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Westfalia Fruit, a player in the global avocado market, showcased its latest sustainable innovation – a paper made from 25-30% avocado waste – during the Fruit Attraction 2024 trade fair in Madrid.

This initiative reflects the company's commitment to minimising waste and maximising resource use across the supply chain.

During the event, which took place from 8-10 October, Westfalia demonstrated its innovative packaging solution, which repurposes avocado skins and seeds into environmentally friendly materials.

While recycled paper and cardboard are commonly recognised as sustainable options, the repeated recycling process can weaken the fibres, leading to diminished quality.

Westfalia's avocado-based paper addresses this challenge by harnessing the cellulose and starch found in avocado waste, enhancing the strength of the paper while reducing the need for virgin wood fibres.

This approach not only lowers the carbon footprint but also positions the company as a leader in sustainable packaging solutions.

Johnathan Sutton, group chief sustainability officer at Westfalia Fruit, said: “These are not overnight developments. Through extensive research and collaboration with organisations like Bio-Power Technologies, we are exploring the full potential of avocado waste, transforming it from low-value applications into high-value packaging solutions.”

Typically, avocado skins and seeds are relegated to low-value uses, such as anaerobic digestion.

However, Westfalia's innovative process elevates these by-products, aligning with the increasing demand for sustainable carton-board packaging in the food and beverage sector. This initiative not only reduces reliance on virgin fibres but also enhances the sustainability of the entire supply chain.

Westfalia has previously explored the use of avocado waste in beauty products, replacing harmful plastic microbeads with natural alternatives.

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