Tesco tackles food and plastic waste with plant-based protection for fresh produce
Tesco is trialing a plant-based food protection branded Apeel to extend the shelf life of fruit and vegetables. This protective extra “peel” slows down the water loss and oxidation that causes produce to spoil. The trial will see approximately 80 UK Tesco Extras and Superstores around the Peterborough area stock Apeel-coated Jaffa Oranges, Jaffa Sweet Easy Peelers, and Lemon Packs. The trial will seek to understand the effect the solution has on the shelf life of these items, before going through Tesco customer panels for feedback. The plant-based protection is available for an ever-growing number of categories and markets, including organic and conventionally grown produce.
McDonald’s Makes a Very Starbucks Move
McDonald’s has begun testing a recyclable cup made from recyclable materials. “Say hello to our circular clear cups sourced from equal parts recycled and bio-based materials — available now in 28 select restaurants in Savannah, Ga.,” the company said in a news release. “When we say ‘circular,’ we’re referring to the cup’s potential lifespan. You see, these cups are sourced from recycled material, and our goal is that they can be recycled to create more material that could be used to make other items. It’s a way of doing things that can help keep plastic in use and out of landfills,” And while Starbucks plans to get rid of disposable cups entirely, it replaces them with reusable cups that need to be washed. McDonald’s plan includes keeping the experience exactly the same for the customer.
Bio-based commodity chemicals in the spotlight
Will rising crude oil price again accelerate the investments for the commercialisation of bio-based chemicals especially for drop-in commodities? This month alone, sugarcane ethanol-based ethylene producer Braskem announced the establishment of a joint venture company with Japan-based Sojitz Corporation to produce biomass-derived monoethylene glycol (MEG) and monopropylene glycol (MPG). The companies plan to make a final investment decision on the first commercial plant in fiscal year 2023, and start-up of the plant in 2025. This project plans to construct a total of three commercial plants. No other details were reported regarding plant capacities and potential locations. The companies did note that 80% of the global MEG market is concentrated in Asia and this is where consumption registered the highest growth.