Our story: from cardboard festival tents to beds, lamps and business solutions.
We make absolutely everything from cardboard: whether you live, work or play!
As true cardboard creatives, we offer smart, innovative and creative cardboard solutions, because we believe that cardboard is functional, original, surprising, innovative and an environmentally friendly choice.
How it started
In 2015, the founders noticed how many tents were thrown away at campsites after festivals (as much as 25%) and decided to do something about it. With the expertise and love for cardboard from the TU Delft, the Kartent was created: a fully recyclable cardboard tent, strong enough to withstand rain and big enough for two people. Due to the success of this tent, the Kartent junior was also created. These tents have been very successful all over the world, such as at Madnes (NL), Welcome to the Village (NL), Best Kept Secret (NL), Helfest (FR), Unify (AUS) and more. In order to be able to reuse the cardboard even better after festivals, a cutting machine was purchased with which the cardboard could be cut into all kinds of desired shapes.
From tents to beds, lamps and toys
The pandemic of 2020 gave us the unique opportunity to let our creativity run wild even more: with the help of a cutting machine, new products were born such as a chair, table and waste bin made from used cardboard. And it didn't stop there: the switch was made from used cardboard to recycled cardboard.
Our range
On our website you will find more than 300 unique products: from living & interior, office supplies, toys and thematic products to cardboard solutions for the business market. We make absolutely everything you can think of from cardboard! Think of a cardboard slide, wheel of fortune, beds, custom cabinets, partition walls for the office but also various business solutions such as exhibition stands, signin, displays
Why cardboard?
Did you know that cardboard is not only strong and affordable, but also sustainable? Our high-quality cardboard consists of at least 73% recycled material, supplemented with new wood fibers with the FSC quality mark from responsibly managed forests. This way you opt for quality and make an environmentally conscious choice! With more than 300 unique products designed, locally produced and only production to order, we have no overproduction, which makes us unique. Fast delivery, strong, lightweight and always 100% recyclable.
We are Kartent and we love cardboard!
Timo Krenn
Co-founder & CFO
Timo is a shrewd multi-talent and enthusiastic polyglot. He once started at the big PWC, but the suit was too tight and cardboard boxes were more his thing. Now he gets to play with cardboard every day!
☕️ The best thing is a (black) coffee that someone else makes for you.
Sam Steins Bishop
Sales
Want to know which type of cardboard is best for you? How cardboard can take your business to the next level? Or do you just want to know how many corrugations there are in a sheet of corrugated cardboard? Sam can help you with (almost) all questions! Sam is always up for a game of hockey (at a high level).
☕️ Sam also prefers to drink an espresso.
Cas den Braber
Sales
Chatting with Cas is always dangerous, because before you know it you have bought another piece of cardboard at a special friends price. It has happened to many colleagues! His sales pitches are as smooth as cardboard, which is why he has been able to get many people excited about a new cardboard reality!
☕️ His favorite coffee? Just black.
Kaio Leering
Sales stagiaire
Een dag zonder karton? Bijna ondenkbaar als je stage loopt bij Kartent! Als afstudeerstagiair ondersteunt Kaio het salesteam bij de aanvraag van nieuwe beursstands en denkt hij graag mee in het creatieve proces. Van slimme ontwerpen tot praktische oplossingen, hij haalt energie uit het helpen van bedrijven om hun duurzame boodschap kracht bij te zetten met karton.
☕️ Geen koffie voor Kaio, hij drinkt lekker een glas water
Santiago Zapata Ramirez
Sales stagiaire
Santiago is een enthousiaste derdejaars student Commerciële Economie aan de Hogeschool van Amsterdam. Als stagiair Business Developer bij Kartent werkt hij aan duurzame groeikansen. Hij is altijd op zoek naar nieuwe ideeën en vindt het tof om creatieve en duurzame oplossingen te bedenken.
☕️ Hij drinkt het liefst een dubbele espresso.
Jan Portheine
Co-founder & CEO
Jan is an entrepreneur through and through. He was once trained as an architect, but now he likes cardboard much better. In his spare time he likes to lace up his skates or hit a hockey ball.
☕️ He prefers cappuccinos with a little sugar.
Sylvia Ko
Product design
Sylvia ensures that our cardboard designs are always of the highest quality! With a steady hand, she knows how to draw straight lines, whether on the computer or with a Stanley knife. With Sylvia, your cardboard is definitely well put together!
☕️ She prefers to drink an espresso macchiato.
Fleur van der Meulen
Productontwerp stagiaire
Fleur versterkt het team van Kartent als ontwerpstagiair. Met een creatieve blik en een leergierige instelling ontdekt ze wat de mogelijkheden van karton zijn. Ze gaat altijd met plezier aan de slag met verschillende ontwerpen. In haar vrije tijd is ze vooral bezig met veel creatieve projecten tegelijk en hardlopen doet ze ook graag.
☕️ Drink het liefst cappuccino.
Helen Portheine
Graphic design & DTP
Cardboard and cartoons. Isn't that just a dream combination? That's what Heleen thought too, and that's why she makes sure that everything we design looks tiptop! Heleen adds color to our cardboard, and of course to our office!
☕️ She prefers to drink a Latte, but unfortunately our coffee machine doesn't make that...
Charlotte Buts
Marketing
Ever wondered why we grow so insanely? Well, because we have a 'growth hacker' in-house! Charlotte is the secret, a real team player! She loves beautiful nature and therefore wants to travel around the world at least 5 times.
☕️ Charlotte prefers to drink a cappuccino with her colleagues.
Sophie Deelstra
Social media
Whether it's a newsletter, (team) photos or a post on social media, Sophie can handle it! With an eye for detail and a quick pen, she keeps everything running smoothly. After work, she likes to put on her running shoes to clear her head and get new ideas.
☕️ Her favorite energy boost? A cappuccino or, if you can, an espresso martini!
Merel Vergeest
Socials & Marketing
Merel is our total all-rounder, who is always ready. As long as cardboard is involved! Not only does she make sure that our Social Media is always up to date, she is also not averse to a bit of cardboard folding in the warehouse!
☕️ You can always wake her up in the morning for a cappuccino. (Note: not at night).
Willemijn Wesselink
Office manager
Willemijn is always ready to answer your questions. Nothing is too crazy. She also performs financial tasks with love. After a few years in the media, it was time for something else!
☕️ Completely in her element at Kartent, she enjoys her decaf cappuccino with her colleagues.
Dennis Bakker
Product creation
Dennis is our support and confidant in the warehouse; every product you receive has passed through his hands! Despite his typically Dutch name, Dennis was born and raised in Spain, which is why he regularly surprises us with delicious Spanish snacks.
☕️ He likes to kick a ball and prefers a beer to coffee.
Koen Hobbelink
Product creation
Is heavy metal coming from the warehouse? Do you hear someone screaming in the distance? Are there smoke clouds drifting past the windows? Then it could be that Koen is doing some serious work! Don't be put off by his wild appearance, because Koen has a character as soft as cardboard!
☕️ His coffee taste is like his music taste: Nice and black.
Bo Lambrecht
All-rounder
Bo started as a product design intern, but felt so at home among the cardboard that he never left. He now combines his studies with working in the warehouse, where he is up for any job. From building exhibition stands to delivering orders by bus, Bo doesn't shy away from it. As a football fan, he is right at home next to the Johan Cruijff Arena.
☕️ Its fuel? A delicious flat white!
