Chantler's Grant Ferguson cited data from 2008 that showed that U.S. retailers carried 5.1 billion pounds of fresh vegetables and 4.1 billion pounds of fresh fruit. The cost of food waste that year in the fresh produce sector amounted to $8.9 billion, and Ferguson said that with such a large industry, making any kind of progress can be very beneficial, even if it doesn't take care of the entire problem.
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“We're not looking at the problem as eliminating ethylene,” said Ferguson, referring to the naturally-emitted gas that speeds up the ripening of some produce. “But we're doing what we can to protect as much as we can.” Part of the problem is that the global supply network of fresh produce has expanded so much. With consumers able to buy products from regions of the world previously not accessible, the chances that some of those perishable products are lost as waste become higher. For that reason, the methods used to control ethylene, and get a handle on spoilage, must be simple and cost-effective.
“We have to focus on products that have an effect at a low cost,” said Ferguson. “That means low-impact, easily-acquired solutions.” He noted that Chantler Packaging has partnered with Prime ProData to help growers, shippers and retailers more effectively limit waste. To do that, Ferguson said they need to find areas in which they can cut down on ethylene levels.
“Ethylene begets ethylene,” he explained. “It is a catalyst for more ethylene production, and we believe that process is preventable, and we have technology that can help do that.” Through their packaging solutions, they limit the exposure of the gas, but he also explained that it's one step in a process that is full of measures that make dents in the overall problem.
“We don't expect people to pay for a solution that costs more than the product, that's why the solution has to pay for itself,” said Ferguson. “We can bring ethylene levels down sharply throughout the duration of transportation. If you do that, the benefits are endless, but it takes a systematic approach.”
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