MassChallenge

Nature Knows is a provider of fresh, ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables, specializing in innovative and eco-friendly packaging solutions. The company focuses on delivering plant-based snacking and meal options, ensuring convenience and quality for consumers seeking healthy food choices. By utilizing breathable packaging, Nature Knows enhances the freshness and longevity of its products, aligning with sustainable practices while catering to the growing demand for nutritious, on-the-go meals.

Jericoo Good Ethics is a sustainable online supermarket in Mexico, delivering fresh organic products to your door, in zero-waste packaging.

Grain4Grain is a San Antonio-based food-tech startup focused on producing low-carb, high-protein flour from brewers spent grain, a byproduct of the brewing industry. Utilizing a patent-pending process, the company efficiently dries and mills this grain in under 20 minutes, significantly reducing traditional processing times. This innovative approach allows Grain4Grain to offer a sustainable and nutritious ingredient at competitive prices, addressing a long-standing challenge in the brewing sector. Since its launch, the company has successfully upcycled 120,000 pounds of wet spent grain and introduced two consumer packaged goods in nearly 200 HEB stores. Additionally, Grain4Grain is actively forming partnerships with product makers, bakeries, and pet food companies to further expand its market presence.

B'ZEOS is a technology-based start-up that specializes in the development of seaweed-based packaging solutions aimed at providing sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. The company focuses on creating novel bio-based packaging materials that are designed to combat environmental issues associated with conventional plastic use. Utilizing advanced green processing technology, B'ZEOS manufactures its products without toxic chemicals, ensuring that their offerings are both environmentally friendly and compostable. By tailoring its material formulations, B'ZEOS effectively addresses the needs of industries seeking to decarbonize and adopt more sustainable packaging practices.

Outlander Materials is a manufacturer focused on addressing the challenges posed by single-use plastics through its innovative product, UnPlastic. This biodegradable alternative is crafted from food industry sources, including by-products and brewery waste, ensuring that it remains functional and compostable without breaking down into harmful micro- or nano-plastics. Designed for food and packaging applications, UnPlastic offers businesses a sustainable option that not only reduces plastic waste but also contributes to minimizing food waste. By providing a circular solution, Outlander Materials aims to transform the packaging landscape and promote environmentally responsible practices.

FlexSea specializes in the development of innovative biomaterials sourced from renewable marine resources, specifically seaweed, to create sustainable packaging solutions. The company focuses on producing compostable biopolymer materials that serve as alternatives to conventional plastic film packaging. These materials are designed to degrade within weeks and can break down in various environments, including marine, soil, and home-composting settings. By providing environmentally friendly packaging options, FlexSea enables clients to maintain product freshness and safety while minimizing environmental impact.

SGMA specializes in coatings & advanced materials using Sol-gel process. It develops practical, sustainable solutions for today’s global problems. SGMA’s technology platform has a wide range of applications. The first area we are aiming to address is that of food packaging. The company is actively engaged in a program to help Starbucks, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Yum! Brands and the World Wide Fund for Nature. SGMA’s Technology Platform provides a quickly scalable solution to address the zero-plastic goal with a potential cost reduction, as the solution is delivered via a mono-material which is 100% recyclable. It has applications beyond the initial coffee cup solution, being able to address trays, boxes, and beyond. The company is led by CEO Dr Fanya Ismail and was founded in 2017.

Ponera Group is a company that specializes in innovative industrial packaging systems aimed at enhancing logistics efficiency and sustainability in freight transportation. It provides smart modular packaging solutions that can be assembled from any direction to form boxes of various sizes, accommodating heavy-duty cargo while ensuring ease of handling. By offering reusable packaging systems, Ponera Group enables clients to convert traditional single-use packaging into intelligent assets, thereby facilitating a more effective circular economy. The company's focus on digitizing supply chains further supports its mission to minimize waste and improve the overall sustainability of packaging in the logistics sector.

Candam Tech is a company focused on advancing waste management solutions through innovative technology. It has created a cost-effective Smart Ring technology that utilizes acoustic techniques and artificial intelligence to identify various types of packaging materials in real time. This patented system enhances waste collection processes and aims to improve recycling rates, thereby supporting the circular economy. Candam Tech's platform also facilitates access to waste management and collection systems, particularly in urban areas, addressing challenges related to plastic waste and promoting sustainable practices, including the management of pharmaceutical waste.

Radial Biomateriales, established in 2018 and headquartered in Zapopan, Mexico, specializes in the production of biodegradable packaging and related products. The company innovatively utilizes agro-industrial waste to create these eco-friendly solutions, targeting applications in packaging, industrial design, and interior design.

Aeropowder Ltd is a London-based company founded in 2016 that specializes in developing and manufacturing sustainable materials from poultry feather waste. The company aims to create a new value chain by utilizing the approximately 10 million tons of feathers generated annually. Its flagship product, Pluumo, is an innovative thermal packaging material designed to outperform traditional expanded polystyrene, particularly in temperature-sensitive deliveries such as food and pharmaceuticals. Aeropowder's materials are made from keratin proteins, which provide water repellency and thermal and acoustic insulation. The company's mission is to harness the potential of the circular economy by enabling the local production of high-performance materials wherever feathers are available, thus promoting environmental sustainability in both the creation and disposal of its products.

