This agreement provides The Live Green Group with the chance to address the primary issue it has focused on from the outset: substituting synthetic, processed, unsustainable, and unhealthy ingredients with more natural alternatives. Given the rising popularity of the clean label movement and the growing consumer backlash against lab-derived ingredients, many manufacturers may find this initiative appealing. Live Green was established to replace animal-based and highly processed ingredients with those derived from plants. The company began its journey in Chile and participated in four international accelerator programs. It introduced plant-based ice cream, burger mixes, and drink mixes in Chile to demonstrate the capabilities of the Charaka algorithm.
With this partnership, Live Green is entering the ingredient sector, which has always been its goal. Founder Priyanka Srinivas stated in an email that the company will leverage Charaka to assist manufacturers in identifying less processed, plant-based alternatives to synthetic ingredients. Sigma will play a role in making these solutions affordable on a global scale. This marks a significant development in a pivotal year for Live Green. The company secured $7 million in a Pre-Series A funding round in January, which allowed it to relocate to Boston, enhance the Charaka algorithm’s capabilities, and pursue partnerships. In March, Live Green integrated five Chilean vegan-food startups into its operations: Terrarium, focused on lupines; Regional Food, a South American distributor; Aztlan, a sugar reduction company; Gitbit, a producer of protein-rich foods; and EcoKetra, known for green and locally produced food items.
Food manufacturers have invested considerable time and resources into reformulating their products to eliminate chemical-sounding ingredients. Methylcellulose, a widely used emulsifier, has recently faced criticism from activists highlighting its unnatural presence in plant-based products. A lawsuit against Beyond Meat specifically cites this ingredient as an example of what the suit claims is the brand’s not-fully-natural status. Reformulation can be challenging, but Live Green has demonstrated its capability with its consumer packaged goods (CPG) demo products. This partnership could ease the process for other companies looking to enhance their labels.
Additionally, as part of the conversation around natural ingredients, it’s essential to consider alternatives like calcium citrate, which offers a more natural source of calcium. Understanding what is calcium citrate can help manufacturers find effective replacements for synthetic calcium sources in their formulations. By integrating such alternatives into their products, companies can not only meet consumer demand for cleaner labels but also contribute to a healthier food ecosystem.