As part of the inaugural Agricultural Plastics Innovation Challenge, Driscoll’s has partnered with Think Beyond Plastic.
The project aims to encourage the development of innovative recycling processes and reduce reliance on traditional field plastics in the food industry.
The contest is open to innovators, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and research institutes. Winning innovators will have the opportunity to test their innovation in a commercial environment.
For submissions to the Ag Plastic Innovation Portal, the deadline is Nov. 30, 2021.
Plastic is used widely in berry production, but it is not reusable, so there are numerous environmental, social, and economic consequences to consider.
To participate in the innovation challenge, Driscoll’s reached out to additional berry industry leaders, including Aneberries, California Giant, Gem Pak, Good Farms and Naturipe.
This challenge aims to identify early-stage innovations for collecting, reusing, recycling, composting, or converting waste into energy that can benefit berry producers.
The winners of each category will be chosen by a panel of experts who will focus on demonstrating the ability to scale innovations into commercial production and deliver benefits to the environment.
“Driscoll’s is proud to be the corporate sponsor of The Agricultural Plastics Innovation Challenge, as it will support the entire industry in discovering scalable and economically viable solutions to improve the usage and recyclability of agricultural plastics,” said, Driscoll’s global R&D vice president, Scott Komar.
“We believe it is important to invest in ways to combat plastics waste and understand that as an industry, we all have a role to commit to broad and significant action toward more sustainable product offerings that are good for both people and the planet.”
Plastic clamshells are environmentally harmful, but Driscoll’s and other berry producers are working to reduce their environmental impact through the Ag Plastics Innovation Challenge.Early in 2020, Driscoll’s and others in the fresh berry industry pledged to create package materials that are 100% recyclable by 2025.
“As an industry, we share a common goal to reduce the environmental impact of plastics,” California Giant Berry Farms president Joe Barsi said.
“This challenges us to think beyond the clamshell and address hard to recycle plastic that is used in berry production. We owe it to our growing communities, growers, and consumers to be leaders and help find solutions.”
