Kevin and Jonathan met whilst working for the natural food and beauty manufacturer Lea Nature, a French based producer that only makes products to EcoCert standards. They had such a high ethical focus that they published the names of the farmers harvesting their aloe vera leaves in Mexico and Morocco. Unless the consumer dug deep into the corporate website of the company there was no way to communicate this side of the business. If only the consumers knew!
This was the frustration that prompted the dream that led to Buyerdock, the first digital product passport. Kevin and Jonathan knew that if you could give a consumer more information about all the great ethical brands out in the market place, it would force un-ethical manufacturers to change or go out of business.
Buyerdock took shape giving companies the ability to tell their story to the consumer, not just pre-sale, but once the product was at the consumer’s home post-purchase.
The first product to carry a 2D QR Barcode was a packet of Chicken Crackling using the Buyerdock ‘moreinfo’ app, it was showcased by GS1 UK in July 2022.
Later, in October 2022, Jonathan and Kevin met Phil Archer (from GS1 global and one of the pioneers of GS1 digital link) in a pub in Kings Cross and handed him a bag of chicken crackling, it felt like a moment as Phil said “This is the first 2D QR code I’ve seen on a product”.
As the tech behind Buyerdock grew, new packaging regulations were being passed and introduced in the EU to help support the development of a Circular Economy, that could be delivered digitally. The Buyerdock team saw an opportunity to support and help businesses (of all sizes) navigate their way through this new regulation and at the same time make it meaningful to the consumer who will ultimately make or break the success of the Circular Economy.
This is Buyerdock and the people who work at Buyerdock. We believe that by empowering consumers with the visibility of the supply chain and providing options for disposal once that product has been used, we can create a world that re-uses more than is manufactured and has a future for us all.
The circular economy presents us ‘consumers’ with a completely new way of living our lives. From locally grown food to new ways of reusing 2nd hand products. No longer should a secondhand item be seen as a low-cost option for those on low income but cherished and celebrated as it passes through the third and fourth user hands. Buyerdock is working in partnership with Government, Academia, NGO’s and industry to bring this vision to life, an obtainable vision of the future not a dream.
The scale of the opportunity means that no one solution provider or business, government or NGO can deliver everything, the team at Buyerdock have set out to form as many partnerships as possible with key stake holders.
Once a month we meet at the Circular Economy Exchange in London to come together and share ideas. Please feel free to join us.
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Jonathan Sparkes
CEO & Co-Founder
Strategy
Selling consumer goods into major retail globally for over 30 years and specialising in the beauty industry for the last 25. In 1995 Jonathan was one of the youngest councillors to be elected to his District Council and can now be found most Sundays in the Methodist Church as a (part time) local preacher.
Kevin Dixie
CCO & Co-Founder
Partnerships
Over 25 years experience in sales (SMEs and corporates) online and offline, built, helped launch and invested in multiple brands and has founded numerous tech startups. In his spare time, Kevin is a registered mudlarker and can often be found on the Thames of London!
Martin Assheton
CTO
Technology Director
I’m an experienced web developer with 20 years of expertise in building dynamic websites and applications. A proven leader in managing teams, meeting deadlines, and delivering high-quality solutions in fast-paced environments. When I’m not coding I’m cycling!
James Phelan
CXO
Creative Director
With over 30 years of brand and communications experience, James brigs a depth of expertise and know how, helping bring continuity to all channels, making sure we are speaking in one voice. In his spare time, James can be found cycling the local seawall or venturing around the country in gravel events.
Shona Wright
Lead Developer
Systems Architect
A senior developer with over 20 years of experience working with a wide range of web technologies and developing diverse systems. Her expertise spans across various platforms, allowing her to craft efficient and innovative solutions. In her spare time, Shona enjoys running and travelling.
Teresa McArdell
Support Coordinator
Onboarding
With over 20 years of experience in architecture in London, Teresa later transitioned into education as an LSA, working with children aged 4-8. Outside of work, she loves cooking and experimenting with new dishes—her family being the (mostly willing) taste-testers!
Andy Thomas
Sales Director
Partnerships
With 30 years’ experience in sales and marketing, Andy has built and sold many businesses. A call centre and lead generation export, Andy has vast experience in building long-term business relationships and also owns his own dog brand. In his spare time, Andy loves to walk and will often be found pounding the beaches of Sandbanks in Dorset.
David McArdell
Account Manager
Lead Management and Onboarding
With nearly 30 years of Account Management in the IT equipment industry, I’m enjoying the exciting shift into the world of SaaS. It’s great building up strong client relationships and adapting to the ever-evolving tech landscape, and outside of work I enjoy a good walk, a solid workout, and try to keep things moving.
