GoMasssive Earth Network
The ZeSUP Challenge
Zero Single Use Plastic

Calling all the startups working to Reduce/Reuse Single-Use Plastics.
Brands working with ZeSUP



What you get from ZeSUP?

Incubation/Acceleration ecosystem at GEN

Chance to run Pilots with the biggest F&Bs

Funding support at ClimateAngels & GEN
Application Deadline – 20th May, 2022
You are eligible for ZeSUP if you are working towards

Alternatives
Alternatives to conventional plastics

Reuse/Refill
Alternatives to conventional plastics
Common SUP items in Foodservice
Off-premise SUP usage
Plastic bags
Plastic cutlery
Plastic straws
Styrofoam packets/plastic food containers
Plastic cup, lids
Plastic drink stirrers
Dine-in SUP usage
Plastic cutlery, straws, drink stirrers
Servingware
Sauce sachets
SUPs in Kitchen
Cling film
Plastic bags/clear bags
Food containers
Plastic bottles
The Problem
In South and Southeast Asia, there is an increasing demand for packaging in Food & Beverage (F&B) Industry, particularly single-use plastics (SUPs), dominated by polystyrene and other types of hard-to-recycle plastics, including flexibles (films, sachets, and more). By 2025, these are projected to make up more than 70% of the market for food packaging in the region.
The food service industry heavily utilizes single-use packaging, from the purchase of food supplies to preparation. This is especially so for off-premises food services such as deliveries, drive-throughs, and takeaways, which have increased dramatically during COVID-19, becoming a lifeline for some operators. Being entirely reliant on their supply chains, the sector is unaccustomed to working with alternative solutions for conventional plastics or circular reuse/refill models developed by early-stage companies.
Alternative solutions are mostly driven by early-stage companies that struggle to overcome various challenges, including lack of capital, collaborative industry partners, managerial experience, under-developed value chains, and complex policy and regulatory frameworks.
Some of these challenges would be solved by The SUP Challenge! GoMassive has decided to aim higher and call it The ZeSUP Challenge – the Zero Single-Use Plastic Challenge!
The Challenge
Over the next six months, the SUP Challenge will see eight Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) – GoMassive is one of the two selected from India – accelerate startups in South and Southeast Asia to pilot their solutions with the F&B industry to reduce single-use plastic waste.
The insights derived from their pilots will contribute to a study around understanding the environmental impacts of alternative solutions to single-use plastic packaging. The results will be outlining the environmental considerations associated with single-use replacement business models and the opportunities to reduce negative impacts or recognize carbon savings, relative to virgin plastic production.
The Benefits
The chosen startups would get –
• Project and startup funding from a pool of US$ 500,000
• Dedicated mentorship and technical assistance for the project
• Securing partnerships with F&B partners to pilot solutions
• Deep learning and network building
The Application
Application Deadline – 20th May, 2022
Write to zesup@gomassive.org if you face any issues while filling the Application Form above.



This challenge is implemented by The Incubation Network and funded by the PREVENT Waste Alliance, an initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and ECCA Family Foundation. This Challenge is part of PREVENT’s Innovate & PREVENT programme.