‘Trendi’ Sustainable Smoothie Machines Take Off at YVR

Major international airports aren’t usually well known for their healthy grab-and-go snacks or eco-friendly dining, but Burnaby-based company Trendi, who specialize in upcycling fruit for smoothies, are changing that. Trendi recently partnered with Vancouver International Airport to install five of their smoothie vending machines at YVR, making sustainable smoothies accessible to hungry eco-conscious travellers 24/7.

By Marisa Chandler

Reducing food waste

The Smoothie Machine by Trendi serves 100% plant-based smoothies made from rescued fruit, furthering YVR’s commitment to promote sustainability at the airport and for travellers. Upcycled ingredients for Trendi’s Smoothie Machine converts upcycled shelf-stable fruits rescued from the farm to delicious smoothies with minimal waste GHG emissions using agricultural automation and collection systems called BioTrim units that take the unused fruit from the farm and process them for the next stage.

The majority of Trendi’s ingredients are currently sourced via farm partners in Ecuador, and they estimate they’ve rescued upwards of  120,000kg of fruit and vegetables to date.

Smoothie Operators

Concerned with the large amount of food waste in the world when so many people go hungry, in 2018 food industry veterans and co-founders Carissa Campeotto and Craig McIntosh scribbled an idea for Trendi on the back of a napkin: use robotics and automation in the food industry to rescue, revive, and redistribute nutritious food

Fruit flavours to make your tastebuds soar

Travellers at YVR can treat themselves to four plant-based smoothies with a simple push of the button.

Flavours include:

  • Strawburst (strawberry, banana, orange, beet and apple)
  • Berry Breeze (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and apple)
  • Mango Tango (mango, banana, passion fruit, ginger and lemon)
  • Groovy Guava (guava, papaya, soursop, apple, lime and turmeric)

If you’re passing through YVR, keep your eye out for Smoothie Machines in Domestic Departures at Gates B13, B27 and B28, in International Departures at Gate D62 and at US Departures Gate E74.

Learn more about reducing food waste with Trendi here.

 

 

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