Eatable Adventures and the Italia del Gusto food consortium packaging challenge unveil six pioneering projects: from industrial packaging created with alternative materials to new proposals for streamlining production processes, the winning projects of the Call4Startup bring to the table cutting-edge and sustainable solutions, embracing Open Innovation.
Recycling and reducing, alternative and innovative materials, and increasingly efficient processes: these are the three strategic areas of the challenge for the future of food packaging launched last December by Italia del Gusto, the private consortium of leading Italian food and wine producers, and Eatable Adventures, among the leading global foodtech accelerators.
The initiative, supported by eight leading Italian Food Icons who want to revolutionize the food packaging industry – Amica Chips, Auricchio, PanPiuma, Parmalat, Ponti, Rovagnati, Urbani Tartufi, and Valsoia – has selected six startups, four from Italy, one from Bulgaria, and one from Israel. These startups will have the opportunity to collaborate with some of the most prestigious Italian food companies, testing their solutions in real-life scenarios. Additionally, they will gain access to a collaborative ecosystem and a network of international experts.
From industrial packaging created with alternative materials, to new proposals to improve production processes, to technologies capable of extending the shelf life of products: six cutting-edge solutions, guided by a shared vision of Open Innovation, to promote dialogue between companies and startups and the sharing of new technologies that are not always possible to develop internally. An approach that demonstrates a strong awareness of this pool of companies in addressing current challenges, a sign of great openness to innovation and a constant commitment to the search for synergistic and future-oriented solutions. The emerging projects, in fact, will increasingly support companies in reducing single-use plastics and non-recyclable materials and, at the same time, facilitate the transition towards a more conscious and ethically advanced food industry.
Eatable Adventures, leveraging its expertise and comprehensive ecosystem, meticulously tracks the forefront of AgriFoodTech innovations worldwide. In light of this, the company has supported the food packaging sector in this challenge, attracting new talent and stimulating the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and new synergies.
- Nicefiller, an Italian project in the innovative materials category, proposes Cronogard, a technology that uses specific molecules inserted into packaging, through ion exchanges capable of protecting and keeping food fresher for longer, reducing waste.
- FOODOC®, this Italian startup offers a modular software solution capable of optimizing the multilingual labeling process. Centralizing management, streamlining operations, and reducing operating costs: these are the keywords of a true B2B revolution ready to change the rules of the game for Manufacturers and Consultants.
- Alter Eco Pulp, which has introduced the “Cellulosic Fiber Molding” technology. It is an innovative process that uses natural cellulose fibers from annual plants and agricultural by-products, such as bamboo or sugar cane processing waste, for the creation of disposable and eco-friendly packaging products.
- IUV, researches and develops plastic-free packaging solutions and edible coatings for fresh food products through Naturameri: small, naturally occurring, chemically unmodified molecules found in algae, plants, and even food waste.
- LiVA, the all-female Israeli startup, specializes in the development of intelligent biopreservation and biocontrol solutions aimed at extending the shelf life of food and crops, reducing waste, and promoting more sustainable production.
- Lam’on, a Bulgarian startup in the innovative materials category, proposes alternative materials to reduce plastic use such as biologically based laminates, recyclable along with paper and cardboard, and compostable transparent sheets.
“For Italia del Gusto, it is essential to incentivize innovation, which is why we supported the Call4Startup with great interest and curiosity. It turned out to be an exciting moment due to the number of innovative and concrete projects presented, the result of highly valuable expertise. This initiative is naturally geared towards innovation and aimed at researching and implementing the most advanced sustainable packaging solutions. The collaboration with Eatable Adventures has allowed us to activate a virtuous cycle and identify, among the valid proposals generated by startups, those most functional to the needs of the participating companies. The synergy between the world of research and industry, as promoted within this project, is a strategic factor to ensure the development of our economic realities increasingly oriented towards integrating sustainability principles into our operations,” declares Giacomo Ponti, President of the Italia del Gusto Consortium.
“The demo day represented a happy conclusion to a process that, in all its development phases, was of extreme value. The challenge involved a considerable number of startups, and during the selection phase, the most interesting among the candidates were identified,” says Alberto Volpe, General Manager of Italia del Gusto. “The six startups that participated in the demo day presented proposals with clear potential, sparking a dynamic and stimulating dialogue with the eight participating companies of the Consortium.”
“This challenge represents another piece in the evolution of the Italian food industry. The collaboration between startups and the excellence of Made in Italy allows us to build a more sustainable and aware future, promoting innovative solutions for the challenges of our time,” declares Alberto Barbari, Regional VP Italy at Eatable Adventures. “Being involved in this challenge has been extremely stimulating for us and has allowed us to collaborate with and support Italia del Gusto, a leading entity that brings together the best of our food industry. Eatable Adventures is a true catalyst for innovation in the foodtech world, and our global network of partners and startups enables us to identify and support the most promising solutions, thus contributing to shaping the future of the food industry based on ethics and sustainability.”
