When avocados are processed for use in food items, the amount of waste produced can account for more than 45% of the total weight of the avocado. To make use of this waste and extend the shelf life of prepared products, Spanish company AIMPLAS is developing the Guacapack Project, funded by the Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI). The project is led by the company ITC Packaging, and the Universidad de Alicante’s research group on Polymer and Nanomaterial Analysis (Nanobiopol-UA) is also taking part.

The project aims to develop a new biodegradable packaging system from renewable sources that also extends the shelf life of food by 15%, thanks to a label with an oxygen barrier function that prevents the oxidation of food and to the incorporation of natural antioxidants extracted from the avocado itself, which also helps reduce the use of synthetic preservatives.

To achieve this, starch from the avocado seed will be extracted and purified to obtain a film that can be used to make multilayer IML labels that have oxygen barrier properties and prevent food oxidation. In addition, the active components of waste avocado skin and flesh with a high antioxidant capacity will be obtained and used as a component of a bioplastic (PLA) that will be injected molded to manufacture the packaging system. When food makes contact with this system, its shelf life will be extended by 15%.

This option offers an alternative to synthetic additives and a new, high value-added use for agri-food waste to obtain biodegradable packaging from renewable sources. The project is therefore fully aligned with circular economy criteria.

According to the press release, this project will also help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 3 on good health and well-being, SDG 9 on the industry, innovation, and infrastructure, and SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production.