Swiss material science startup Noriware has launched a new seaweed-based top seal film designed for fresh produce packaging, offering retailers and food brands a plastic-free alternative ahead of upcoming EU sustainability regulations. The company’s new “norifresh” film is developed specifically for fruits and vegetables and is intended to help businesses comply with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which will ban single-use plastic packaging for fresh produce from 2030.
The seaweed-derived film is designed to run on existing top-seal packaging lines without requiring machinery modifications, making integration easier for packers and retailers. Unlike conventional multi-layer plastic structures, the material can heat-seal directly onto paperboard and cardboard trays without additional coatings, adhesives, or treatments.
According to Noriware, the packaging solution can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 89% compared to traditional fossil-based plastic films. The company also claims the film improves shelf life for berries and other fresh produce by absorbing moisture and minimizing condensation inside packs, helping reduce food waste.
The new packaging material is currently being tested by retailers and fresh produce packers across Europe. Packaging supplier Argos Packaging & Protection has already introduced norifresh as part of its future-ready sustainable packaging portfolio for the fresh produce sector.
Noriware, based in Lupfig, Switzerland, recently secured €4.3 million in seed funding to accelerate commercialization of its seaweed-based packaging technologies and scale production for European markets.