Areas has selected the 3 winning startups of the third edition of ‘Areas for Change Challenge’, developed in collaboration with Plug and Play, a global innovation platform based in Silicon Valley. The challenge is part of the company’s broader ESG strategy, ‘Areas for Change,’ which emphasizes commitment to people, the planet, and the future of travel.
Areas, international leader in food & beverage and travel retail, headquartered in Barcelona, has selected the 3 winning startups of the third edition of ‘Areas for Change Challenge’, developed in collaboration with Plug and Play, a global innovation platform based in Silicon Valley. The challenge is part of the company’s broader ESG strategy, ‘Areas for Change,’ which emphasizes commitment to people, the planet, and the future of travel. Specifically, the goal is to provide sustainable and innovative solutions that reduce the company’s environmental impact, contributing to the fight against climate change and steering its activities toward greater sustainability.
This third edition of ‘Areas for Change Challenge’, launched by Areas in November for the international entrepreneurial community, aims to find concrete and feasible solutions to the company’s own challenges for the coming years and those of the Food & Beverage and Travel Retail sector, particularly in terms of sustainability.
From the numerous applications received from startups worldwide, Areas and Plug and Play have selected 3 winning projects, one for each of the categories: Upcycling, Energy Efficiency, and Sustainable Alternatives to Plastic Water Bottles. These companies will have the opportunity to collaborate with Areas, access its international network, and develop a pilot program at one of its points of sale.
- The Milan-based startup, Krill Design, winner of the Upcycling category, gives a new life to the organic waste generated by food and beverage companies, such as peels, coffee, seeds, and shells. This waste is transformed into a biodegradable and compostable biopolymer, which is then used to create and eco-design products through 3D printing.
- The Predictive Company, based in Barcelona, winner of the Energy Efficiency category, has developed an AI-based Energy Management System that offers personalized energy optimization and autonomous machinery control that helps companies like Areas manage energy consumption efficiently resulting in savings for the company and reduction in CO2 emissions.
- The winner of the third category, sustainable alternatives to plastic water bottles, was the US-based company, RAIN. The company offers spring water that is bottled at the source in the Appalachian Mountains in resealable aluminum bottles. These bottles are infinitely recyclable and recycled most often.
Blanca López Alerm, Director of Communication, Sustainability, and Customer Experience at Areas, emphasized the importance of these innovative solutions: “The winners of this edition bring ideas with the potential to drive sustainability in our industry. We are aware of the importance for companies like Areas to take action in promoting solutions that transform the industry. Our goal is to foster greater commitment to environmental awareness while continuing to improve our customers’ travel experience.”
The selected startups were received by Areas at an event held at the company’s global headquarters in Barcelona, during which the entrepreneurs were able to explain their proposal in detail, meet, and present their products to the project’s driving team and the Areas management team.