The future of our planet weighs heavily on all our minds, but especially on those of younger generations like Gen Z and Centennials. Pollution and environmental issues are of major concern and according to a December 2019 major survey of more than 10,000 young people published by Amnesty International, climate change is one of the most important issues facing the world.
Client spotlight: Uuvipak
Every year around 300 million tons of plastic is being produced globally and Australians used 3.5 million tonnes of plastics in 2018 to 2019. Our use of plastic is increasing and since the pandemic, one could only imagine that single use plastics have become increasingly popular.
Co-Founders of Uuvipak Dr Shafali Gupta and Andy Epifani recognised these global challenges and wanted to make a difference. Their start-up manufactures eco-packaging and products including bowls and plates that are 100% biodegradable, vegan and edible!
Young change-makers on a mission
Each generation changes the rules of the game and at the same time must adapt to new challenges.
With a well-established background in IT, Andy decided to take a career leap in 2021 and started exploring AgTech and FoodTech as a way into building products that would be beneficial to our planet.
Meanwhile Dr Shafali discovered her passion for the environment during her academic research as Doctoral and Post-Doctoral research fellow, and decided she wanted to start her own venture with the mission to create products that have a real and positive impact on the environment.
The two created the Uuvipak products which are made from natural resources i.e. discarded food waste and by-products from farms and food producers.
Uuvipak products are home-compostable as opposed to biodegradable. Some other products that are currently on the market might be biodegradable, requiring special techniques such as compost pits, or digestion chambers to fully decompose and they may add to the problem of deforestation (e.g. bamboo utensils).
Uuvipak also practice water-positivity with the only waste that is currently generated in the process of making their sustainable products being water – and they plan to re-use it within their process as service water.
At MBIP we have been working with Uuvipak to protect their innovations as they work towards their goal to replace 1 billion plastic products with their products between January 2022 and December 2025. They truly are innovating for a better future and we look forward to following their progress. To find out more, visit their website.
This year, World IP Day celebrates creativity and ingenuity of young people with the theme IP and Youth: Innovating for a better future. If you’re a young entrepreneur and have a new product or service and would like advice on how to protect its design, functionality, or name, please contact MBIP to arrange a free initial consultation.