SHARPAK, a leader in rigid packaging solutions, has announced a strategic commercial partnership with OSY Group, a UK-based food technology innovator, to revolutionise the shelf life of soft fruit packaging. This collaboration will apply OSY Group’s cutting-edge antimicrobial coating to packaging for strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and grapes—targeting reduced food spoilage and enhanced sustainability.

The packaging, designed primarily for UK supermarket distribution, incorporates OSY’s proprietary antimicrobial surface treatment. According to OSY Group, the technology forms microscopic pins on the surface of the packaging that physically puncture and neutralise harmful microbes. This physical antimicrobial barrier helps delay the natural spoilage of produce, thereby extending shelf life and reducing food waste across the fresh fruit supply chain.

“This is a breakthrough for both food preservation and packaging sustainability,” said a spokesperson from SHARPAK. The integration of antimicrobial coatings into everyday fruit containers could reduce supermarket waste, improve logistics, and help retailers deliver fresher produce to consumers for longer.

OSY Group emphasises that the solution has undergone extensive global testing with commercial partners, independent laboratories, and compliance agencies. These tests have verified the coating’s effectiveness and confirmed that it meets stringent Food Contact Materials regulations for safety in packaging used with fresh produce.

This partnership is one of several recent industry innovations aimed at tackling food waste. Earlier this year, Megamark began using Tosca’s reusable ‘wood-look’ crates to transport and display fruit, vegetables, and red meat. These reusable solutions are expected to replace over 10 million single-use crates annually, significantly reducing environmental impact and lowering logistics costs.

In another initiative, Makro and VML launched the Life Extending Stickers campaign, which uses labels with visual ripeness indicators and serving suggestions to reduce misconceptions around spoilage and encourage the consumption of still-edible produce.

The SHARPAK and OSY Group partnership stands out by focusing on packaging design itself as a vector for waste reduction. By extending the viability of fresh fruit, this solution addresses a key challenge in the fresh food supply chain—how to keep perishable goods fresh from farm to fork.

Looking ahead, the adoption of antimicrobial technologies in food packaging may accelerate across other perishable categories, especially as retailers and suppliers look for cost-effective methods to cut waste and improve food security. As the packaging industry evolves, smart and functional packaging innovations like this are set to play a growing role in sustainability strategies worldwide.