Braskem Labs Scale seeks solutions that reduce food loss

The signup period of the fourth edition of Braskem Labs Scale, an acceleration program for entrepreneurs, is already open for the special "food loss reduction" category. The search includes companies with innovative business proposals that reduce or eliminate all types of food loss or waste, from production to post-consumption. Thus, entrepreneurs with solutions for agriculture, packaging, transportation, retail, home consumption and other areas can participate in the program. These solutions do not require the use of chemistry or plastics in their composition.

The figures are significant and demonstrate the urgency of finding solutions: roughly 1/3 of the world's food for human consumption each year - about 1.3 billion metric tons - do not reach the tables, according to data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). According to the organization, the damage caused by food waste already amounts to approximately $1 trillion, include advanced and developing countries.

"This is one of the biggest crises in the world today, with severe consequences for society and the environment. With this new category, we hope to discover companies that contribute to putting an end of this situation," said Luiz Gustavo Ortega, Sustainable Development Manager at Braskem.

In addition to entrepreneurs with solutions for reducing food loss, companies with innovative sustainable solutions in the fields of chemistry and plastics can also make submissions to Braskem Labs Scale. Those interested in participating should submit their projects by March 31 on the website www.braskemlabs.com. Selection criteria include project innovation, market potential, entrepreneur and team profile, business model, and socio-environmental impact.

About Braskem
With a global, human-oriented vision of the future, Braskem's 8,000 members strive to improve people's lives by creating sustainable solutions in chemistry and plastics. It is the largest resin producer in the Americas, with an annual output of 20 million metric tons, including basic chemicals and petrochemicals, and R$55 billion in revenue in 2016. It exports to Customers in approximately 100 countries and operates 41 industrial units, located in Brazil, the United States, Germany, and Mexico - the latter in partnership with Mexico-based company Idesa.

About ACE
ACE was considered the Best Startup Accelerator in Latin America by Latam Founders and acts as a complete innovation ecosystem for entrepreneurs, investors, and large companies. It offers an acceleration program with investment, mentoring, networking and a structured methodology especially for each stage of the entrepreneur's journey. Founded as Aceleratech in 2012, in Brazil, ACE has already accelerated over 100 startups in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, and Goiânia, and presents the milestone of eight exits (startups sales).