An Apple a Day Keeps Waste Away: Malus Sap Lokaal’s Inclusive Innovation

As a finalist at IGNITE, a booster program for social enterprises, Malus is a fresh initiative showing what social entrepreneurship is all about. This unique initiative combines the rich tradition of apple cultivation with a strong social mission. Creating delicious products that benefit both the environment and the community in the process. At Malus Sap Lokaal, they celebrate the apples and people that fall outside of the usual norms. This way, they contribute to a more inclusive industry for every part of the process, plant and people alike.

Promoting the Local and the Sustainable

Malus Sap Lokaal was born out of a passion for preserving local apple varieties and promoting sustainable farming practices. The apples they use in their juices are the ones deemed “too ugly” to sell in grocery stores. Instead of being thrown away, Malus gives them a second chance in their juicers. The project focuses on cultivating apples from orchards in and around Arnhem. This ensures that they source every apple close to home. By sourcing locally, Malus Sap Lokaal reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation. Further, this approach also supports the preservation of traditional orchards. These orchards are vital for maintaining biodiversity.

The apples aren’t the only ones getting an extra chance with more understanding. What truly sets Malus Sap Lokaal apart is its dedication to social inclusion. The initiative actively involves people with autism in the production process, helping people who need just an extra little squeeze. Indeed, by creating meaningful work opportunities for these individuals, Malus Sap Lokaal not only helps them develop valuable skills but also fosters a sense of belonging and purpose. This is a great work environment for them as the work is calm and structured, and they work hard to meet every worker’s needs.

Creating Inclusive Work Opportunities

These employees participate in every stage of production, from harvesting the apples to bottling the juice. The supportive work environment ensures that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can contribute to the process. Subsequently, each individual can feel proud of the finished product. This commitment to inclusivity strengthens the community. It also helps break down barriers that often keep people with disabilities or those facing social challenges from accessing employment.

The IGNITE Awards: Boosting Social Enterprises

The IGNITE Awards are designed to support and elevate innovative enterprises like Malus (finalist in the 2021 edition) that are making a significant impact in their communities through sustainability and social responsibility. By providing recognition, financial backing, and mentorship, IGNITE helps these enterprises scale their operations, increase their visibility, and maximize their positive influence. The IGNITE Awards offer crucial resources to expand their reach, refine their business models, and inspire other organizations to adopt similar values. Through these awards, IGNITE fosters a culture of innovation and impact, empowering enterprises to drive meaningful change. Certainly, they have also made a lasting impact on initiatives such as Scootbezorgd and Phood Farm. You can learn more about IGNITE here.

As they bottle the magic found in the overlooked and undervalued, Malus is a testament to how accessible accessibility is. Providing this little extra effort and care results in meaningful changes and prevents waste that has become too normalized, showcasing just how limiting our thoughts on “too limited” are. We thank Malus for the space they provide and their end product that has an extra bit of sweetness to it, their juice is definitely worth the squeeze.