Mi Terro is an advanced material company specializing in the development of eco-friendly packaging solutions derived from agricultural waste. Unlike other companies that focus on consumables like beverages or snacks, Mi Terro transforms agricultural byproducts into flexible packaging materials that are both ocean degradable and home compostable. Their innovative approach repurposes waste to replace traditional plastic and paper materials, providing additional income for farmers globally. The company’s products cater to a wide range of applications, including packaging for fresh produce, dry food, fashion items, and cleaning products. Mi Terro’s process is energy-efficient, consuming less energy than conventional paper and plastic production while generating 90% less CO2 emissions compared to plastic. By utilizing protein-based materials sourced from agricultural waste, Mi Terro is redefining the concept of a circular economy, ensuring that waste materials are repurposed into sustainable products that can ultimately return to the earth as compost or biodegradable matter.

Obaggo Recycling includes segregating clear, brown, and green glass; sorting paper from periodicals, and crushing aluminum cans to make them denser for storage. All clean or dry polyethylene bags and packaging films were recycled.

kaiosID is a cloud-based traceability solution that offers brands a method to combat counterfeiting and grey market issues through the use of unique hidden patterns on product packaging. These patterns function as fingerprints for each product and can be easily verified using a smartphone. The company's technology integrates seamlessly into existing production, packaging, and logistics processes without the need for additional hardware, making it a straightforward and effective traceability solution. By enabling brands to track their consumer goods securely, kaiosID helps protect brand reputation while providing valuable theft prevention analytics.

Fresh Strips is a smart packaging company focused on delivering cost-effective solutions that enhance the safety of heat-sensitive food products. The company has developed an innovative product consisting of a plastic sticker that can be affixed to food packaging. This sticker changes color in response to heat exposure, providing consumers with a clear indication of whether the food is safe for consumption. By informing consumers about the safety and quality of their food, Fresh Strips aims to improve food safety standards and reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.

Magnomer is a Boston-based manufacturer specializing in innovative magnetic inks designed to enhance the recyclability of plastic packaging within a circular economy framework. Founded in 2017, the company has developed a product called Design2Recycle™, which serves as a design tool for consumer brands and manufacturers. This technology incorporates printable magnetizable inks that improve the recyclability of multi-layer plastics without necessitating changes in existing manufacturing processes. By offering coatings for inks used in such packaging, Magnomer enables recycling facilities to more effectively separate these materials using magnetic sorting technology, addressing the challenges posed by traditional recycling methods.

Cleancult is a company focused on providing sustainable cleaning solutions through the manufacture of refillable cleaning products. It offers a range of laundry detergents in the form of all-natural cleaning pods that utilize powerful, non-toxic ingredients. These products are designed to be safe for individuals with sensitive and allergy-prone skin, promoting an eco-friendly lifestyle. By using aluminum bottles for refills, Cleancult aims to reduce reliance on single-use plastics, aligning its mission with a commitment to environmental sustainability. The company’s approach combines effective cleaning power with a dedication to natural ingredients, catering to consumers seeking both functionality and safety in their cleaning products.

Stokes Firestarters specializes in manufacturing all-natural, non-chemical fire starters made from recycled pulp, wax, and sustainably harvested wood sawdust. The company emphasizes environmentally friendly practices by utilizing only natural materials, ensuring a safe and reliable way to ignite fires. Initially created as holiday gifts using household materials, Stokes Firestarters has grown significantly and is now available in over 300 retail locations across eight states, including prominent retailers such as Whole Foods, Market Basket, Stop and Shop, and Shaws. The fire starters are designed for use with wood and charcoal, providing effective ignition with just one match. Stokes Firestarters are produced in Natick, Massachusetts, in collaboration with Charles River Industries.

Archer Roose is a clean wine brand focused on appealing to a new generation of consumers by offering a diverse global portfolio of wines and beverages. The company specializes in canned and kegged wine, promoting affordability and sustainability in its products. Archer Roose emphasizes transparency in winemaking and utilizes innovative packaging solutions that cater to the modern lifestyle, making wine more accessible for various occasions, including fine dining. Through its approach, the company aims to redefine how consumers perceive and enjoy wine.

Rayform SA is a Swiss company specializing in innovative light redirection technology that enables unique design possibilities for luxury products and packaging. Founded in 2016 and based in Ecublens, the company employs a proprietary computer algorithm to calculate the three-dimensional surfaces necessary for creating target images from light. By modifying the shape of transparent or reflective surfaces according to the algorithm's specifications, Rayform's technology redirects incoming light to produce clear and detailed images on adjacent surfaces. This capability not only enhances the visual appeal of consumer products but also aids artists, designers, and brands in crafting memorable experiences while providing a means to combat counterfeiting.

Tripzon is a packaging and booking platform that helps its users plan and book complex tours. The platform offers multiple destinations, component filtering, trip design services, and a single transaction checkout. It provides a smart itinerary system for flights, hotels, activities, cars, transfers, and other travel components. Tripzon was launched in 2008 and is based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Starching introduces starch plastic products to the market with structural properties superior to the competition. The first product we manufacture will be loose fill packaging foam. Through simple processes and with inexpensive and fully renewable raw materials we are able to manufacture starch plastic products which offer resistance to moisture while maintaining the critical property of 100% biodegradability.

Boxologic is a manufacturer specializing in custom packaging solutions designed to optimize space and reduce waste in e-commerce shipping. By utilizing advanced robotic technology, the company creates right-size boxes that minimize void space, significantly decreasing the need for filler materials and improving cargo efficiency. This innovative approach addresses the common issue of excessive void space in shipping, which can lead to increased costs associated with filler use, corrugated cardboard, and transportation. Through its tailored packaging, Boxologic enables e-commerce businesses to lower their logistics expenses and contribute to more sustainable practices by reducing material waste.