A new sustainable packaging is designed to extend the shelf life of guacamole - thanks to labels with an oxygen barrier and additives extracted from the avocado itself. It is being developed as part of the Guacapack project.
The processing of avocados produces waste that can make up more than 45 per cent of the total weight of the avocado. This Utilising waste and extend the shelf life of processed products is the aim of the Guacapack research project funded by the Spanish innovation agency AVI.
Aimplas, the Spanish Centre for Plastics Technology, is participating in the Guacapack project, which is being developed by the company ITC Packaging is being led. The research group for polymer and nanomaterial analysis at the Universidad de Alicante (Nanobiopol-UA) is also involved.
Guacapack develops biodegradable packaging system
The project aims to develop a biodegradable packaging system from avocado waste that also extends the shelf life of food by 15 per cent. This is to be made possible by Labels with oxygen barrier function, which prevent food from oxidising.
In addition, natural antioxidants are incorporated, which are obtained from the avocado itself and reduce the use of synthetic preservatives.
The starch from the avocado pit is extracted and purified and used to make a film, from the multi-layer IML labels with oxygen barrier properties are produced.
In addition, antioxidant components of the avocado peel and avocado flesh are extracted and used as Component of a bioplastic (PLA) which is injection moulded to produce the packaging system.
According to Aimplas, the new development offers an alternative to the use of synthetic additives as well as a new, Value-adding use for waste from the agricultural and food industries in order to obtain biodegradable packaging from renewable sources. The project is therefore fully aligned with the criteria of the circular economy.
SourceAimplas
