Winners Announced in Partnership with Startup India to Drive Sustainable Solutions
Zomato, the leading food ordering and delivery platform, unveiled the champions of its ‘Plastic-Free Orders Packathon’ initiative, during aceremony in New Delhi. In collaboration with Startup India, the initiative aimed to spur innovation in sustainable packaging for food delivery orders.
At the event, attended by industry luminaries, including Zomato’s restaurant partners, startups, technical experts, and sustainability advocates, Bambrew, Go Do Good Studio, and Frenvi emerged as the top three winners. Their groundbreaking solutions earned them prizes worth INR 10 lakhs, 5 lakhs, and 3 lakhs, respectively.
The event showcased the efforts of over 85 startups from 18 states, presenting an array of sustainable packaging solutions. Notably, 34 of these startups were led by women entrepreneurs, underscoring the inclusive ethos of the initiative. The pitches were evaluated based on criteria such as innovation, functionality, cost efficiency, and aesthetics.
Anjalli Ravi Kumar, Chief Sustainability Officer at Zomato, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming response to the initiative, stating, “The ‘Plastic-Free Orders Packathon’ addresses the pressing need for environmentally sustainable practices in the food delivery industry. We’re proud to collaborate with Startup India and witness the groundbreaking solutions proposed by startups nationwide. Their contributions have the potential to redefine packaging standards and pave the way for a greener future.”
The esteemed jury, comprising industry stalwarts such as Rakesh Ranjan, CEO of Food Delivery at Zomato, and Vishal Jindal, Founder, and CEO of Biryani By Kilo, played a pivotal role in selecting the winners.
Zomato reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability with initiatives like defaulting to ‘Do not send cutlery’ on its app, which significantly reduced cutlery waste. The company aims for 100% plastic-neutral food deliveries annually by 2030, with a target of 100 million plastic-free orders by 2025. Since FY 23, Zomato has recycled 30,000 MT of plastic waste, emphasizing its dedication to a cleaner, greener future.