Hayley McCord
Chilean foodtech start-up The Live Green Co., recently met social and environmental standards to become the first Latin American-based food tech startup to receive B Corporation Certification. The company uses cutting-edge technology to research and develop plant-based foods while adhering to UN Sustainable Development Goals 3, 8, and 12.
The Live Green Co. isn’t only focused on turning a profit, but the future of the planet and the health of communities. The clean-label startup is using modern technology to fight climate change and food inequality and labels itself “The Plant Revolution 2.0.”
A unique certification
B Corporation Certification is an indicator of a company’s commitment to the global good by its active willingness to address challenges like poverty, hunger, or climate change. With this certification from the non-profit organization B Lab, The Live Green Co. joins a squadron of high profile organizations striving to make a social and environmental impact such as Patagonia, Toms, Heura Foods, and Betterfly, a Chilean insurtech company.
Right now, it is the only certification that evaluates a company’s social and environmental performance as a whole. To become a Certified B Corporation, companies must independently meet credible and transparent standards and earn an audit score of 80 out of 200, measuring their impact in areas such as governance, workers, community, environment, and customers.
“At The Live Green Co., we take great pride in putting in the effort to become B Lab certified because their stringent environmental and social standards are a model of how we approach business each day,” said founder and CEO Priyanka Srinivas. “Creating a future for sustainable, plant alternatives that are accessible throughout the food industry is our life’s work and this certification from B Corporation is recognition that we’re on the right path forward.”
What does The Live Green Co. Do?
Research shows that meat and dairy products are fueling the climate crisis, while plant-based diets, primarily fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans, help protect the planet. In fact, the 2019 special report on climate change and land by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has declared a switch to a plant-based diet as a means to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
The Live Green Co. recognizes the pressing need for sustainable meat and dairy alternatives and has created a unique recommendation engine to develop natural plant alternatives to both animal products and artificial food additives. Their recommendation engine, named Charaka, puts ancient traditions of plant nutrition, artificial intelligence, and modern biotechnology to use to run a comprehensive scan of 15,000 plants and plant properties. The result is healthy, sustainable substitutes to more than 5,000 additives.
Their products don’t simply recreate animal products using synthetics. The Live Green Co. combines technology with nature to develop plant-based foods that are minimally processed and nutritious, with easy-to-understand labeling. So far, the company offers plant-based burger and pancake mixes alongside dairy-free ice cream and herbal capsules made from 100% natural herbs and spices with bioactive compounds.
Healthy food for everyone
Healthy, organic food is notoriously pricey, making it often an out-of-reach option for many customers on a budget. The Live Green Co. spearheads food inequality with affordable options. Their recommendation engine helps food producers create these healthy formulations at a fraction of the cost and with a turnaround time of 90 days.
Since tech streamlines production costs, Live Green Co. can provide access to delicious and nutritious foods at a competitive rate in stores in Chile and Peru, as well as on Amazon.com in the United States. The Live Green Co. aims to “disrupt the way the world consumes by providing 360° green solutions that are available for everyone.”
The future is now
The Live Green Co. wants to transform the food industry. According to their company manifesto, they believe things must change and they will lead the change. With the latest technology behind them and a passion for a cleaner more equitable future, Live Green Co. is making a difference with its bold, innovative approach. Or as they would put it: “Let’s live green. Let’s start now.”
