Sustainable solutions for food waste recycling and/or upcycling

BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

As one of the major food outlets (dine-in as well as take-away) in Singapore, FSG is looking to decrease its carbon footprint and waste. Currently, one of our main sources of waste is food waste. FSG is therefore looking for solutions that can help us to reduce our food waste. Solutions can include:

1. Solutions for collection, segregation and recycling of our existing food waste
2. Solutions for upcycling our existing food waste into new resources/materials / products (such as disposable packaging)

FSG is looking for solutions that are economically viable. Currently, we are experimenting with solutions such as a 'food digester' that converts solid food into water. The solution has important limitations however such as:

1. We are only able to convert solid foods
2. The food is converted into water rather than other (more valuable) resources/materials/products

Additionally, FSG makes use of a manual process to collect and dispose of the food waste. This is done manually and once a day. Food is not segregated nor recycled.

We are looking for an initial implementation in our atrium which ranges from 4,000 - 6,000 sqft, where most of the spaces are utilized for kitchens, stall front, seating areas as well as storage. All of the outlets' spaces are tenanted by the landlord and we have to operate on a “as is where is” basis, hence solutions that will not incur major changes to the existing infrastructure are preferred.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS / PERFORMANCE CRITERIA:

FSG will be evaluating the solution providers on a case-by-case basis. The general criteria we will look at include:

Technical requirements:

• % of food waste to be recycled
• Quality and value of the resource the food waste can be converted into
• Implementability across various locations depending on size and set-up
• Variety of sizes preferred if the solution is for disposal packaging - most commonly used size of food containers is 700 ml - 1000ml (must be able to withstand dry, oily, soup food items, to be used for both dine-in and takeaway)

Performance criteria:

1. Total cost of implementing the solution (both capital as well as operational expenditure)
2. The significance of changes in our existing processes (ease of implementation and use
3. Scalability of the solution: the should be relevant across all other food atriums owned by Fei Siong Group, and must be compatible with our operational flow in terms of time efficiency and logistic cost (i.e. time taken to collect the food waste and the cost of transportation to central factory).

COST TARGET

The cost of the solution will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Fei Siong is looking for a solution that provides us with a measurable Return on Investment (ROI). This means that after initial investment as well as operational expenditure to implement the solution we are looking to save cost since our food waste is decreased and potentially the food waste can be converted into a novel value resource which can be sold.

TIMEFRAME FOR DEVELOPMENT

Phase 1: Proof of Concept / Pilot (2-4 months)

Phase 2: Specific commercial roll-out scenario to be discussed on a case-by-case basis

POTENTIAL MARKET / BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

In case the solution proves its efficacy, Fei Siong Group is willing to explore the possibility of implementing the solution across all other food atriums owned or operated by Fei Siong Group (currently 17 food atrium outlets under operation and counting). Additionally, we are willing to actively introduce the solution to other F&D companies to help spur industry-wide adoption.

RESOURCES

FSG is willing to support by:

1. Potential paid pilot / PoC support of up to S$30,000
2. Access to in-kind tests and operational feedstocks

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Ideally, FSG would be looking for implementation by Q4 2023 with a potential further roll-out scenario across Southeast Asia afterwards.

In terms of collaboration models / go-to-market models we are open to consider:

1. Becoming a launching customer of the selected solution provider(particularly on the data gathering portion)
2. IP will belong to the solution provider
3. Equity investment in the selected startup (in case of synergy)
4. Joint go to market to partners and customers

 
Contact / source: Enterprise Singapore Sustainability Open Innovation Challenge - Sustainability Open Innovation Challenge 2022 (innovation-challenge.sg)