GB UK McAirlaids FruitPad blackberries

An increasing number of major players in the European berry business, including retailers and suppliers, are investing in new technology that improves the absorption of leaked juice in punnets and thereby reduces the amount of fruit going to waste.

That’s according to Gert Volmer, sales manager at German group McAirlaid’s, whose patented, breathable FruitPads are already being used by a number of key players in the soft fruit business as an alternative to standard bubble-wrap sheets placed on the inside bottom of punnets.

“The challenge for the industry is that people are losing money using the bubble-wrap pads – on average this is around 20-30 per cent in terms of fruit wasted from consignments,” Volmer explains.

“What is required is a new way of thinking, and our FruitPads offer a scientifically proven means of reducing both waste and cost. They also add value because the presentation of berries in the punnet is better without juice underneath.”

Already a leader in absorption technology for the fruit, meat and fish packaging industries, McAirlaid’s says FruitPads are gaining in popularity among suppliers and distributors of delicate fruits such as berries.

“The idea to design an absorbing product came from the industry itself, where the supply chain for sensitive berries, for example raspberries and blackberries, suffers significant losses due to damage during transportation,” says Volmer.

“It was clear to us that there needed to be a product that not just offered a cushioning, but absorption and ventilation as well. These three factors allow a safer journey for the berries from the farmer to the market, much less affected by mould.”

Waste reduction

The FruitPads are used in punnets and also boxes for raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and blueberries. More recently, they have been applied to cut fruit, with great results reportedly including waste reduction of up to 55 per cent.

McAirlaid’s has patented its Supercore technology, with a special ventilation feature that reduces the spread of mould, and introduced it to both Europe and the Americas.

“We are working closely together with the key players in packaging for fruit and vegetable markets to save as many berries as possible, and many punnet manufacturers and supermarket chains are now our trusting customers, making us the world’s number-one producer of absorbent FruitPads.”

McAirlaid's will be taking part as an exhibitor at this year's Global Berry Congress in Amsterdam