Sanifruit, an innovative biotechnology company dedicated to the development ofnatural post-harvest solutions without pesticide residues, has been the protagonist of 93th Innovation Breakfast of the Packaging Innovation ClusterThe event brought together representatives from the sector to analyze the main challenges of packaging in the agri-food and agricultural sectors. The day also included the participation of HEURA, managing entity de AEVAE.
Erica Biel, Director of Innovation and Quality, and María MartínezThe head of the chemical R&D and production area, have shared their experience in developing their own solutions and in the evolution of their packaging needs in a context marked by the Capabilities, the long-distance logistics and the actual conditions of use in clients and fields.
SaniFruit has pointed out some of the main problems associated with current packaging, such as mechanical deformations during transport, the internal overpressure, microbiological contamination and the multidose useespecially in larger volume formats and under demanding storage or transport conditions.
Faced with these challenges, the company has identified the need to evolve towards packaging that better protects the product, withstands extreme conditions, improves durability, facilitates flexible dispensing, and reduces the risk of contamination. In this regard, it has emphasized that packaging should no longer be seen merely as a container, but as a technical and strategic element that protects the product's quality, safety, and efficacy.
Furthermore, SaniFruit has explored potential avenues for collaboration with the packaging industry, such as integrating bioactive compounds into inner layers or coatings, co-creating new solutions, and partially replacing functional layers to improve recyclability without compromising performance. The company has championed an open innovation model focused on developing more functional, sustainable, and scalable packaging.
Traceability and valorization of agricultural packaging
For its part, Jose Guaita, managing partner at environmental consultancy HEURA (administrating entity of AEVAE) has presented TRACEPACKa project aimed at strengthening the traceability, recycling and valorization de agricultural packaging, with the aim of reducing the use of virgin raw materials and improving the sustainability of the sector.
During its presentation, the organization explained that agricultural packaging presents its own complexity, as it is generated in very dispersed territories, comes from very different uses and products, requires collection adapted to the field and needs guarantees of traceability and valorization.
In this regard, AEVAE has emphasized that the circular economy doesn't begin solely with recycling, but rather with complete flow control: knowing what is collected, where it is collected, how it is moved, how it is sorted, the quality of the material, and what real possibilities exist for its recovery. TRACEPACK thus addresses four major challenges: gaining a better understanding of the origin of waste, improving flow tracking, facilitating more efficient recovery, and building trust among producers, government, and the industry.
The initiative is presented as a useful tool to move towards a real circular economy in agricultural packaging, where collection is essential, but proper tracing and valorization is what makes the difference.
New partner and management training
The event also served to welcome a new partner to the Cluster, CL Industrial Group, a corporation of 27 companies operating in the steel, packaging, chemical, renewable construction, beauty, and energy sectors with a strong commitment to reindustrialization.
The session concluded with the recognition as Cluster MVP of the Month a Jose Luis Ruiz placeholder image, Kao Chimigraf, a distinction that highlights the involvement and Active participation of members in the initiatives promoted by the association. In this edition, ESIC has complemented this recognition with a 1.000 euro check, exchangeable for training.
