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Meet Jo Liang and Ming Zhao, the co-founders of Cauli. Both passionate foodies and sustainability advocates, they embarked on a mission to address the mounting environmental challenges posed by single-use food packaging. Jo Liang had been actively campaigning against food waste, while Ming Zhao’s background involved selling recyclable materials from a young age. Their shared vision and determination led them to join forces and find a solution to combat the throwaway culture surrounding takeout food packaging. 

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Cauli initially launched in 2019 with a small trial involving 20 lunch boxes and 10 participating vendors at a food market. The trial quickly gained momentum, attracting 250 members and expanding to include over 10 vendors in collaboration with the Westminster City Council. Today, Cauli continues to grow and has pivoted its focus to working with workplaces and venues that offer on-site dining, such as corporate canteens and festival catering. 

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Revolutionary Circular Packaging 

Cauli provides a revolutionary solution that helps food businesses transition from single-use packaging to circular packaging. They offer their supply chain and tracking technology to enable businesses to implement circular action schemes. Customers can download Cauli’s app and use it to scan a QR code on the reusable packaging, allowing them to enjoy their meals. The packaging can be returned within seven days to a collection kiosk on-site, promoting a circular system of reuse. Cauli’s unique approach not only offers environmental benefits but also emphasizes commercial viability, setting them apart from their competitors. 

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Environmental Savings 

One of Cauli’s greatest achievements has been its ability to deliver environmental and commercial savings for its clients. They take pride in working with businesses that genuinely care about sustainability, going beyond mere greenwashing. As a diverse founder team, Jo and Ming have achieved remarkable success, outperforming competitors with less-diverse teams and generating significant revenue. Their commitment to building a circular business model has also contributed to their success. 

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Valuable Process 

Cauli became aware of the MSDUK (Minority Supplier Development UK) and the Innovation Challenge through their participation in the MSDUK Accelerator programme.  

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Talking about the MSDUK Innovation Challenge, Ming says: “The programme has exposed Cauli to valuable resources, including practice pitches and sessions that helped us refine our pitch. The challenge is a fantastic opportunity to receive constructive feedback and validation from the judging panel and for Cauli to showcase the business to a wider audience and capitalise on the commercial exposure and networking opportunities offered by the MSDUK Business and Innovation Show 2023.” 

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Judge’s Decision 

Cauli is excited about various aspects of the MSDUK Innovation Challenge Finals. They anticipate valuable feedback from the judging panel, which can further enhance their business. Additionally, they look forward to the platform it provides for pitching and showcasing their innovative solution. Exposure to the corporate network, and networking opportunities with global brand leaders, and other ethnic minority entrepreneurs also present enticing prospects. 

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If Cauli was announced as the overall winner, they would allocate the £20,000 cash prize to product innovation. They have ambitious plans in the pipeline that have already generated excitement among their clients. Reinvesting in product innovation aligns with their long-term strategy, allowing them to continuously improve and provide the best value to their clients. 

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The Innovation Challenge Finals will take place at the MSDUK Business and Innovation Show in London on the 14th and 15th September 2023. To find out more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://www.conference.msduk.org.uk