Freshr, Mitsubishi Chemical partner to curb global food waste

CANADA – Canadian start-up Freshr Sustainable Technologies has entered into a joint development agreement with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) to accelerate the advancement and global rollout of its food-preserving packaging technology.

The deal, backed by an investment from MCC’s parent company, Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG), supports the group’s long-term KAITEKI Vision 35 sustainability roadmap, which aims to deliver innovation-driven solutions in materials science.

For Freshr, the partnership offers both funding and technical expertise to scale its coating technology across international markets.

Food waste remains one of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges, costing an estimated US$2.6 trillion annually while contributing around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

Japan alone generates 4.64 million tonnes of food waste each year, underlining the scale of the problem in Asia.

Freshr’s flagship innovation, FreshrPack, is a proprietary coating designed for food packaging that delays spoilage by suppressing bacterial growth.

The solution extends the shelf life of proteins such as meat and seafood, offering benefits for retailers, suppliers, and consumers while helping reduce emissions linked to wasted food production and disposal.

“Partnering with Mitsubishi Chemical is a pivotal step in bringing our vision to life,” said Mina Mekhail, founder and CEO of Freshr.

“This collaboration reflects MCC’s commitment to sustainability and validates the progress we’ve made in developing scalable, science-based solutions to reduce food waste.”

The partnership builds on Freshr’s momentum following an oversubscribed funding round in March 2025, backed by BDC Capital’s Climate Tech Fund, Blue Tide Capital Ventures, Diamond Edge Ventures, Invest Nova Scotia, and Nàdarra Ventures.

The round underscored strong investor confidence in the start-up’s growth potential.

For MCC, the tie-up is a chance to expand its sustainability-driven packaging portfolio.

“This partnership with Freshr supports our KAITEKI Vision 35 by advancing practical solutions that promote sustainability and improve food quality,” said Toshiaki Esumi, senior director of MCC’s packaging and barrier films division.

“We believe their innovative approach can significantly cut food waste and deliver real value across the global supply chain.”

The collaboration comes amid growing demand for active and intelligent packaging technologies, projected by MarketsandMarkets to reach US$31 billion globally by 2028.

With Freshr’s innovations and MCC’s scale, the two companies are positioning themselves at the forefront of packaging solutions designed not only to protect food, but also to protect the planet.

Subscribe to our email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE