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‘It’s Fresh’ allows the fresh produce ripening process to continue naturally, just at a slower rate. This mean fresh produce tastes better and has extended shelf-life.
About
Within the fresh produce industry, the greatest challenge across the supply chain is the management of product quality and longevity. One contributor to this challenge is the management of ethylene, which is a plant hormone produced by all fresh produce and is a key driver of ripening and deterioration. At ‘It’s Fresh’ our globally patented solution controls ethylene, extending the shelf-life of fresh produce and allowing the ripening process to continue naturally, just at a slower rate. Our all-new innovative ethylene management systems offer exceptional performance with our new generation products containing a natural matrix which absorbs ethylene and binds to the active material. As well as this our ‘Transit Controllers’ are paper based. We are continually finding new and innovative ways to integrate our ethylene capture technology, our mission is to create functional packaging for the fresh produce industry that minimises inputs and simplifies operational process. To support our client’s understanding of their ethylene management needs, we have designed an 'Ethylene Risk Assessment’ tool using open-source data, our own research and analytical modelling. This provides an all-encompassing client based personalised ethylene consultation, which enables us to optimise our product range to client needs, considering factors affecting each individual shipment of fresh produce from field to destination market and channel. Our technology is food contact approved, but isn’t directly applied to produce, rather it is simply placed close by where it physically captures ethylene which the produce would otherwise absorb.
Key Benefits
The benefits associated with our solution are extensive, enabling us to assist the entire supply chain and support industry growth across a wide range of fresh produce sectors. As our solution is able to extend the shelf-life of fresh produce and the window of peak ripeness, we’re also able to reduce food waste, water usage and land use in agriculture and CO2 emissions across the supply chain. Growers are therefore able to pick fresh produce later or expand into new territories allowing retailers to increase their supply base. It’s Fresh allows for operational changes that enable growers to deliver fresh produce that is of superior quality and with reduced waste. Retailers’ also benefit, not just from a longer shelf-life, but they’re also able to provide consumers with fresh produce that has a better sensory profile and quality as our unique approach allows for natural ripening, which will then lead to repeat sales and category growth. Our ethylene capture technology is unique as it doesn’t produce any by-products or chemical residue and is a safe, clean method benefitting both organic and non-organic fresh produce markets. Alternative methods either inhibit the ethylene from the ripening process completely or rely on oxidisation which is non-specific to ethylene and produces harmful by-products during its chemical reaction. ‘It’s Fresh’ ethylene control doesn’t require expensive infrastructure at any point in the supply chain and none of our products require specialist disposal. We also utilise closed-loop recycling which means we’re able to recover more than 90% of the precious metal used in our ‘Transit Controller’ solution. By applying our technology to different materials from paper to plastic packaging, we’re able to enhance the protection and longevity fresh produce can achieve. Whereas an alternative ethylene control method (Potassium Permanganate) can potentially contaminate produce and also requires specialist disposal due to its toxic and mutagenic properties.
Applications
Our ethylene control products can be utilised at every stage of the fresh produce supply chain, from harvest, to storage, during transit, in retail and even at home. Our technology is food contact approved, although it isn’t directly applied to it but is simply placed close by where it physically captures ethylene which the produce would otherwise absorb.