At the end of the last year, quite a lot of discussion was generated by the decision of France to ban plastic packaging for a large number of fruits and vegetables. Opponents of this decision base their arguments on the fact that already a huge amount of food ends up in a dump, and without protective packaging, lots of vegetables and fruits will hardly even appear on the shop’s shelves.

One possible solution to this problem is proposed by the Swiss company Empa, which, in cooperation with Lidl Switzerland, has developed a protective cellulose coating for fresh vegetables and fruits based on a usual cake. We’ll remind that cake is a solid residue that is obtained after squeezing juice from fruits, vegetables or plants, i.e. 100% natural and edible material considered agricultural waste.

Researchers at the Empa laboratory were able to process this substance into fibrillated cellulose. The product can be dipped into the resulting cellulose fiber solution, or the solution can be sprayed over the product for a uniform coating. According to Empa, the coating is non-toxic and can be consumed without harm to health, and future research may even allow additives such as vitamins or antioxidants to be included in the coating. And of course the coating is easily washed off. However, coated foods stay fresh longer due to less moisture loss and protection from contaminants. For example, the shelf life of bananas and cucumbers has increased by at least a week compared to unpackaged products.

The development project is not yet finished and is actively supported by the supermarket chain Lidl Switzerland. The common goal of both partners is currently declared to be the use of cellulosic coating in 150 Lidl supermarkets throughout Switzerland, with a possible expansion if the results are successful.

The materials of the websites empa.ch, packagingeurope.com are used.