The five-year collaboration with Mpact Operations will see OSY Group’s shelf-life extending technology used on corrugated packaging for grapes, stonefruit and berries
Food tech company OSY Group is expanding its global footprint with a new partnership which will see its technology applied on packaging of fruits sold across South Africa and Namibia.
The collaboration with paper and plastics packaging and recycling business Mpact Operations will see OSY Group’s technology used on corrugated board-based packaging for grapes, stonefruit and berries, with the aim of extending the shelf-life of the produce and reducing food waste.
OSY Group’s antimicrobial coating enables food to stay fresh for longer by leaving microscopic pins on packaging surfaces which puncture and kill microbes, slowing the natural spoiling process that affects the produce within.
The partnership between OSY Group and Mpact will initially run for five years until November 2030.
It follows an agreement announced in the summer with manufacturer Sharpak Aylesham for OSY Group’s technology to be applied on to packaging for soft fruits predominantly sold through UK supermarkets.
“This latest collaboration builds on the platform we have already established in the UK and EU markets and reflects the growing appeal of our proven technology,” said Marc Braterman, chief executive of OSY Group.
“It marks the next stage of our strategy to forge long-term partnerships with leading manufacturers globally, and represents adoption across another packaging format in another region of the world.
“The OSY Group application process, which follows years of testing and validation across a range of product types with food packaging manufacturers, food producers, exporters and supermarkets, integrates seamlessly into existing production lines for most packaging types, including lidding films, trays, flow wraps, corrugated boards and paper-based formats,” he continued.
“Our growing number of partnerships recognises the value of our solution in providing packaging companies with a clear point of difference in the market, while addressing the food waste challenge.
“Globally, it is estimated that there is $2.6trn of food waste every year, with nearly 25 per cent of all fruit and vegetables lost worldwide through food waste,” Brateman noted.
“For supermarkets, even a one-day extension of shelf life can reduce waste by up to 50 per cent.
”For food producers, the solution improves product quality and consistency, reduces losses from spoilage and increases sales,” he outlined.
“For consumers, the outcome is fresher, higher-quality produce that lasts longer at home.”
Thys de Jager, general manager at the Mpact Corrugated division, said that partnering with OSY Group presents a ”unique opportunity” to extend Mpact’s value proposition beyond providing innovative packaging solutions, to unlocking more value for fresh fruit producers.
“This partnership also solidifies Mpact’s innovation capability when it comes to supporting customers’ needs for sustainability and safety requirements of their products,” he added.
