Food waste and plastic pollution are two of the biggest issues the world is facing nowadays, and it is affecting any form of life, even if we do not notice. Luckily, Quantum Food Preservation (QFP) has found a sustainable solution that can tackle both of these issues at once. We have developed a polysaccharide membrane that can preserve food longer without the need of harmful plastics or chemicals. Therefore, in this blog, we will address how food waste and plastic packaging inspired this initiative, what Quantum Food Preservation is about and what it can do, and the environmental and social influence we seek to have.

Food Waste: Joining the Battle for a Better Tomorrow

by Teun van Kempen

One of the biggest issues going on right now is the massive food waste. This results in a massive impact on the environment, the economy, and society. Fruit waste is one the main causes of the food waste. 45% of all fruits produced worldwide are wasted annually as a result of spoiling, improper storage, and poor planning. Just in the Netherlands alone each person throws away 4.3 Kilograms of fruits and vegetables annually. This amounts to a staggering 77.4 million Kilograms wasted per year. For a better tomorrow, this issue must be solved.

Fundamental Causes
There are a number of reasons why fruit waste is so high. Here are some of the most important reasons:

• Spoilage: Due to the extreme short shelf life, fruits are vulnerable to mould growth, overripening, and damage when being stored or transported.
• Improper Storage: Fruits need to be stored in a certain way to get the best results. Improper storage can result in a waste that can be avoided.
• Poor Planning: A lot of customers buy more fruit than they actually consume. This results in more waste at home. 

These are worldwide problems, particularly in the Netherlands. It asks for a change and for a team effort to enhance shopping habits and storage methods.

Audience Help
Nearly half of the fruits and vegetables produced are thrown away, while millions of people are struggling to get enough food on the table. For these people, such an imbalance is unfair in addition to being inefficient, because for these people these extra fruits could really help. By educating the audience and making improvements to the food sector, the underlying inequities can be reduced, and food can be used to help people rather than end up in landfills.

Creative Ways to Cut Waste
Fruit waste can be reduced with the use of technology. For instance, a polysaccharide-based layer from Quantum Food Preservation extends the shelf life of fruits without the use of plastic packaging. Fruit spoilage is reduced thanks to the creative approach that helps maintain its freshness. If accompanied by efforts for better storage, it can spur change and assist lower fruit waste for both companies and on an individual level.

A Shared Responsibility
It is not only about saving fruit but also about preserving our planet and building a better tomorrow. Every person, from governments, and industries to individual consumers. Everyone has their own role to play. Simple changes like buying only the fruits we really need or adopting better storage techniques can go a long way in making a difference in the world. Join the battle for a better tomorrow by joining Quantum Food Preservation in the fight against food waste.

The Role of Plastic Packaging in Food Preservation

by Valerie Rossell A.

Believe it or not, food preservation methods have been around for some time now. It started in the prehistoric era when humans used natural wrappings, air- or sun-drying, and even animal skins and bladders. Ever since, several methods have been adopted, expanding from pottery and salt in the ancient civilizations to barrels, wax, and cheesecloth in the medieval times. Then, it progressed from glass and metal in the 16th -18th centuries to canning and cellophane from the 19th –20th centuries, finishing with plastics from the mid-20th century to the present day.

So far, plastic packaging has served its purpose: keeping food fresh and extending its shelf-life longer than expected. In fact, it proved to be a very efficient method, since about 8.2 billion kilos are used for food packaging every year, just in Europe. In simple terms, plastic packaging has revolutionized how fresh food is preserved, stored, and transported, which has facilitated the food supply chain worldwide. To support this argument more convincingly, we will mention some of the benefits introduced by plastic packaging.

Key Roles of Plastic Packaging
Plastic packaging serves as an highly effective protection barrier against external elements that may speed up the food spoilage process, maintaining the safety and hygiene of food. For instance, exposure to air, liquids, and humidity can make food degrade faster or lose its nutritional value. Moreover, it acts as a contamination shield by protecting the products from dirt, dust, bacteria, mould, pathogens, and other harmful microorganisms.

