Climate tech firm turns food waste into reusable containers

SMU alumna Karen Cheah had a brainwave to reinvent food waste in 2018 while she was studying part-time for a Master of Science in Innovation at SMU, when she was tasked with developing a “hypothetical start-up” as part of an assignment. She eventually quit her job and forked out more than $60,000 from her savings to establish AlterPacks, a climate tech start-up creating reusable, compostable food containers and utensils made entirely from plant fibres. Karen said her biggest takeaway from running AlterPacks is that “it can be done”. She also hopes to be recognised as someone who challenges the status quo, and plans to repurpose the material used in AlterPacks’ containers to produce a paper alternative within the next five years.

 The Straits Times, pA18

The Straits Times Online