SPAIN/INTERNATIONAL. Travel restaurateur Areas has revealed the identities of three winning start-ups for the third edition of its ‘Areas for Change Challenge’. The initiative promotes sustainable and innovative solutions to reduce the company’s environmental impact and guide activity towards greater sustainability.
Areas for Change Challenge – part of the Areas global ESG strategy – is developed in collaboration with Plug and Play, a universal innovation platform based in Silicon Valley.
Numerous applications were received from startups worldwide, from which Areas and Plug and Play selected three winning projects covering three sustainability-focused categories.
The chosen companies will have the opportunity to collaborate with Areas, access its international network and develop a pilot programme at one of its points-of-sale.
The winners
Milan-based start-up Krill Design, winner of the Upcycling category, gives new life to the organic waste generated by food & 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, was the Energy Efficiency category winner. It has developed an AI-based energy-management system that offers personalised energy optimisation and autonomous machinery control.
It is designed to help 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 US-based RAIN. The company offers spring water bottled at the source in the Appalachian Mountains in resealable aluminium bottles, which are infinitely recyclable.
The winning start-ups were received at an Areas event held at the company’s global headquarters in Barcelona. Here, the entrepreneurs were able to explain their proposals in detail, and present their products to Areas management team members.
Areas Director of Communication, Sustainability and Customer Experience Blanca López Alerm said: “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 food & beverage sector. Our goal is to foster greater commitment to environmental awareness while continuing to improve our customers’ travel experience.” 
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