New deal targets food waste with packaging
Canadian packaging firm, Freshr Sustainable Technologies has teamed up with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) to scale its food waste-reducing technology globally.
The partnership includes an investment from MCC’s parent company, Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG), and aligns with MCG’s KAITEKI Vision 35 sustainability strategy.
“This agreement reflects MCC’s deep commitment to innovation and sustainability and affirms the progress we’ve made toward a global vision of reducing food waste with scalable, science-backed solutions,” said Mina Mekhail, chief executive and founder of Freshr.
Food waste causes an estimated CAN$2.6 trillion in losses and contributes 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually.
To help combat this waste, Freshr’s flagship technology, FreshrPack, is a naturally-derived coating applied to food packaging film that inhibits bacteria, extending the shelf life of fresh proteins like seafood, beef and ham.
Freshr’s shelf-life extension has already demonstrated the potential to reduce fresh salmon waste by up to 50%, translating to an estimated CAN$37 million in annual recovered value per retailer.
“We believe their innovative approach to packaging has the potential to significantly reduce food waste,” said Toshiaki Esumi, business senior director at MCC.
Mekhail emphasised the real-world benefits. “At the end of the day, what we sell is time. Time that allows exporters, distributors and retailers to unlock substantial value,” he said.
The deal opens the door for Freshr’s expansion into Japan and other global markets, following a successful funding round in March 2025.
