ECOCUMBER

NET ZERO FOOD SYSTEM CHALLENGE:

Plastic-wrapped perishable fruits and vegetables, like cucumbers, are a common feature in supermarkets. For cucumbers, which are 95% water, maintaining moisture is key to freshness. Studies have shown that the reduction in food waste due to plastic wrapping yields an environmental benefit. Yet, single-use plastic films contributed to 8.2 million tonnes of plastic waste in Europe in 2019.

With increasing restrictions on plastic use in Europe and rising consumer demand for sustainable products, wholesalers face mounting pressure to adopt eco-friendly packaging. The EU market urgently needs commercially viable, plant-based, edible, and EFSA-compliant solutions. Current challenges include:

• Biodegradable films that cannot extend shelf-life of cucumbers
• Paper packaging requiring petroleum-based wax or plastic layers to remain effective.
• Post-harvest chemical treatments harmful to the environment.
• Existing non-EU coatings that fall short in shelf-life extension (<10 days) and lack EFSA compliance.

THE SOLUTION:

In partnership with EIT Food and the University of Aarhus, Saveggy offers a groundbreaking, tasteless, food-grade, 100% plant-based, biodegradable coating. This EFSA- and FDA-compliant solution extends the shelf life of fruits and vegetables with edible peels by 3-4 times, achieving an 85% lower carbon footprint than plastic. Acting as a protective shield, the coating preserves water content and slows oxidation, extending the shelf life of unwrapped cucumbers by 3-4 times. Applicable to a variety of fruits and vegetables, this technology addresses two critical issues: reducing plastic waste and food waste simultaneously.

IMPACT TARGETS:

The following impact targets are estimated to be achieved:

• Reduced plastic waste for cucumbers in Sweden by 140 tonnes in 2026
• Reduce 16% of cucumber plastic waste in Europe by 2032
• Eliminate micro and nano plastic on several fruits and vegetables by 2035