However, keeping harmful elements on the outside is not the only benefit that plastic packaging can offer. The aim of this isolated and controlled environment is to prolong the freshness and usability of food. Since only the essential elements are kept inside, fresh products retain their moisture and prevent food from becoming soggy. Equally important, plastic packaging is so practical and flexible that it can handle diverse types of food products and consistencies.

Figure 1: Food Packaging Supplies – How to Properly Protect Your Products [Photograph]. Taken from https://thegreatergoods.ca/food-packaging-supplies/

The Challenges of Plastic Packing
Do not get us wrong, we do believe plastic packaging has been a terrific food preservation method until now. However, it is a method that only considers practicability and cost-effectiveness rather than the consequences that this kind of material poses to humankind, animals, and the planet. 

This is because most of the plastic packaging produced worldwide is either single-use plastics or cannot be recycled, which has caused a plastic pollution crisis. Oceans, lakes, rivers, cities, rural areas, ecosystems, mountains, and, not to forget, marine and wildlife, all have been affected by this phenomenon, with which plastic packaging accounts for 40%.

Figure 2: Plastic Pollution Crisis [Photograph]. Taken from https://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2021/09/30/the-plastic-pollution-crisis/

Moreover, scientists have discovered that certain harmful chemicals get released from plastic packaging and find their way into humans’ bodies. Furthermore, researchers have discovered that, from 14,000 known chemicals in food plastic packaging, around 3,601 chemicals enter the body. More importantly, some of these chemicals include metals, volatile organic compounds, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, phthalates, and many other chemicals that could cause cancer, disrupt the endocrine system, and many more diseases.

Not Preserving Food, But Preserving Our Planet

by Saajan Zandvliet

Quantum Food Preservation represents an innovative biopolymer coating technology that takes a quantum leap in food preservation. It substantially reduces the decay process at the molecular level while maintaining the food’s inherent nutritional values and keeping its original flavour palette for up to 30 days. This bio-chemical solution is prepared to perfect the general approach to food waste, providing end-consumers with a regenerative method to experience prolonged freshness and quality.

A Cutting-Edge Biopolymer Solution
The proprietary technology consists at its heart of alginate, a more versatile biopolymer derived from seaweed, combined with cellulose, a naturally occurring polysaccharide. The intermolecular interaction forms a semi-permeable barrier that slows enzymatic browning, regulates moisture levels, and reduces respiration rates in food. Its barrier inhibits oxidation, ensuring that fruits and vegetables maintain their ‘’day one’’ quality throughout their extended shelf life.

Figure 3: Seaweed harvested showing its use as renewable resource in sustainable food preservation [Photograph]. Taken from https://marine.gov.scot/sma/assessment/seaweed-harvesting-and-cultivation

After extensive research and qualitative & quantitative analysis, this advanced coating has resulted in a membrane which extends the shelf life of apples, cherries, radishes, cucumbers, and other produce with similar skin textures by up to 30 days. Additionally, this extra skin demonstrates significant improvements in preserving tropical fruits such as oranges and grapes. Beyond fruits and vegetables, we are exploring applications for fish, and meat poultry to further enhance food preservation while reducing unnecessary waste to expand the demand against spillage. 

Sustainability at the Core
Quantum Food Preservation (QFP) strives to replace general plastic packaging with biodegradable membranes, targeting the global plastic crisis, and developing mostly SDG 11 and 12. The coating can be washed off before consumption, offering an ethical, healthier, and more sustainable thickener alternative to the chemical substitution. This implementation aligns with QFP’s mission to create eco-friendly solutions that benefit both consumers and the planet.

