Mondi supports innovative youth start-up

Lead2030 was launched by One Young World, the global forum for young leaders, in November 2018 to support youth-led innovation to contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It aims to find, fund and accelerate technologies proposed by young innovators for each of the global goals and enable them to scale and accelerate their impact.

As a challenge partner for Lead2030, Mondi is supporting the achievement of the SDG12 (responsible production and consumption), with the aim to turn packaging waste into raw materials of inherent value.

This year’s winning project comes from Genecis Bioindustries, a Canadian-based start-up, which makes compostable plastic from food waste. Genecis has been awarded $50,000 from Mondi as well as 12 months of corporate mentorship focused on business development, marketing and communications support as well as technical mentorship on the potential market applications of PHA polymers in packaging.

‘We are convinced that collaboration is the key to achieving the SDGs and with Genecis as this year’s winner, we have a perfect example of young innovators working to solve global challenges that no one business or sector can achieve on their own,’ said Gladys Naylor, head of sustainable development at Mondi Group.

‘Lead2030 will be a fantastic platform from which we can accelerate our technology and inspire an entire generation of young people to solve challenging problems,’ added Luna Yu, founder of Genecis Bioindustries.