Natura launched its Innovation Challenge: Zero Waste Packaging last year, aimed at finding innovative global solutions to combat plastic waste generation and pollution.

During the competition, the team at Natura analyzed over 570 solutions, all offering the potential to rethink packaging, logistics and business models -- with a focus on eliminating waste. 

Now, the company is sharing 38 of the solutions that were presented to the team, which analyzed over 570 solutions.

Three projects of the projects were selected to move onto test phase.

We're not sure which three are in testing - but one of the top solutions is by The Shellworks, which makes a new type of bioplastic from lobster shells. (No lobsters are harmed, the company's website assures - the shells that are used are discarded waste.) The company's plant pots are shown above, photo is via Instagram/theshellworks. The bioplastic is made from chitosan, a sugar obtained from the hard outer skeleton of shellfish. 

Roseli Mello, global head of R&D at Natura &Co, says, "Natura has worked with open innovation for over 20 years, based on the understanding that it is fundamental for our business. However, we adopt a very careful approach to this work: for us, it is only innovation if it provokes positive impact."

Mellow continues, "By means of Natura Campus and Natura Startups we are going to continue to promote innovation with our network in pursuit of solutions for the major challenges in sustainability and business. It is essential to share solutions to boost the visibility of the proposals received because they have great potential to impact the chain positively, as well as the businesses of other companies and other industries."
 
Promoted in partnership by the Natura Campus and Natura Startups programs, the Natura Innovation Challenge attracted entrepreneurs, start-ups, researchers, universities and companies from 35 countries.

 

 

 

 

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We believe in the relationships and the power of networks to transform the challenges of humanity. In November 2019, we invited everyone who wanted to bring their innovative solutions to eliminate the waste from our packaging. Together, we made the biggest open innovation challenge in Natura's history and now we are working together with innovators from around the world. Thank you very much! Also, we chose to share selected solutions that signed up for the Natura Innovation Challenge to any person or company that is looking for a partner to help solve this problem. Evolving the “single use of plastic” models to “zero waste” alternatives is our responsibility. But it is also everyone's responsibility around the world. Click in link in bio to know the entrepreneurs and the opened projects.

A post shared by Natura USA (@natura.usa) on Jun 9, 2020 at 12:03pm PDT