Economic and Environmental Impact
By reducing food spoilage at every stage of the supply chain – from producers to end-users – our technology unlocks multiple revenue streams while creating substantial environmental benefits. "It provides us with multiple revenue streams and market opportunities." said Teun van Kempen, QFP’s Finance and Sales Director. This adaptable solution uses natural, food-safe ingredients that can be customized for various textures and applications. Its bright potential extends beyond current markets into new opportunities for innovation in food preservation. With its ability to reduce waste and pollution while enhancing product quality, QFP’s biopolymer coating is qualified and prepared to disrupt the global food packaging industry.

A Vision for a Sustainable Future
At Quantum Food Preservation, we are not just extending the life of food, we are extending the life of our planet by reducing the dependence on plastic packaging and readily eliminating food waste on a global scale, QFP is paving the way for a more sustainable substitute in the food packaging industry. Our mission is clear: minimize our environmental footprint and inspire a global movement towards responsible consumption.

Driving Social and Environmental Change Through Sustainable Food Preservation

by Brice Nana Nyamgam

The innovative polysaccharide membrane is more than just a product; it is one step towards a sustainable future. 

Food Waste and Hunger  
While hunger and economic inequality thrive on food waste as one of their worst enemies, almost a third of the 828 million hungry souls on the planet lose or waste food produced around the world. This is not simply a logistical gap; it is a cry to action, and QFP's solutions are extending shelf life to perishables and allowing more food to travel further down the line to the people who need it most.

Figure 4: Food Waste in Landfills [Photograph]. Taken from https://www.stocksolutions.com.au/blogs/benefits-and-disadvantages-of-food-waste-in-landfills/ 

Dissolve Plastic Pollution with a Biodegradable Solution for a Cleaner and Better Tomorrow 
At QFP, we have reinvented food preservation without developing a dependency on conventional plastic packaging. Our polysaccharide-based solution derived from natural seaweed creates an effective as well as eco-friendly biodegradable alternative.

This would translate to a major prevention of plastic from piling up into landfills and then into rivers and oceans. Seaweed, which is one of the main ingredients of our product, is in plentiful growth and does not have any need for freshwater and fertilizers. This therefore acts for climate mitigation through the absorption of carbon dioxide air masses and exudation of oxygen into the air. By incorporating seaweed into our preservation methods, we enhance not only environmental performance but also make aquaculture more viable and more sustainable.

Assisting Ocean Environments 
Protecting marine habitats is particularly tied to sustainability as well as other aspects. Overplanting of seaweed usually ends up being wasted, but we invented a way to recycle it and limit overgrowth so that it may damage aquatic ecosystems. This approach aligns with our broader vision of preserving biodiversity and promoting balance within the natural world. We want to help make oceans healthier so that sea animals can live well for many years.

Versatile & Cost-Effective Solution for All
From small households to bigger institutions, QFP’s membrane offers scalability and versatility. Its affordability makes it a strong and better option for farmers, retailers, and consumers looking to extend the shelf life of their soft and hard food while maintaining freshness and taste and minimizing waste.

We focus on how much money can be saved over time when using our packaging in comparison with traditional ones. For both businesses and people, QFP presents a way to help the environment while also being a smart financial choice. 

A Ripple Effect of Change
The impact of the work done by Quantum Food Preservation (QFP) goes beyond simple food preservation and even beyond offering ecological benefits. We encourage change in human behaviour, insisting on sustainability being key for everyday activities. Citizens have immense potential: a shift in waste reduction at home and ecologically friendly product choice is possible. 

We also seek to inspire enterprises and their leadership to pursue greener practices, showing them that innovation and sustainability can coexist. Our approaches have shown that the betterment of the planet and its people will provide long-term success that is beneficial to all parties. But in unity, a better future can be forged without the clutter of wasted food and plastic debris. QFP stands at the leading edge of changing that.

To Conclude

Without a doubt, food waste and plastic pollution are two pressing issues affecting the planet and its inhabitants. Therefore, our polysaccharide membrane aims to be an innovative and one-of-a-kind solution that will not endanger the health and safety of food, nor people and the environment. Try QFP today and be part of the change!