American growers Nature Fresh Farms have introduced what they claim is a 100 per cent home compostable wrapper for English Cucumbers, something which could change the marketing of the salad product.
Individual wrapping of cucumbers has proved controversial in recent years as the general public become more concerned about single use plastic. However, many trials have shown that not wrapping cucumbers reduces shelf life and increases levels of food waste.
According to Nature Fresh Farms, the new film is an environmentally friendly compostable wrapper which breaks down in household compost without leaving behind microplastics. The compostable film will prolong the shelf life of the product but without adding to landfill waste. It is made from a starch-based PLA that is derived from plant-based resources including non-GMO corn starch and breaks down naturally into CO2 and water. Product information is also printed on the wrapper in compostable ink, meaning there are no labels to separate.
“After two years of research & development and lot of trial & error, it’s so exciting to see this film launch in market. We are confident in this product’s ability to make a true difference (in reducing harmful plastic waste),” commented Product Development Specialist Luci Faas.
Photo source: Nature Fresh Farms