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In the tourism sector, sustainability and efficient management of resources are key for any business that wants to make a difference, and especially in the tourism sector in general and the HORECA sector in particular.

In this context, companies dedicated to the reduction of food waste and the efficient management of organic waste are positioned as essential allies to achieve these goals.

These companies audit the current process, propose improvements to reduce waste and install software to measure rejected food by type. In addition, the solutions include specialized training for staff and, if you want to become a #zerowaste company, they sell automatic composters.

To learn more about this reality and how we can contribute to a more sustainable future in our tourism sector, we were able to interview Javier Jiménez Rodríguez, CEO of Effiwaste, passionate about effective sustainability, for more than 5 years he has been developing projects in the field of 'innovation in ecological transition and demographic challenge.

After passing through Zubi Labs as an analyst and promoter of impact startups, Javier has managed national and European projects that combine training, technology and the circular economy for AJE, Biosphere Sustainable or the Government of the Canary Islands, among others .

Since this year he has led Effiwaste, a startup nominated by the World Tourism Organization / UN Tourism as one of the 10 most innovative startups of 2024 and present at the Labe del Basque Culinary Center or the Madrid Food Innovation Hub.

Effiwaste is one of the more than 80 members of the Tech Tourism Cluster, can you please tell us briefly about the main elements of your organization?


We put an end to food waste in buffets, hotels and restaurants. We implement food waste measurement software that allows hotels, restaurants and canteens to know what their waste is and adjust daily food preparation to minimize it. This solution is accompanied by training in waste prevention and gastronomic sustainability and the installation of industrial composters that convert 100% of organic waste into fertilizer. In short, we promote the effective and real circular economy in the hospitality industry.

On average, we save a hotel more than €75,000 a year by helping them reduce waste, while making it easier for them to comply with regulations and promoting the sustainability of the sector.

How is your participation in this tourism technology cluster contributing to the improvement of innovation and development of your organization?


It is helping us see with new perspectives the integration of technologies adjacent to our technological products. In addition, it allows us to know first-hand problems in the tourism sector that Effiwaste can solve.

In this sense, for a startup like us it is essential to surround ourselves with companies with more presence in the market and with experience in the sector, so being able to collaborate with entities present in the Cluster is a real luxury.

In addition, the fact of belonging to an entity of this caliber has helped us to give more visibility to our work in Catalonia, while facilitating contact with some of the main players in the sector.

In the context of this cluster, what collaboration and networking opportunities have already presented themselves for your organization in terms of new projects or strategic alliances?


Thanks to the cluster and the different events, we have started conversations with different hotel chains, our main client. In addition, the synergies with other technological and consulting partners have led us to take the first steps to carry out international R&D projects.

As members of the Tech Tourism Cluster we are invited to the planned events, on October 8 in Lloret de Mar where we will share space with the rest of the associates and the Hoteliers, where we are sure synergies will emerge. It will be our first participation in these B2B Networking sessions held by the Tech Tourism Cluster. These actions certainly allow us to establish informal relationships and encourage collaboration between companies and organizations.

For this reason and after the aforementioned event on October 8 in Lloret de Mar, we are convinced that at Strategic Immersion of the Tech Tourism Cluster, the two-day event in November, dedicated to the development and improvement of the competitiveness of our sector, it will be a unique opportunity to confirm, consolidate the projects we are talking about with those we are already starting relationships with, and we will surely find new initiatives with which Effiwaste will be happy to share or participate.

How has the exchange of knowledge and experiences between member companies of the Cluster influenced the creation and adoption of more advanced technological solutions in the tourism industry or initial proposals in this area?


Effiwaste was born to end waste and waste management in the hotel sector. However, contact with the cluster and other ecosystems has allowed us to identify new opportunities in terms of food security. The irruption of technology in kitchens is in full swing and collaborating with companies that have more experience in some emerging technologies (AI, Big Data or Machine Learning), make the road easier for us.

In short, the Tech Tourism Cluster provides us with a platform for strategic collaboration, knowledge sharing and alliance building that can drive Effiwaste's growth and innovation.

From a cluster perspective, what is your organization's primary contribution to the tourism technology ecosystem and promoting the growth of other member companies and the cluster itself?

We are technology and training providers for a sector, such as hospitality, that needs innovation and freshness. We have managed to create solutions from and for the kitchen, adapting technology to the real needs in terms of cost and knowledge of the reality of the sector. That is why we are at the disposal of all the partners of the cluster to promote projects and pilot tests in the field of big data and management that facilitate the green transition and the digitization of one of the most valuable places there is, the kitchens.

All companies associated with the cluster should know that, if they have any problems or projects to improve the efficiency of kitchens, they have Effiwaste by their side to collaborate.