Snow Recycle is a pioneering sustainable technology company dedicated to revolutionizing waste management and promoting a circular economy. Our core mission is to transform bio-waste into valuable biomaterials for disposable tableware and packaging, offering eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics. With a strong focus on environmental sustainability, circularity, and responsible consumption, Snow Recycle is poised to make a significant impact on society, the economy, and the environment.
Innovation and Solution
Our innovation centers around a patent-pending process that converts agricultural and food-processing residues into high-value biogranules (biopolymers). These biogranules can be used to create a range of products, including disposable tableware, cutlery, plates, and cups. Snow Recycle’s biomaterials are not only 100% ecological, recyclable, and strong but also biodegradable in soil within just 70 days, addressing consumers’ and environmental regulations’ expectations. Our products are resistant to heat, dishwasher-friendly, and, most importantly, they do not harm the environment when disposed of.
I
S T A R T T H I N K I N G A B O U T Y O U R F U T U R E T O D A Y
The market of disposable tableware
The global disposable tableware market comprises of products such as plates, cups, bowls, cutlery, and other items made from materials like paper, plastic, and biodegradable materials, catering to the needs of commercial and residential consumers.
According to a market research report by Grand View Research (2020), the global disposable plates market size was valued at EUR 3.1 billion in 2019, while the Research and Markets report predicts that the disposable tableware market will reach EUR 4.3 billion by 2025. It is projected to grow at a moderate Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of around 4%-6% in the forecast period (2020-2025). Leading companies operating in this market are Dart Container Corporation and Huhtamaki Group. It’s noteworthy that these companies offer a wide variety of products other than disposable tableware.
How it works?
Snow Recycle collects or receives agro-waste and leftovers directly from food processors (e.g., alcohol and juice manufacturers) and large coffee and catering shops. Raw materials come from local juice producers, brewers and gas stations and catering services. Our solution follows a multi-step process to transform bio-waste into eco-friendly biomaterials for disposable tableware and packaging (Figure 1):
- Bio-Waste Collection: We source bio-waste directly from food processors, including alcohol and juice manufacturers, as well as large coffee and catering shops. This waste includes brewery spent grain (BSG), fruit juice production waste, and used ground coffee.
- Quality Control: Before processing, the collected waste undergoes a quality check to ensure it is free from toxic substances.
- Processing and Blending: The bio-waste is then shredded, dried, and ground. Afterward, it is blended with biopolymers and other natural components. The blending process is carefully controlled to achieve the desired thermal and mechanical properties, water absorption, and biodegradability.
- Granule Production: The blending process results in biomaterials in the form of granules or pellets. These granules can be used for various applications, including creating shapes through moulding and 3D printing.
Value proposition
Our catering and food packaging products are 100% from renewable sources, light, and strong as conventional plastics. Compared to first generation of bioplastics which takes months to be degraded in the environment, our products degrade within few days in normal wet soil. Compared to paper or pulp-based products, our biomaterials are more durable, indefinitely reusable, and resistant to heat, providing a practical and sustainable choice. Our process is lean and scalable while having low carbon footprint. Our catering packaging products, at this prototyping stage, are considered as among the top 5 in terms of quality.
Our unique selling proposition (USP) lies in the following key features:
- Agro-Waste Valorisation: Our technology converts bio-waste into higher value materials.
- Eco-Friendly Products: Our products are eco-friendly, 100% renewable, reusable and recyclable.
- Biodegradability: Our biomaterials decompose in natural soil within 70 days.