The Waste Transformers selected as Challenger50 2024: Revolutionising food waste management
This year The Waste Transformers has been selected as one of the Challenger50 2024 by MT/Sprout! For the 19th year, MT/Sprout has recognized 50 startups and scaleups that challenge traditional industries with innovative products, disruptive business models, and a focus on sustainability, speed, and social impact.
Challenging the status quo
Since 2014, The Waste Transformers, founded by Lara van Druten, has been on a mission to disrupt traditional food waste management practices. The facts are staggering: rotting food waste produces methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than CO₂, while in the Netherlands alone, 86 million kilometres are driven annually to transport food waste to incineration sites.
Our solution? A Waste Transformer, a modular bio-digester built in shipping containers. It processes 300 to 2,000 kilograms of food waste daily at the source, transforming it into green energy and natural nutrients. The biogas generated is converted into electricity and heat, which directly powers the facility where the Waste Transformer is located. Meanwhile, the nutrient-rich byproduct serves as a natural fertilizer, closing the loop.
Driving awareness and action
“Dumping food waste in landfills is no longer an option,” says Van Druten. “Companies must operate more sustainably—not only for the environment but to protect their own reputations.” This message resonated globally when Coldplay highlighted the Waste Transformer during their sustainable world tour at the Johan Cruijff Arena, showcasing its role in turning food waste into clean energy.
The Waste Transformers goes beyond technology, offering companies practical solutions, awareness, and opportunities to lead in sustainability. With a team of 16, we’re proud to serve clients in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Facing challenges, realizing ambitions
One of the biggest challenges? “Many companies are unaware of how harmful and costly their food waste is,” says Van Druten. Food waste contributes 6% of global co₂ emissions, compared to 1.9% from global aviation. By partnering with influential organizations like UEFA and the Johan Cruijff ArenA, we’re breaking this cycle of unawareness and demonstrating that food waste must be managed sustainably and profitably.
A vision for the future
Our ambition is bold: “A Waste Transformer on every corner—at every hotel, airport, and municipality,” says Van Druten.
Being part of the Challenger50 2024 is an incredible milestone in our journey to transform food waste management, one Waste Transformer at a time. Together, we’re shaping a future where food waste becomes a powerful resource for strategic business value.
About The Waste Transformers: The Waste Transformers is a Dutch cleantech pioneer, providing on-site innovative technologies to transform unavoidable food waste into sustainable energy and natural fertilisers, enabling local positive change.
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Curious how our installation works? Watch our short movie here.
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Get in contact with us to learn more about the possibilities of using an installation on your site to generate value from waste.
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