Overview:

Fortuna Cools is a social enterprise on a mission to replace plastic foam with natural fiber insulation. Fortuna Cools unlocks the power of nature's own insulation: the coconut husk. Coconut palms spent thousands of years perfecting the coconut husk to keep their fruits fresh in the tropical heat; Fortuna Cools has been working since 2018 to use this technology to keep our customers' temperature-sensitive shipments cool in the very same conditions.   

The Challenge:

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam dominates the multibillion-dollar market for insulated packaging used to transport everything from fresh fish to pharmaceuticals. This fragile and bulky plastic foam is disliked by many, but its low cost and wide availability make it a difficult addiction to break. The result is a plastic waste crisis: millions of used foam containers enter the environment every year, blowing into waterways and washing out to sea.   

The Solution:

Fortuna Cools employs a human-centered design process to ensure that Fortuna Cools Coconut Coolers fit into its customers' lives and livelihoods, constantly iterating on the product and process to improve user experience from coconut farmer to shipping agent. Since their raw material is someone else's trash, they are keeping manufacturing costs low as well. Fortuna Cools's combination of high performance, thoughtful design, and affordability is finally breaking plastic foam's stranglehold on the market, reducing plastic waste on land and at sea.   

Why this matters:

Fortuna Cools' solution addresses the urgent need to reduce plastic waste in the oceans while providing a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional insulated packaging. This innovation directly supports SDG 14 (Life Below Water), particularly target 14.1 on reducing marine pollution, by replacing EPS foam with natural fiber insulation. Fortuna Cools contributes to a healthier ocean, improved livelihoods for farmers and producers, and a more sustainable future.   

Results & impact:

Fortuna Cools significantly increased its production volume during the OIC Incubation, allowing them to invest in new machinery, production partners, and inventory. Starting with just a few hundred coconut husks processed at the beginning of the project, Fortuna Cools diverted over 600,000 husks from incineration, transforming them into high-performance natural insulation within two years. This expansion has resulted in excess production capacity, allowing for future growth. Furthermore, Fortuna Cools's work has benefited over 1,000 farming families, and their supply chain now spans five locations across three countries and seven provinces. By replacing 8kg of EPS foam with every 1kg of coconut fiber, Fortuna Cools has reduced plastic foam in the environment by 400 tons and avoided 700 tons of CO2 emissions. 

Replicate & scale up:

Fortuna Cools is expanding its operations and partnerships to bring its innovative coconut fiber insulation to Southeast Asia and beyond. Major companies in the Philippines like Grab Foods, Shakey's, and San Miguel are eager to replace plastic foam in their supply chains with this sustainable alternative. Fortuna Cools' collaborative approach, combined with its unique technology and eco-friendly practices, positions it as a leader in the fight against plastic pollution. With its focus on utilizing agricultural waste and meeting the growing demand for insulated packaging, Fortuna Cools offers a scalable and impactful solution to a critical environmental challenge.

Lessons learned:

Fortuna Cools' journey has been a valuable learning experience, providing key insights into expanding businesses in Southeast Asia, working with natural fibers and managing international projects. They have learned the importance of balancing rapid growth with strengthening existing operations, building redundancy into production, and staying adaptable and understanding with supply chain partners. Fortuna Cools also recognizes the crucial role of government relationships and the need for a tailored approach when engaging with government actors at different levels. These lessons have not only strengthened Fortuna Cools' operations but also provided valuable insights for other innovators navigating the complexities of sustainable development.