Get to know our founders outside of their days hard at work finding sustainable solutions, and yes they are both called Thomas.

This week, we caught up with Thomas Tesink to talk design, music, and Yves Klein.

Q: Where and when did UBITE’s idea come to life?

A: I was working at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, managing the museum’s art acquisitions. When the pandemic hit, I left the museum. Around that time, I noticed a clear market need for sustainable, high-heat bio-based materials, especially for tableware and catering. I had always wanted to start my own company, so the timing felt right. The very day after leaving the museum, UBITE was born.

Q: Your background is in art and law. How did you shift into sustainable materials?

A: Working with priceless art was an incredible experience, standing in front of a Mark Rothko painting alone in a small room is unforgettable. But the museum environment was quite rigid. I wanted to build something more dynamic and impactful. Growing up around art and design, aesthetics have always mattered to me. At UBITE, sustainability is fundamental, but so is creating beautiful, high-quality products. Who says sustainable can’t look great?

Q: Did you want to be an artist growing up?

A: Not really. I actually dreamed of being a pilot or a chef, two very different worlds, but I ended up studying law instead. I chose it because I had broad interests, and I was particularly drawn to human rights. It felt like a way to understand the world and people from a deeper, more principled perspective.

Q: How did you get involved with the museum world?

A: Honestly, I just reached out and asked if they had any jobs for me. They gave me a project on privacy law and then I moved into handling art acquisitions. Getting to be around top notch artworks every day? Pretty unforgettable.

Q: Did working at the museum influence your taste?

A: It definitely confirmed what I already liked. Minimalist, modern and contemporary art, that’s my vibe. My whole family shares it. We’re the kind of people who can spend 20 minutes just staring at a blue square by Yves Klein. 

Q: Are aesthetics really a big deal at UBITE?

A: Absolutely. Creativity is in my DNA. I love putting pieces together to create something new. Minimalism, bold colors, clean lines, these are all part of the brand’s identity.

Q: How do you recharge creatively?

A: Painting and digging for music are my go-tos. Putting together tracks in a mix while telling a story is like assembling a puzzle, and it really helps me unwind. On office days it´s sitting down for a Pho at our favourite street vendor around the corner. 

Q: Any dream collaborations?

A: I’m especially interested in working with partners who want to radically rethink how they use materials at scale, so we can truly make an impact moving away from fossil-based and single-use plastics. The Lufthansa Group is a great partner with Zerocup, and I’d love to take that further with other forward-thinking companies. Not just to create a product, but to help redesign the system behind it.

Q: What’s the hardest part of running a startup?

A: Keeping all the moving parts in sync while selling the vision with confidence. It’s a constant balancing act. One minute you’re deep in the details, the next you’re pitching the bigger picture. It’s challenging, but honestly, that mix is what makes the journey exciting.

Q: What’s something fun about working with your co-founder Thomas?

A: He’s good with numbers, which I enjoy less. Math was never my favorite subject in school, so I really appreciate having someone who thrives on it. We balance each other out and we both have a pretty big sweet tooth.

Q: Any fun facts about you?

A: People often say I look like Keanu Reeves. Every now and then random people come up to me tell me that. I even got asked for an autograph once!