MEDIA

At the moment, Apeel says that its plant-based protective layer on fresh produce helps retailers drive down as much as 50% of food waste. This “peel” developed by the startup is made from materials found inside the seeds and pulp of fruit and vegetables, and helps slow down the oxidation process and water loss that causes fresh produce to spoil – allowing retailers more time to display and sell the products, in turn bringing in greater profits, while ensuring less food ends up being thrown away.

Some of the partners that Apeel works with include Del Monte, who are applying the coating at the packing site to protect their avocados from going bad soon after reaching their retail destination. Last year, retail giant Walmart began trialling Apeel’s plant-based protective layer to replace the pesky single-use plastic film that used to coat cucumbers, while extending the product’s shelf-life.

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