AN entrepreneur that turns surplus fruit into wine, has won at a national innovation awards.
The winner from Scotland is 26-year-old Lasse Melgaard from Glasgow a microbiologist with a passion for sustainability. What started off as dumpster-diving at university soon bloomed into Two Racoons, which creates delicious fruit wines all while repurposing waste from the fermentation process to grow mushrooms.
Lasse has secured more large suppliers of surplus ingredients and expanded to retailers across Scotland.
The Young Innovators Next Steps Awards are specifically focused on helping young individuals take their innovative ideas to the next level. Each winner will receive an additional £50,000 to fuel their growth plans.
Commenting on his award and project, Lasse said: “Our passion is to change people’s mindset about what they are chucking out. So much good stuff is being tossed away but to live truly sustainably, we need to close those loops. The Next Steps Award will provide us with the support to accelerate the journey towards our goal of becoming a fully circular, zero-waste winery.”
On the wine distllers website, they explain: "Two Raccoons were born in the bins of Aberdeen. After finding 50kg of blueberries with no space to store it, we turned to fermentation to help us preserve our fruity loot. We were rewarded with excellent fruit wine and an innovative idea on how to fight food waste.
"The Scottish Government aims to reduce overall food waste by 33% by 2025, and Two Raccoons are providing a clear solution for businesses to meet this target."
Elsewhere in the UK, other winning ideas include a sustainable drinkware brand producing unique reusable bottles that can be dismantled for cleaning; an online platform that demystifies and streamlines the home buying process, and cutting-edge micro-turbines that allow the water industry to sustainably monitor pipelines.
Science and Technology Secretary, Chloe Smith, said: “To see so many young innovators fizzing with ground-breaking ideas – from reducing food and clothing waste to supporting the blind – is testament to the dynamic spirit of our country. I have no doubt they will inspire the rest of their generation and those that follow.
“This Government will always back enterprise and I’m delighted this funding can help the winners to reap the rewards of their creativity, while growing our economy and improving lives through innovation.”
The innovation agency is the UK's main one, which "works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations."
Indro Mukerjee, CEO of Innovate UK said: “Innovate UK is committed to inspiring and supporting the next generation of innovators, as they will play a critical role in the UK’s future economy. The team congratulates the Young Innovators Next Step award winners and looks forward to seeing their businesses develop further.”
