Let’s make sustainability an action word.
Sustainability as a service.
My mission is to accelerate the sustainable impact of academia, startups & organizations through circular thinking, and help launch solutions to actively preserve the planet for the next hundred years.
I am Gerald Marin, the Executive Director of Rethink Plastic. I previously co-founded FoPo Food Powder, the startup that collects almost wasted fruits & vegetables and turn them into powder to extend its shelf life by up to 2 years, while saving nutrition by up to 90%.
My passion for sustainable production and consumption is what drives me to continuously innovate, collaborate and inspire others in the industry and the communities globally towards a more circular economy.
As Featured In:
Sustainability at Work
Director
Rethink Plastic NGO
I founded a global team to work on the NGO dedicated to understanding the world's plastic addiction, promoting new material innovations, and acting against plastic waste.
Startup Founder
FoPo Food Powder
I co-founded FoPo Food Powder, the startup that collects almost wasted fruits & vegetables, turn them into powder to extend its shelf life by up to 2 years, while saving nutrition by up to 90%. Featured as United Nations MGCY Youth Innovator 2018 in support for UN's Sustainable Development Goals, we collaborated with farmers & manufacturers in the Philippines, Kenya & Israel to help fight food waste.
Academia
Innovation Coach
I created food innovation & entrepreneurship classes and for Technological University Dublin and University of Economics Prague, with intense one-on-one mentorship to launch a sound business model from scratch.
Enabling Sustainability Through Technical Innovation
Global Sustainable Packaging Specialist
• Conceptualized and piloted an internal packaging sustainability startup that got in 3 multiple internal innovation competitions
• Worked on packaging innovations around returnables or increased recycled content, leading towards 100% Circular Packaging Goals by 2025
Associate Account Manager
▪ Handled 25 early stage startups (mainly blockchain, food & logistics), in-charge of creating new revenue opportunities
▪ Prepared business studies on startups by crunching multiple data sources (AWS Insights, Salesforce, intricate.ly & Crunchbase) & perform data visualization using AWS Quicksight
Junior Packaging Manager
▪ Piloted a scientific research study on shelf impact of packaging using eye tracker research methods
▪ Crafted a packaging sustainability framework to reach Mars’ goal on sustainability by 2020
Bioplastics Researcher
Masters thesis was performed in Milan, with a focus on nano cellulose extraction from Kraft paper pulp and used it as bio-coating to improve PET barrier properties for food packaging
Award-winning Sustainable Innovations
2018 Youth Innovator Award, United Nations MGCY Global Solutions Summit (United States) 2018
Champion, 2nd Annual AgTech FoodTech Summit (Germany) 2017
Champion, Smart Tech Trophy (Germany) 2016
1st Runner Up, Kickstart Accelerator (Switzerland) 2016
1st Runner Up, Thought for Food Summit (Portugal) 2015
Speaker, TedX Jacobs University (Germany) 2016
Speaker, Impact Hub 'Building Things That Matter' (Philippines) 2015
Winner, Climate KIC Accelerator (Netherlands) 2017
Winner, Ben & Jerry's Join Our Core Crowdfunding Competition (Sweden) 2015
Editor's Choice, Kickstarter Crowdfunding Campaign (Sweden) 2015
Testimonials
“Gerald’s class on innovation is refreshingly electrifying! He really cares a lot about bringing the best out of the ideas of his students. Will definitely work with him again in the university.”
— Prof. Libena Jarolimkova, University of Economics Prague
‘‘Gerald is a fantastic team member: he listens to others opinions, get to build an inclusive and connective environment with all. He is also definitely passionate about sustainability and was always pushing, and supporting, the team to bring innovative ideas!’’
— Aline Casagrande, Circular Packaging Director, Anheuser Busch Inbev
“As his co-founder, he never gives up until we get results. His passion & positivity, as well as strategic mindset, helped us a lot in the competitive startup world.”
— Ada Balazy, European Institute of Technology / FoPo Co-founder
Let’s make sustainability work for you.
Consult me for innovation projects, speaking engagements, brainstorming workshops, startup mentorship, or teaching opportunities here: