In light of the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which will fully ban single-use plastic packaging for fresh fruit and vegetables from 2030 onwards, noriware from Lupfig (AG) is positioning itself as an early technology leader in an emerging market segment.

The material startup, founded by Jessica Farda and Stefan Grieder, and its team of eight employees has developed norifresh, a transparent, seaweed-based film designed to offer fruit and vegetable packers a fully biological and regulatory compliant alternative to conventional plastic packaging, without requiring any changes to existing machinery or packaging designs. Compared to conventional PET, norifresh reduces the carbon footprint by up to 89 percent. The material is made from 100 percent natural, renewable raw materials and is fully biodegradable in soil. Its primary feedstock is seaweed, which grows up to ten times faster than trees and requires no pesticides, fertilizers, or freshwater.

norifresh has been developed without chemical modifications, adhesives, or coatings. The film can be heat-sealed directly to cardboard and easily peeled off after use. Both the material properties and the manufacturing process are protected by patents. Initial pilot trials with European packaging companies confirm its suitability for existing production lines.

Demand for the new film is already strong — the company has secured six-figure pre-orders for the coming year from clients in Switzerland and the EU (Germany and Italy), some including advance payments for initial deliveries. The company has signed contracts with three customers in the fresh fruit and vegetable packaging sector as the company continues to expand its customer network across the EU and further optimize material properties for industrial-scale use.

Funds from the secured seed round will drive key activities leading up to the planned launch. An undisclosed family office and a private with private equity experience are supporting noriware strategically during its current growth phase. The funds will be reinvested into product development to make the norifresh shelf-ready, and used as working capital to produce and distribute the first film rolls to early customers. Additionally, the company will use the funds to conduct multiple in-store pilots with the norifresh —  the first agreements with retailers has already been signed.

(www.startupticker.ch)