CaPao, the startup snack brand created by Mondel?z International’s SnackFutures innovation and venture hub, has been certified by the Upcycled Food Association. CaPao, which is made with upcycled cacao fruit, joined the UFA earlier this year as part of SnackFutures, and was among a select group of companies invited to participate in the beta program of the only third-party certification program for upcycled products and ingredients.
Upcycled, as defined by the UFA, is a product made with ingredients that otherwise would not have gone to human consumption, are sourced and produced using verifiable supply chains, and have a positive impact on the planet.
"CaPao was built on the promise of being good for people and kind to the planet by upcycling and snackifying cacao fruit that would otherwise have gone to waste," said Shannon Neumann, associate director, SnackFutures Innovation, in a statement. "This certification not only validates the relevance and integrity of our brand, but it also allows us to 'mainstream' upcycling by delivering those ingredients in a delicious snack and underscoring the impact people can have simply by making a mindful choice."
CaPao received its certification based on its use of upcycled cacao fruit, which is sourced from Cabosse Naturals. Cacao fruit is the pod used to make chocolate, but once the cocoa beans are extracted the remaining 70 percent of the fruit is thrown away. CaPao recognized that was wasted "deliciousness," nutrition, and opportunity for growers.
"This program can help brands and companies mitigate food waste with a consumer-driven, actionable, scalable solution," said UFA co-founder and CEO Turner Wyatt, in a statement. "Cutting food waste is the single-most effective thing people can do to address climate change, and this set of clear, uniform standards and protocols is an important step in making this the norm."
Related: Amazon Adds Sustainable Certifications; ReGrained Receives First Upcycled Food Certification.
Image: Mondel?z International