LoopFresh, an Indian innovation promises to transform the way perishables are stored on our supermarket shelves to retain their freshness
It is said that innovative ideas come in a flash. It was a casual visit to a supermarket during the pandemic that opened the eyes of Sunitha Varadan to the colossal problem of food spoilage. If this was the waste in one store, what about all the retail outlets across the country? It set her mind thinking about what could be done to address the problem. The answer, she realised, lay in finding an eco-friendly bio-solution or barrier coating that could be applied to packaging material to enhance shelf life of packaged food products. The longer products stayed fresh and unspoilt, the less the wastage.
Sunitha founder-director of LoopM Alternatives, a Bengaluru-based company launched in 2020, Varadan got down to the task. She and her tightly knit team worked on an eco-friendly solution and the first product, LoopFresh, is set to hit the Indian market in the last quarter of 2024. It will later be launched in UAE, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia. The Asia Pacific region is expected to be the largest market for smart packaging by 2030, with a market size of $18.5 billion.
The new product holds out immense promise. Simply put, LoopM offers clients a customised anti-microbial bio-solution which, when applied inside the film or lining of packaging materials used to wrap or cover fresh produce, forms a protective layer preventing exposure to oxygen, moisture and pathogens that cause food spoilage. The bio-solution is sourced from renewable materials and can be used for packing bakery products, meats, fruits, eggs, and vegetables.
Since LoopFresh is made from agro-based ingredients it is hundred percent biodegradable and sustainable.Moreover, the natural ingredients are highly stable at room temperature and are applicable on most packaging materials–from polypropylene films to wood/bagasse-based paper material.
FMCG manufacturers, retailers, and store owners will find LoopFresh extremely beneficial since it reduces food waste by extending the shelf life of perishable products. This not only saves money but also helps to reduce environmental impact.
The significance of preserving food products needs to be highlighted. Globally food waste translates into a loss of $940 billion per annum. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Food Wastage Index report 2021, 68.8 million tonnes of food is wasted annually in India, or 50 kgs per person. India is estimated to lose Rs 92,000 crore every year to food loss.
This food wastage is attributed to poor management, inadequate packaging, unsuitable temperature, and handling facilities. Addressing these core issues holds the key to reducing loss of food that can feed the hungry. According to the UNEP report food services and retail outlets in India contribute 26 percent and 13 percent respectively to the annual wastage.
It is in this context that LoopFresh can make a positive contribution. Food wastage, it must be remembered, also comes with social, economic and environmental costs. Squandering precious food in a country where millions go hungry is not only unfair but most of the discarded food ends up in landfills outside our urban centres adding to surface and air pollution. One must also factor in the land, labour and capital spent in producing the food. Preserve food and extend its healthy use is the mantra for the new world.
Being an environment conscious company, LoopM is also aware of its responsibility in the face of climate change concerns. In today’s world it has become imperative to develop innovative biomaterials, the production of which emit fewer greenhouse gases and is sourced from renewable sources. Focussing on biomaterials is crucial towards building a circular economy where waste is minimal and ecological balance is restored.
The company’s second product, which repurposes agro waste into packaging material, is a testament of its commitment to mitigating environmental concerns. It symbolises a clear shift towards circular solutions, where waste finds new purpose and value. This LoopM initiative embodies the essence of sustainability, merging innovation with environmental consciousness and mitigating the burden on landfills.
Meanwhile, LoopFresh is all set to mark its entry into the Indian market. LoopM hopes that it will transform the way perishables will be stored in our supermarket shelves.
