As the world grapples with the growing problem of food waste, Belgian food-tech startup Ryp Labs has developed a sticky sticker solution to combat food waste.
The innovation, dubbed StixFresh, creates a patent-pending protective layer around the food via vapour that slows down over-ripening and spoilage, allowing fruits and veggies to last twice as long, extending their shelf life and preventing early disposal.
In layman’s terms, – or if I put it, according to my understanding – StixFresh is a sticker that you place on any fruit or produce, and it will magically slow down its “rotting phase”. Yeah, I couldn’t believe it at first either, but go watch the video below.
Ryp Labs’ founder and CEO Moody Soliman, explains that their team identify which diseases result in premature rotting and tailor a formulation in the stickers to inhibit the infection from growing.
“We then develop and commercialise biomimicry solutions that will reduce food waste via all-natural and safe methods, with minimal disruption to the existing supply chain,” said Soliman.
The stickers can be applied at any point along the supply chain, from post-harvest to end consumers, making them accessible from various points in the food industry.
In addition, the stickers are made from food-grade ingredients, making them recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable.
Currently, the company has partnered with retailers, distributors, and growers to implement StixFresh in products such as avocados, nectarines, and citrus fruits.
“Consumers are our next target segment,” Soliman tells Packaging Digest.
“Our goal is for them to buy a pack of stickers that they can simply peel and apply to their produce at home, or a pack of sachets that they drop in a clamshell or refrigerator drawer to keep their fresh produce from prematurely rotting.”
Beyond fruits and vegetables, the company plans to expand StixFresh to other food products in the future, including poultry, dairy, and meat.
