Ausnutria partner in ReThink Waste Challenge by Wageningen University & Research

19-01-2023

On 18 January, students kicked off the ReThink Waste Challenge, an international student competition looking for the next step towards a sustainable world without waste organized by Wageningen University & Research. The competing student teams will come up with their own business idea or prototype for a technology that will reduce or reuse waste, create reusable materials, and contributes to a sustainable future.

Students are not alone in their quest for the winning solution. More than twenty leading companies in industries such as agri-food, construction work, engineering consultancy, packaging and waste treatment are there to help. Also Ausnutria partnered as an industry expert.

Reasons for participation

The choices we make today determine the world in which young children grow up. That is why we realize our growth in a responsible and sustainable way and continually work to improve our processes and products. Ausnutria recently opened an office in Plus Ultra I at Wageningen Campus. We have a strong R&D team focusing on innovation and we believe in the power of collaboration. Because the challenges we are facing are of a multidisciplinary nature, we work together with experts in various professions.

Randolph Happe, Manager R&D Partnerships at Ausnutria: “Collaborating with partners including students and universities has become our second nature. Maintaining the highest quality is our competence, yet always with an entrepreneurial mindset. We are constantly focusing on the future, with chances for improvement and innovation constantly on the radar. We have a strong passion for unravelling new opportunities, together with partners, and making future-proof products, in a responsible and sustainable matter. In this context the ReThink Waste Challenge is a great match for Ausnutria. We are eager to learn about all challenges and solutions that participants will bring forward.”

Our challenge

Processing of dairy is not commonly known to result in problematic waste streams. The majority of the side streams are (re-) used in a valuable manner. Our core focus is to process specialty dairy streams. Therefore our side streams also deserve special attention. In that sense it is possible to make optimal use of the precious natural starting materials. Randolph Happe: “Therefore, it would be great to have creative thinkers and fresh pairs of eyes critically look at our processes and side streams resulting thereof, to optimize the valorization in a most sustainable way.”

During the coming month, the teams will work towards the first selection moment at the end of February. The teams that make it through, will work to refine their concept, hoping to secure a place in the Grand Finals.

Learn more about the challenge on the website: https://rethinkwaste.nl/

Source: https://www.agro-chemistry.com/articles/nearly-200-students-from-over-the-world-join-the-quest-for-a-zero-waste-future-with-the-wur-rethink-waste-challenge/