New ‘Active’ packaging increases fruit freshness and reduces waste
More quality and less waste. This is the promise of Active Packaging for fruit and vegetables. An innovative corrugated cardboard that is proving effective in maintaining the freshness of fruit for up to three days longer than ordinary packaging. Thus reducing food waste.
How the Active cardboard works
Bestack, the nonprofit consortium of 97 percent of Italian packaging manufacturers, developed the new packaging. Which looks like any corrugated fruit and vegetable box, but has an extra edge.
‘
G
he natural antimicrobials
contained in the Active carton make it possible to disinfect the surface of packaging, reduce even pathogenic bacterial loads and increase food safety. Secondly, they allow the ripening and senescence processes of raspberries and cherries to be slowed down, giving the product a superior shelf life of more than one day in both cases and substantial gap differentials, especially given the unit value of the product’, explains Claudio Dall’Agata, director of Bestack .
The small fruit test
The Active board has been tested by the University of Bologna with fruit durability tests. Consumers (30 individuals for 180 interviews for each test) were also surveyed to capture their purchasing behaviors.
Raspberries
packed in the Active packaging
result in fresher (with 10-11% lower ripening, four days after packaging), compared with those in traditional carton packaging. Their appearance is better (+12.3 percent after four days), as is the smell (+14.2 percent after four days) and taste (+9.6 percent after four days), according to the analysis.
Extended fruit storage can reduce waste by 6.25 percent. An advantage for distributors and manufacturers, but also for consumers. Eighty-five percent of respondents reported being willing to pay 11 percent more for 4-day packaged raspberries with this innovative packaging.
Cherry tests have offered equally positive results. Consumers recognized the cherries in the Active carton as having a
Generally better appearance
(+5.2% after 4 days, +40% after 7 days).
The durability of the cherries-after 4 days of packaging and storage at room temperature-confirms the advantage of the Active carton. Which reduces waste by 10.5 percent when compared with traditional cardboard and 12.4 percent when compared with plastic crates with collapsible sides.
The first test on strawberries, apricots and nectarines.
Strawberries, apricots, and nectarines, three types of easily perishable fruits, were the first fruits and vegetables to be tested, which had already started in 2017.
The 4500 analyses performed showed that active packaging provided an increase in shelf life of up to three days on these products. With an important reduction in waste, between 8 and 10 percent.
According to estimates, the application of this type of packaging on all fruit and vegetables sold in Italy could allow the reduction of food waste to the extent of 750,000 tons.
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
