Stixfresh was originally a Malaysian company founded by inventor and entrepreneur Zhafri Zainudin.
The idea of creating this innovative sticker was born out of a desire to combat food waste, a major problem worldwide.
After several years of research and development, Zhafri and a team of researchers developed the StixFresh sticker. They then joined forces and Ryp Labs was born, headed by CEO Moody Soliman.
This 100% natural product, made from sodium chloride and beeswax, forms a protective barrier around the fruit or vegetable. This coating limits the gas exchange between the product and the ambient air, which delays food degradation. In addition, the mineral salts contained in the sticker act as natural antimicrobials, limiting the proliferation of bacteria responsible for rotting.
Since its inception, StixFresh has received numerous awards and accolades for its innovation, including the James Dyson Award in 2018 and the Best Food Innovation Award at the Global Innovation Awards in 2019. These awards have helped raise the company's profile and attract media and investor attention.
Today, StixFresh is booming and gradually expanding its operations internationally. In particular, the company has entered into partnerships with retailers and food industry players in the United States, Europe and Asia.
By reducing food waste, StixFresh also helps reduce the carbon footprint associated with the production and transportation of fruits and vegetables. Much of this produce is imported from distant countries, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions.
Food waste is a major problem on a global scale.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), nearly one-third of the food produced for human consumption, or about 1.3 billion tons, is lost or wasted each year. This represents an annual economic cost of nearly $940 billion.
Fruits and vegetables are particularly affected, with nearly 50% of losses and waste. This waste also has environmental consequences: about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to uneaten food.
Faced with these alarming figures, it is essential to find solutions to reduce food waste and improve the management of food resources on a global scale.
StixFresh is a perfect example of the adage that it's often the smallest things that make the biggest difference.