Plastic packaging has kept fresh produce safe and affordable for decades, but it will soon be banned in the EU. The recently adopted Article 25 of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) bans plastic packaging for unprocessed fruit and vegetables in units below 1.5 kilogrammes from 2030, leaving packers and retailers to find a material that performs like plastic for small-volume packaging. 

Noriware, founded in 2022 and based in Lupfig, canton of Aargau, is positioning itself as an early technology leader in this emerging market segment. The company makes its norifresh film from chemically unmodified seaweed, meaning it falls outside the PPWR definition of plastic and could therefore be used throughout the EU after 2030. The film runs on standard packaging equipment and seals faster than plastic and at lower temperatures. Norifresh can withstand the stresses of retail logistics, according to Noriware, and is produced with up to 89 per cent less CO₂ than conventional plastic films. 

Noriware recently partnered with Volg grocery stores for a large-scale pilot, placing blueberries packaged with norifresh film in 300 outlets across Switzerland. Results showed that norifresh halves spoilage rates compared to plastic film, thanks to its ability to release excess water and carbon dioxide emitted by packaged produce, unlike conventional plastic packaging. With this successful pilot completed, Noriware is now planning further pilots for the second half of 2026 with other partners.

Jessica Farda, CEO of Noriware, told Startupticker that, “this pilot was the first time we were able to prove that our product can be used throughout the existing supply chain, withstand temperature and humidity fluctuations and perform better than plastic in terms of spoilage rates.” 

The company expects six-figure revenue this year, following a CHF 4 million seed round closed in January. Looking ahead, Farda plans to strengthen her 11-strong team with 2 new hires to support the company's aim to sell its first commercial units in 2027. 

(www.startupticker.ch)

Image: Blueberries packaged with norifresh. Image courtesy of noriware.