It’s about posh people feeling better about themselves without actually having to do anything

[@leenobody3249]

Easy to be an eco warrior when you are a multi millionaire Deborah .

[@paulgriffiths7399]

Deborah would be fun at parties wouldn't she....