Award-Winning Bio-Coated Fibre Punnet: Salty, Zespri, Yieldia & Woolworths New Zealand Turning Off the Plastic Tap.
From materials and design innovation to the supermarket shelf.
Salty’s award-winning bio-coated fibre punnet was developed as an alternative to traditional PET and rPET fresh produce packaging and was used by Zespri RED kiwifruit through Woolworths stores in New Zealand.
The Wayfarer bio-coated paperboard punnet helps manage fruit moisture loss and gas exchange across the fresh produce value chain, helping to manage fruit waste, return more value to growers and reduce the use of plastic.
Salty’s material and packaging innovation demonstrates what can happen when fresh produce packaging is redesigned to reduce plastic across the supply chain.
The innovation has since been recognised with a Bronze Award for Sustainable Industrial Design at the 2025 Australasian Best Design Awards.
Replacing Plastic Without Compromising the Fruit
Fresh produce packaging has an important job to do.
Fruit continues to respire after harvest, so simply removing plastic can contribute to moisture loss, shrivel, weight loss and food waste.
Salty developed a specialist bio-coated paperboard designed to provide the moisture and barrier performance required by fresh produce while replacing the conventional rigid plastic punnet.
The coated fibre is free from added PFAS can be successfully re pulped, providing a pathway for recovery through the paper recycling stream.
Protect the fruit. Remove fossil plastic. Recover the fibre.
Ready for the PPWR Transition
This innovation is increasingly relevant as organisations prepare for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and wider ESG and circularity requirements.
PPWR is driving greater focus on packaging minimisation, recyclability and reducing unnecessary single-use plastic packaging, including restrictions from 2030 affecting certain single-use plastic packaging for pre-packed fresh fruit and vegetables under 1.5 kg.
Salty’s technology gives fresh produce businesses a commercially available pathway to start transitioning suitable applications from rigid plastic into functional fibre packaging.
Commercially Available Now
This isn't a future concept.
Salty's bio-coated paper and paperboard technology is commercially available now and can be adapted for different fruits, vegetables, packaging formats and supply chains.
The award-winning bio coated punnet used by Zespri for Red Kiwifruit demonstrates what can be achieved through partnerships, taking packaging innovation to the supermarket shelf.
For us, the opportunity is much bigger than one punnet.
Turning off the plastic tap without turning off packaging performance.
Interested in exploring a fibre-based alternative for your fresh produce packaging? Email us at enquiries@saltoftheearthpackaging.nz to discuss your requirements and find out how Salty can help.
We can supply our coated paperboard as roll stock or sheets to partners and packaging converters or as finished consumer packaging.
