Tomatoes on the vine and capsicum appear to have a longer shelf life in polylactic acid (PLA) film packaging, according to new Dutch research.

The studies were carried out by the University of Wageningen food & bio-based research department and commissioned by Dutch produce marketer Eosta, packaging film manufacturer Taghleef Industries and bio-plastics Bio4Pack.

“By using PLA we provide retailers with a tool to help them decrease losses on the shop floor and at the same time we help them to contribute in a positive way to the environment,” said Paul Hendriks, who is responsible for packaging at Nature & More within Eosta. “We have been using biodegradable packaging from renewable raw material for years and are delighted to see that scientific research supports what we have always experienced. We are seeing that products packed in PLA have an extended shelf life of two days.”