Bagasse is the latest packaging material being used in the war on fresh produce waste, with Australian grower-packer Hydro Produce among the early adopters.
Made from sugar cane pulp, bagasse is an alternative to PET plastic containers. The production process is said to require less energy and water than with a plastic product.
Hydro Produce hopes to save 167 tonnes of plastic waste from landfill and oceans as it moves from plastic to bagasse trays for its products early next month.
Hydro Produce owner and managing director, John Cordina, said this form of packaging is not only recyclable but can be composted as well.
“This is a costly business leap and we’ll pay more for packaging than ever before,” explained Cordina. “But rest assured, customers won’t be impacted by these costs.
“We believe in what we are doing and see it as an opportunity to push the boundaries and innovate in an industry where packaging is hugely important for so many reasons – protection of produce, ensuring shelf life, offering the best possible eating experience and limiting food waste.”
Seeing this move as just the beginning of its transition to 100 per cent sustainable packaging, Hydro Produce is working closely with packaging suppliers to provide alternate options for currently unavoidable plastic. This includes corn starch plastics and wraps which are 100 per cent bio-degradable, lined paper sleeves for leafy produce, along with other food grade fibres made from 100 per cent recycled materials.
“There is so much more work to be done in the space of packaging,” Cordina explained. “There is a real opportunity to develop some great options in the next few years and we are certainly working through every piece of our packaging. It’s our mission and our responsibility to find a balance between function and impact.”
