ZESPRI is working closely with Scion, a New Zealand Crown Research Institute, to develop innovative ways to use fruit waste and create bio-based polymers, which can then be used to produce ‘spifes’ and packaging materials.

Case Study

A ‘spife’ is a spoon-like utensil that has a serrated edge – this provides the consumer with a convenient tool to cut, scoop and eat ZESPRI® Kiwifruit.

These popular plastic spife (currently included in retail packs) account for around 3% of ZESPRI® Kiwifruit’s total carbon footprint. By making these utensils from the bio-plastics of fruit waste (skin peels, fruit hair, flowers and waste fruit), there will be a reduction in the overall carbon footprint.

“By using the organic fruit waste from the orchards to make products such as the spife, ZESPRI can integrate the waste back into the kiwifruit value chain, offsetting costs in other areas and enhancing the overall sustainability of ZESPRI® Kiwifruit,” says Alistair Mowat, ZESPRI Innovation Leader.