© Freshr
Freshr Sustainable Technologies Inc. (Freshr), a Canadian company specialising in sustainable active packaging solutions, has solidified a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) to tackle food waste. The collaboration follows a strategic investment by Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG) – the parent company of MCC – into Freshr, which supports the company’s technology scale-up and global expansion.
This partnership aligns with MCG’s KAITEKIVision 35 strategy, a long-term commitment to sustainability and a targeted business focus on food quality preservation. The agreement represents a significant step in advancing Freshr’s mission to reduce food waste through packaging innovation.
“We are extremely proud to partner with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. This agreement reflects MCC’s deep commitment to innovation and sustainability, and affirms the progress we’ve made toward a global vision: reducing food waste with scalable, science-backed solutions,” said Mina Mekhail, chief executive officer and founder of Freshr.
Food waste is a pressing global issue, responsible for $2.6 trillion in annual economic losses and 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions annually. In Japan alone, 4.64 million tons of food loss and waste are generated every year. This partnership leverages Freshr’s breakthrough technology and MCG’s global expertise to address this urgent challenge through sustainable packaging innovation.
Freshr's innovative solution, FreshrPack™, is a naturally-derived coating applied to food packaging film that inhibits spoilage bacteria growth. This technology extends the shelf life of fresh proteins, with demonstrated success in high-value seafood, beef and ham.
“This partnership with Freshr supports our KAITEKI Vision 35 by advancing practical solutions that promote sustainability and improve food quality. We believe their innovative approach to packaging has the potential to significantly reduce food waste and deliver real value across the global supply chain,” said Toshiaki Esumi, business senior director of packaging of MCC.
“At the end of the day, what we sell is time. Time that enables stakeholders across the supply chain to unlock significant value. For exporters, it means reaching further markets and opening new trade routes. For distributors, it offers the flexibility to choose more cost-effective transportation options. And for retailers, it means reducing waste and recovering revenue that would otherwise be lost,” added Mekhail.
A shelf-life extension of two to four days for fresh salmon can reduce waste by up to 50 percent, potentially unlocking an estimated $37 million in annual recovered value per retailer. The JDA provides Freshr with a strategic opportunity to enter the Japanese market, while positioning MCG to prepare the market for what is intended to be a long-term partnership.
This agreement follows Freshr’s oversubscribed investment round in March 2025, which included participation from Diamond Edge Ventures, Invest Nova Scotia, Nàdarra Ventures, BDC Capital’s Climate Tech Fund and Blue Tide Capital Ventures. Based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Freshr is actively working to expand into the Japanese market and other global regions.
