Thursday, December 28, 2023

Smart Cups



Influencer Josh Liljenquist and Chris Kanik, the Season 1 winner of FOX’s Gordon Ramsay Food Stars and founder of Smart Cups teamed up to provide innovative new “soup” Smart Cups to help feed the Minneapolis community in need.

The special community giveback moment took place on Wednesday, December 13th at 2:00pm CST at Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The innovative Smart Cups feature printed ingredients on the bottom of the cup, where recipients just need to add water to get a full, nutrient-packed meal.

I had a chance to learn more about the technology in this interview with Chris Kanik, CEO of Smart Cups.

Can you share a little bit about the technology to print ingredients directly into packaging?
Smart Cups Technology is revolutionary, leveraging advanced microencapsulated printing techniques to precisely print ingredients directly onto surfaces.

Why is this such a game-changer?
This technology marks a paradigm shift by enhancing convenience, sustainability, and nutritional access. By printing ingredients directly onto packaging, we eliminate the bulk and weight associated with traditional liquid-filled containers. This not only streamlines storage and transportation but also significantly reduces our environmental impact. Our innovative approach opens new avenues for on-the-go nutrition without compromising quality. The elimination of liquid requirements results in reduced storage and transportation needs, translating to lower carbon emissions. With our technology enabling more efficient packing, a single delivery truck can now carry up to 31 times more product, as demonstrated in a UCLA study published by the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. This breakthrough has wide-ranging applications across various industries, including pharma, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, food and beverage, industrial materials, and even for pets. Moreover, our technology contributes to a reduction in plastic packaging, aligning with our commitment to sustainability.

In the case of the soup, how different is the final product from a similar, conventionally created product?
The final product, such as our printed soup, stands apart in terms of efficiency and sustainability. Traditional soup products require extensive packaging, storage, and transportation for both liquid and solid components. Our printed soup, on the other hand, maximizes nutrition in a lightweight, stackable form—reducing waste, logistics, and the environmental footprint. In one carry-on suitcase I was able to feed over 100 members of the Minneapolis homeless community.

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