Good morning,
In today’s newsletter, we decided to talk about four different firms that are an example of sustainability. In particular, we will broadly present:
· Too Good to Go and Nu+company that focus on the food industry
· Pangaia which focuses on the fashion industry and,
· Vibram that works in the shoe industry
We are excited to launch this first newsletter of the Strategic Management course.
It is presented by: Alessio Treggiari, Michele Piemontese, Francesca Malaguti, Anne Friedrich, and Regina Seydelmann, students at the University of Carlos III de Madrid.
This newsletter is composed of 1271 words and it takes approximately 10 minutes to read.
TOO GOOD TO GO
Too Good To Go is a Danish company that was founded in 2015 with the goal of reducing food waste worldwide. The company operates in the most important European cities and, as of 2020, has also begun operations in North America.
The main platform the company uses to provide its services is an app. Customers can use this app to find restaurants and stores that have an unsold food surplus.
Every day, restaurateurs offer "Magic boxes", which are bags containing a surprise selection of fresh products and dishes that were unsold at the end of the day and cannot be sold again the next day.
Each seller communicates how many bags he has available through the app based on unsold products he estimates to have at the end of the day; on the other side, consumers, through geolocation, can find the local sellers closest to them and buy these Magic boxes at low prices, as they cost about a third of the original price.
Because the time between booking the Magic box and picking it up at the local can be hours (or even a day), the app includes a handy reminder function before the start of the withdrawal time slot (usually towards closing).
Too Good To Go is now a Solid Reality, with impressive numbers: 30 million users, over 47 thousand member stores, 50 million magic boxes sold, and over 100 million kg of CO2 not emitted as a result of its contribution (every meal saved thanks to the app saves 2.5 kg of CO2).
Food waste is a serious issue because approximately 1.6 billion tons of food produced for human consumption is wasted each year. Food waste will increase by one-third by 2030 if current trends continue.
As a result, this app was born at the right time and, thanks to the pandemic experienced in the last two years, has managed to become increasingly successful because, in addition to having a strong environmental impact, it is also of extreme help to the small realities that were struggling to move forward during a time of crisis like this.
To conclude, Too Good To Go is an excellent example of how an innovative business idea can become an excellent tool for increasing environmental sensitivity and sustainability.
For more information: https://toogoodtogo.org/en
PANGAIA
Pangaia is a new brand, launched only 3 years ago, in 2018 whose purpose is to combine good design with responsible fashion. As we know the fashion industry is the second-largest polluter in the world and Pangaia is trying to move the opposite direction by creating clothing constructed from renewable, sustainable, and recycled materials.
The name Pangaia comes from the combination of the two words: from ancient Greek- Pan which means all-inclusive and Gaia, Mother Earth.
Pangaia doesn’t rely on trends or seasons; it’s vegan, organic, biodegradable, and manufactured to work as close as possible to Mother Nature’s resources.
One of their most famous pieces is a T-shirt- the most basic of fashion products but they recreated it by using seaweed fiber and organic cotton. They also treat all their material with antibacterial peppermint oil, to keep it fresh for 10 wears thud reducing the frequency of washing and therefore water pollution. In addition, they only use vegetable dyes for the color of their clothes. By using recycled cotton, they save 20,000 liters of water per kilogram of cotton and reduce the amount of energy used.
Their impact approach also extends organizations that take care of the planet. For example, when purchasing a Pangaia piece, they donate 1% of proceeds to a non-profit organization called 5Gyres that empowers action against the global crisis of plastic pollution through science, art, and education.
In 2021 they raised and donated more than $100,000 to different organizations.
For more information: https://thepangaia.com/
NU+COMPANY
The company I would like to introduce to you is Nu+Company, a young, innovative food start-up from Leipzig, Germany, which has set itself the goal of revolutionizing the food industry with nutritious and environmentally friendly snacks. The products should not only be healthy and delicious but also as environmentally conscious as possible.
In the following, I'll tell you what makes the company so special.
In 2017, the average European consumed 36.7 grams of sugar per day. The problem with that? Around 425 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes, and the number of diabetics is rising rapidly. And another problem with this is that people's obesity is on the rise, around 15 million people currently living with obesity in Germany. Nu+Company believes that there is a solution to every problem, including excessive sugar consumption. Unlike most chocolate bar manufacturers, the company does not use industrial sugar, but coconut blossom sugar. Moreover, all their products are purely plant-based, organic, and rich in nutrients.
It is no surprise that the cocoa for the chocolate bars is not grown in Europe. The problem with cocoa is that only about 5% of the cocoa produced worldwide is fairly traded. The workers and farmers are paid too little for their work, but the worst thing is that more than 1.5 million children have to work hard on the cocoa plantations so that we can treat ourselves to a piece of cheap chocolate. However, the Nu+Company trades fairly and pays 30% more than the standard world trade price. The company also works to source ingredients in the most climate-friendly and socially responsible way possible. For some ingredients, the company relies on local collaborations, which can benefit the countries of origin enormously economically, but also save on transport emissions.
Speaking of emissions, Climate change is becoming an ever-greater threat to people. The issues of reforestation and CO2 reduction are becoming more pressing. The Nu+Company has taken up the fight against climate change. They plant a mangrove tree for every bar sold. Why did they choose to plant mangrove trees? Because mangrove forests are crucial in the fight against climate change. During their lives, they absorb large amounts of CO2.
400 million tons of plastic waste is a lot, isn't it? Yes! And that's just the plastic waste we humans produce every year. The Nu+Company has faced this problem and therefore does not rely on the usual disposable plastic packaging but has thought outside the box and relies on a home-compostable solution made of cellulose packaging that completely disappears in nature.
For more information: https://the-nu-company.co.uk/
VIBRAM
The story of Vibram begins with the desire to be completely immersed in nature without any risk. Its products inspire people to experience the world, to relive adventures as often as they want respecting the nature, using resources efficiently, and always in good company to be able to constantly master new challenges and return to nature what nature offers us.
This is vibram #sustainableway for a careful footprint. 88% of the energy comes from renewable resources, with a reduction of 9.8% from 2019 to 2020. More than 65.5% of waste was recycled or reused in 2020, and up to 73.4% was recycled during the first trimester of 2021. They created a program for which anyone can replace the outsoles of their shoes with Vibram products. Moreover, they are determined on innovating their product with more than 200 active patents which focus on circular economy and eco-design. They are trying to use natural raw materials such as N-oil. In America for example there has been a reduction of polyurethane scraps thanks to efficiency improvements of the production process. For Vibram, sustainability is integral, and their six pillars related to it, support their company in standing strong.
Finally, they are also focusing on training their workers in the field of CSR to inspire them and those around them and have a greater indirect impact.
For more information: https://eu.vibram.com/
We recommend…
📹A video:
1.
2.
🎧A podcast:
2. https://www.varesefocus.it/vf/dx/La-storia-di-Vibram-ascolta-il-podcast-21-Feb-20
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Interesting! It is essential to voice those companies which promote environmental sustainability! Thanks for this helpful newsletter!
Loved this article! It was very interesting to hear about these brands and initiatives, especially Panagia and Vibram. I believe that they will gain more importance as years and sustainable concerns go by.