The three startups selected for pilot programs include Pune-based KBCols Sciences, Chennai-based GreenPod Labs, and Bengaluru-based Cropin. These companies participated in the Walmart Growth Summit last year.
Solutions from each will help drive innovation at scale across Walmart’s supply chains. The pilot programs will test solutions that augment the availability of better and more fresh products for Walmart’s consumers in the U.S. and around the world, reduce product waste, and create sustainable alternatives for intermediate products used in manufacturing processes such as synthetic textile dyes to reduce environmental impact.
KBCols Sciences, based in Pune, manufactures non-GMO natural dyes by fermenting microbes from agricultural waste across India. These natural dyes can be used for various textiles, promoting more efficient manufacturing by reducing water and energy usage in the dying process. As a more sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes, this innovation paves the way for more regenerative methods in mass-produced clothing. The pilot will evaluate KBCol’s dyes and their properties, testing them on woven materials and jersey cotton. Read more
Source: Economic Times