E61: Making More Climate Resilient Chocolate with Kawa Project and CEO, Aaron Feigelman The Keep Cool Podcast

Nick and Aaron Feigelman, the CEO of Kawa Project, dive deep on the world of waste-to-value alternatives to commodities like cocoa and palm oil. Specifically Nick and Aaron discuss why cocoa prices are soaring, how there’s a ton of ‘climate’ stories inherent to this dynamic, and the work Aaron’s company is doing to make cocoa alternatives that are sustainable and future-proof. In addition, Nick and Aaron walk through:
All the climactic impacts inherent to supply chains for things like cocoa The benefit of waste-to-value approaches in climate tech and energyThe nuts and bolts (or beans?) of the cocoa industry and Kawa Project’s business
Don't miss out on this podcast if you’re interested in learning more about the state of climate tech, food and agriculture, waste-to-value approaches, and more! Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, Google, or your favorite podcast platform to catch all the latest episodes.
00:01:34 - Food Waste Statistics and Environmental Impact
00:04:51 - Challenges and Pivots in Business Model
00:08:05 - Kawa Project's Current Focus and Progress
00:13:43 - Impact Layers and Keeping Waste Out of Landfills
00:15:00 - The Iterative Process of Product Development
00:16:03 - The Economics of Waste Management
00:18:45 - Centralization of Cocoa Supply Chain
00:20:07 - Scale and Sales Cycle in B2B Ingredient Sales
00:23:59 - The Biggest Challenges for Kawa Project in 2024
00:27:38 - Aaron's Broader Thoughts on Climate and Industry
00:33:44 - The Free Market and Climate Solutions
Learn more about Kawa Project on their website: https://www.thekawaproject.com/
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