2021 SPC Innovator Awards Innovation in Food Waste Prevention – Tied for Winner: 

AFC Packaging: No Waste (NoW) Technology for Fresh Produce

Specifically designed for fresh produce packaging, the patented NoW™technology incorporates several surface treatments to the paper substrate to control the humidity levels inside the packs and protect the products from sunlight and UV. This technology allows paper-based packaging materials to be tailored to achieve the protection properties necessary for a specific food type.  

The Importance: With the help of surface treatments, the packaging can extend the standard shelf-life of some products by a factor of two. AFC Packaging has worked with a third-party laboratory and performed testing, commissioned by a preeminent Italian supermarket chain, to better understand the impact of its solution on preventing produce waste. The technology also encourages the recyclability of the paper substrate.