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Virtuous Circle project distributes 1 million food pouches

The project uses a circular economy approach, combining smart food designed to meet the needs of children in isolated communities and smart packaging to keep the food fresh for as long as possible.

The Virtuous Circle project is coordinated by DuPont.
The Virtuous Circle project is coordinated by DuPont.

The Virtuous Circle project on nutrition, food waste, packaging, and the circular economy in South Africa has reached a key milestone in February 2017 with the first results of its feeding program becoming available. As part of this program, which will be completed by the end of March 2017, almost 1 million FUTURELIFE® Smart Food™ pouches will have been distributed to 27 primary and combined primary schools, seven pre-primary schools, and one orphanage.

The project, coordinated by DuPont in close collaboration with Futurelife, EqualTrade4, Amcor, Wildlands, RWPA, and Wastebuster, among others, uses a circular economy approach through the combination of smart food designed to meet the needs of children in isolated communities and smart packaging to keep the food fresh for as long as possible. The packaging from the food pouches is then recycled and converted into school desks. The project also entails an educational pillar, which educates children and teachers on the importance of sustainable waste management.

“The nutritious instant meals are delivered in so-called dual-compartment pouches, which contain water on the one side and a dry solution on the other. Squeezing the pouch bursts the internal seal, allowing the content to be mixed and the meal to be ready for consumption. The nutritious value of the food is maintained through the entire process. This type of meal is ideal for use in situations where the food cannot be refrigerated or where there is little time, space, or equipment to prepare nutritious meals,” explains Julika Falconer, Director of the Futurelife Foundation Trust.

To understand the impact of the feeding program on the ground and to adapt it as needed, surveys of teachers from participating schools were carried out. In addition to the practical benefits in the preparation of food for teachers, the FUTURELIFE Smart Food itself proved popular among the school children and their families. The pouches require no preparation time and do not take away any time from the academic curriculum. It has also had a demonstrable impact on attendance levels and concentration in the class room.

For the survey, 228 teachers from 18 schools provided first-hand insights into the impact of the feeding program:

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