First edible protection for fresh produce to replace plastic wrap

Sweden saw the commercial launch of the world’s first edible, additive-free fresh crop protection product.

Saveggy, a leader in food technology, has replaced plastic packaging for fresh produce with the first plant-based, additive-free packaging.

With just two ingredients — rapeseed oil and oat oil — it is edible and provides a waste-free substitute as the EU gets ready to outlaw single-use plastics for fresh food by 2030.

The usage of plastic in packaging might be greatly reduced by expanding this method throughout Europe, which would also assist to reduce food waste from fresh products. Saveggy is working with Aarhus University and has funding from EIT Food, which is funded by the European Union’s European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

Saveggy is launching a one-month pilot for cucumbers in Sweden together with ICA and Odlarna.se. The test marks a key milestone in the company’s journey, transitioning from R&D to commercial scale. With the first industrial machine in place and capacity ramping up, Saveggy is preparing for broader launches across Sweden and Europe.

Kerstin Lindvall, sustainability director at ICA, says: “This innovation makes it possible for us to remove plastic from cucumbers entirely without compromising quality, something we know our customers appreciate”.

Saveggy was founded in 2020 in Sweden, by Vahid Sohrabpour and Arash Fayyazi, born out of frustration over food waste and plastic pollution. The technology has been developed in close collaboration with Lund University and stakeholders across the value chain, including consumers, ICA and other retailers as well as packers. Odlarna.se is the first European producer organisation to install the machine in their facility:

“Sustainability and quality are at our core, and this collaboration takes our commitment further by introducing plastic-free cucumbers”, says Martin Löfstedt, Odlarna.se.

According to Saveggy’s own research, more than 3,000 tonnes of plastic are used for cucumbers each year across the EU. However, cucumbers are the starting point: the solution could also be applied to a wide range of fruits and vegetables, and product development is ongoing. The technology helps prevent food waste, supports the EU’s 2030 targets, and aligns with the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

Arash Fayyazi, co-founder of Saveggy says: “Cucumbers highlight the challenge: food waste on one side, plastic-wrapped shelves on the other. Our goal is to reduce food waste and plastic pollution together – with respect for nature, people, and the resources that make our food possible”.