A global materials science technology company and a sustainable packaging company will come together to produce a ready-to-eat açaí bowl, the companies said Thursday.
The plant-based, plastics-free bowl from Footprint and SAMBAZON will be a frozen product with a 15-month shelf life, the companies said in announcing their multi-year agreement to develop the sustainable packaging solution. Over the course of the agreement, Footprint will provide millions of units to support SAMBAZON’s rapid growth as it scales up the national distribution of the product.
“We are thrilled to bring our design and manufacturing innovation to support SAMBAZON’s Packaging ‘Eco-mmitment’ as they bring their certified fair trade and organic açaí to the freezer in a plastic-free, ready-to-eat bowl,” said Footprint founder and CEO Troy Swope. “We look forward to continuing to provide industry leaders like SAMBAZON the opportunity to transition away from single-use plastic with a plant-based fiber solution that is at price- and performance-parity to plastic.”
Footprint said the product fits with their vision of creating a healthier planet and healthier people by providing solutions that eliminate single-use and short-term-use plastics in the food chain. SAMBAZON said the partnership will positively impact its bottom line.
“As a triple bottom line business, reducing our impact through packaging is a priority,” said SAMBAZON’s CFO and COO Ricardo Perdigao. “SAMBAZON is committed to achieving plant-based and post-consumer recycled packaging for all USA retail products by 2025. Our partnership with Footprint has enabled us to deliver our fair trade and organic certified açaí to the world in packaging aligned with our sustainability goals, paving the way for a zero-waste future and minimizing our impact on the environment.”