A substance found in langoustine shells is a vital part of a new kind of sustainable packaging that’s being suggested as an alternative to traditional plastic wraps like cling film.
The BBC reported on the work of Scottish company Cuantec, where they are extracting a natural substance called chitin from langoustine shells. This substance is then made more soluble which means it’s then suitable to be manufactured into a clear film.
According to the company, its process for extracting chitin is more environmentally friendly than traditional methods because it uses fewer chemicals. The clear film that’s produced using chitin is completely compostable.
Chitin is already used in several other things, including medicine, fertilisers, pesticides and as an edible film on foods.
The news provider revealed that Waitrose has already shown an interest in Cuantec’s products, with the supermarket stating that it wants to use the wrap to package fish.
Dr Cait Murray-Green, who works for Cuantec, explained how the film is produced: “To put it bluntly we take the bits of scampi you don’t want to eat and we ferment that in order to extract a natural biopolymer, chitin. We use that to create an anti-microbial, completely compostable packaging.”
Using natural substances is becoming more important for companies and consumers alike as people make efforts to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics.
Earlier this month, Talking Retail revealed that businesses and the UK government are set to invest millions in developing more sustainable packaging options. Businesses are expected to invest up to £149 million alongside £60 million provided by the government to find alternatives to single-use plastics.
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