From agricultural waste to active packaging

Italian startup Alkelux is demonstrating how agricultural by-products can be transformed into high-value packaging materials through circular economy principles. Founded in Sardinia in 2024, the deep-tech company has developed an additive produced from liquorice root fibres, a by-product generated in large quantities by Italy's liquorice industry. Rather than treating this material as waste, Alkelux converts it into functional nanoparticles that can be incorporated into food packaging to help preserve fresh produce.

The innovation combines sustainable chemistry with packaging technology, creating a solution that not only reduces food waste but also gives new economic value to agricultural residues. By recovering underutilised biomass, the company aims to improve resource efficiency while supporting more sustainable packaging production.

Extending the freshness of fruit

The technology is based on carbon nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties that are mixed directly into plastic materials or cellulose pulp during the manufacturing process. Because the additive can be integrated into existing production lines without requiring major equipment modifications, packaging manufacturers can adopt the technology with minimal operational disruption.

According to the company's validation tests, the solution has significantly increased the shelf life of strawberries, extending freshness from approximately three days to more than one week. Similar performance has also been observed with other highly perishable berries, suggesting that the technology could help reduce food losses throughout retail distribution and household consumption.

Supporting sustainability across the supply chain

Food waste remains one of the largest environmental challenges facing the food industry, with fresh fruit among the most vulnerable product categories. Packaging solutions capable of slowing spoilage can reduce waste throughout transportation, retail and consumer use while improving supply chain efficiency.

At the same time, the use of agricultural waste as a raw material strengthens circular economy objectives by reducing dependence on virgin resources and creating additional value from existing industrial processes. This approach supports both environmental sustainability and regional economic development.

Scaling from laboratory to industrial production

Following successful proof-of-concept projects with international packaging companies, Alkelux is preparing to expand production through a new pilot facility in Italy. The company plans to increase manufacturing capacity significantly before moving towards industrial-scale production over the coming years.

Alongside fresh produce applications, the technology is also being evaluated for other sectors where extended product shelf life and antimicrobial performance could provide additional value, including meat, bakery products and selected medical applications.

Innovation through circular materials

The development highlights how packaging innovation increasingly combines material science, sustainability and food preservation. Instead of focusing solely on recyclable packaging, companies are exploring functional materials capable of improving product performance while reducing environmental impact.

As demand grows for packaging solutions that support both waste reduction and circular resource use, technologies based on agricultural by-products may become an increasingly important part of future packaging strategies. By transforming liquorice waste into an active packaging ingredient, Alkelux offers an example of how regional resources can generate global innovation while contributing to more sustainable food systems.