Apple Waste OSU Pt 1

With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. A new study by researchers at Oregon State University is working on ways to turn the waste from apples and other fruits into environmentally friendly packaging materials to replace plastic.

Professor Yanyun Zhao says by using the fruit waste from

processing, this would be another great option or solution …

ZHAO … “So, we are facing this plastic packaging crisis because we know the potential harm for environment and our ecosystems with those plastic or even other type of packing. So, that’s why I mentioned in my lab, we’re really trying to find solutions.”

And to that end, Zhao says fruit waste offers a couple of great benefits …

ZHAO … “When you’re using bioproducts to develop the compostable packing, you help solve two problems. One is developing a more environmentally sustainable packing to improve the stability. Another thing is converting, we call repurposing bioproducts to develop compostable packing.”

The food waste, Zhao says can help replace another recyclable product …

ZHAO … “When you look at molded pulp packing, most are made of recycled newspapers. And with electronic technology, the amount of recyclable newspaper or the supply of recyclable newspaper has declined.”

Tune in tomorrow for more on the OSU research to turn fruit waste into packaging materials.