Tomato waste can protect tinned food.
Meanwhile another Italian startup is aiming to extend the shelf life of fruit and vegetables – using waste from liquorice production.
Certain materials in the ‘sweet root’ are effective against bacteria, viruses and fungal spores. In a patented process, root hairs from the plant are extracted then converted into nanoparticles, which are used as an additive during the production of packaging.
A single gram of the biodegradable powder is enough to treat a kilogram of plastic. In tests, the shelf life of strawberries was tripled to 8-9 days. Next up: cellulose-based packaging and a special powder for meat and baked goods.
From Norway comes a solution which helps preserve the integrity of the cold chain.
