Spray instead of packaging
The California-based startup Apeel Sciences has developed an edible protective spray for fruits and vegetables made from food scraps. This flavorless, low-calorie product primarily extends the shelf life of food thanks to its water-resistant molecular structure, thereby protecting it from moisture and gases that accelerate ripening. Can ideas like this give new momentum to the “zero-waste” movement?
Apeel’s protective spray consists primarily of mono- and diglycerides (E 471) of fatty acids, which are odorless, tasteless, and insoluble in water. These lipids, derived from the stems and peels of food scraps, are intended to help improve the quality of the sprayed food and extend its shelf life. Since the protective spray reduces the need for refrigeration during transport, it also helps lower the CO2 footprint.
Companies to watch:
While coatings for fruit and vegetables have been commonplace in the USA for some time, German companies have only been testing the concept since 2020. The Rewe Group is working together with the British manufacturer AgriCoat NatureSeal. Their solution is based on fructose (E 473). This protective layer is also said to be edible and absolutely harmless to health.
In the EU, beeswax (E 901), carnauba wax (E 903), and shellac (E 904) are also approved as food coatings—though not for organic products. Currently, these protective coatings are mostly used on foods that are sold unpackaged anyway and are peeled before consumption. Another interesting approach comes from the startup Mori, which uses naturally occurring silk proteins to develop a protective coating.
Whether with or without protective spray, the “zero-waste” movement has lost some of its momentum in recent years. Christine Holzmann, from Unverpackt e.V. — the Association of Zero-Waste Stores — sums up the current trend: “There are currently 222 zero-waste stores across Germany. This number is far smaller than it was during our heyday. Most stores opened in 2019 and 2020, so that by the end of 2020 we had a total of over 330 stores.” The main reasons for this are food prices, which have risen even further due to inflation and are already making shopping at discount stores significantly more expensive.
The reasons for this remain evident: The rising cost of living in recent years has had a lasting impact on consumer behavior. For many consumers, hassle-free and budget-conscious shopping at supermarkets or discount stores remains the top priority—climate protection and waste reduction often take a back seat when it comes to everyday shopping.