Contact
Ólafur Reykdal
Project Manager
olafur.reykdal@matis.is
The consumer market calls for environmentally friendly packaging and there is a loud demand for less use of plastic in the vegetable value chain. The project built a concise knowledge package on options for packaging vegetables.
The project was divided into four parts: (1) Development of knowledge on packaging methods and packaging for vegetables. - Matís put in the work to build up knowledge in this field in order to communicate it in a comprehensive way to the working world. (2) Storage stability tests of vegetables in different packages. - These tests were carried out at Matís in collaboration with manufacturers and were necessary to obtain results for Icelandic conditions. (3) Calculations of the carbon footprint of vegetables. - At the horticulture farmers' department in the Icelandic Farmers Association, calculations of the carbon footprint of vegetable production were carried out in cooperation with horticulture farmers. (4) Promotion. - The people involved in the project see it as a key issue to communicate complete information to the business world.
Work on the project ended in January 2023. A report was published with all of Matís's results, along with a detailed discussion of food packaging. The report can be accessed here. The results of the project have been presented at meetings, in the media and on social media. Discussion of plastic and new types of packaging have attracted the most attention. Matís employees provide all additional information as requested.