PepsiCo, a global leader in convenient foods and beverages, has recently disclosed the ten (10) finalists for its APAC Greenhouse Accelerator Program 2024. This initiative, designed to foster sustainable innovation in the food and beverage sector, attracted applications from startups throughout the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
The selection process, overseen by PepsiCo’s committee of leaders, emphasized the potential of each startup to offer groundbreaking solutions in sustainable agriculture, circular economy, and climate action. These criteria resonate with PepsiCo’s pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) initiative, highlighting its commitment to fostering a food system that prioritizes both environmental sustainability and human well-being.
In a notable expansion for 2024, PepsiCo has widened the program’s focus to include sustainable agriculture. Recognizing the pivotal role of agriculture in shaping our food systems, PepsiCo has identified two standout startups in this sector as finalists, each presenting innovative approaches to sustainable farming practices.
Among these finalists is Takachar, a Filipino startup revolutionizing agricultural waste management by transforming crop and forest residues into valuable, carbon-negative bioproducts like fertilizers, chemicals, and biofuels. Takachar’s portable systems, designed for rural deployment, not only promote self-sufficiency in bioeconomies but also mitigate the environmental impact of biomass burning.
PepsiCo has forged new partnerships with its bottlers, Suntory PepsiCo Beverage in Thailand and Vietnam, to bolster sustainability efforts across the region. These collaborations aim to amplify the impact of sustainability initiatives through concerted action and stakeholder engagement.
“As we welcome the newest cohort of startups to the APAC Greenhouse Accelerator Program 2024, I’m excited about the potential these innovators bring. Their inventive solutions are tackling pivotal issues within the circular economy, sustainable agriculture, and climate change — all of which are critical to our pep+ agenda. We’re optimistic about the prospects of how these partnerships will expedite progress. This year, our collaboration with bottlers has significantly expanded our ability to pilot and scale these innovative solutions across a broader spectrum,” according to Wern-Yuen Tan, CEO of PepsiCo APAC and Chief Commercial Officer.
The APAC Greenhouse Accelerator Program serves as a platform to nurture the growth of startups, equipping them with resources and mentorship to accelerate their market readiness and scalability. Representing a diverse array of entrepreneurial talent from across APAC, the finalists embody PepsiCo’s vision for fostering innovative environmental solutions.
Integral to PepsiCo’s mission is the integration of these solutions into its global value chain, aligning with its goals for packaging sustainability and greenhouse gas emission reduction. By 2025, PepsiCo aims to ensure that all packaging is recyclable, compostable, biodegradable, or reusable, alongside a targeted 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
The accelerator program builds an ecosystem of support around the finalists, connecting them with PepsiCo’s extensive network of mentors and industry experts. This framework aims to facilitate their development and enhance their capacity to drive meaningful change within the industry. In the previous edition in 2023, seven pilots across the PepsiCo network contributed to a remarkable 110% growth within six months for the finalists, accompanied by US$1.5 million in sales growth.
The finalists selected for the APAC Greenhouse Accelerator Program 2024 represent a diverse range of innovative solutions:
- AIIEV, Thailand – Revolutionizing transportation through electric conversions.
- CIRAC, Thailand – Pioneering technology for recycling aluminum laminated plastic packaging.
- Alternō, Vietnam – Dedicated to reducing carbon emissions through sustainable energy solutions.
- Grac, Vietnam – Providing affordable waste management solutions.
- Mi Terro, China – Engineering biomaterials from biomass waste to combat microplastics.
- Takachar, Philippines – Transforming agricultural waste into bioproducts for climate justice.
- ELIoT Energy, Australia – Decarbonizing the food & beverage industry with energy-shifting devices.
- Wildfire Energy, Australia – Developing gasification technology for biomass and waste to energy.
- X-Centric, Australia – Creating high-performance soil testing instruments.
- Captivate Technology, New Zealand – Revolutionizing carbon capture with MUF-16 technology.
The APAC Greenhouse Accelerator Program 2024 exemplifies PepsiCo’s ongoing commitment to driving sustainable innovation and fostering a resilient, environmentally conscious food system in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.