Italian startup revolutionizing Fresh Produce Preservation with Essential Oils
PACKAGING
Agree NET’s PìFresc uses essential oils in a polymeric matrix to extend fresh produce shelf life. This sustainable, additive-free solution controls antimicrobial release, reduces food waste, and can be applied as tags, stickers, or films, revolutionizing natural food preservation.
Agree NET, an Italy-based startup, has developed a sticker that is applied to food packaging for prolonging the shelf life of fresh produce. Marketed under the name PìFresc, this patented technology addresses critical challenges in the global food industry, including spoilage during transportation and the demand for sustainable, chemical-free preservation methods.
PìFresc introduces an innovative approach, harnessing the antimicrobial properties of essential oils and incorporating them into a curable polymeric matrix to ensure prolonged freshness.
Essential oils have long been recognized for their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, but their direct application in food packaging has been limited due to technical challenges. The rapid and uncontrolled volatilization of these oils reduces their effectiveness, while their sensitivity to light and heat poses further difficulties. Agree NET’s patented composition overcomes these limitations by embedding essential oils in a polymeric matrix designed to release them in a controlled manner. This approach not only enhances the durability of the antimicrobial effect but also ensures the safety and quality of the preserved produce.
The key to this innovation lies in the composition’s three main components: a curable compound matrix, essential oils as antimicrobial agents, and initiator or catalyst compounds. The matrix stabilizes the essential oils, preventing rapid evaporation and degradation, while the initiators or catalysts regulate the polymerization process. The polymeric structure is designed to maintain the integrity of the essential oils, ensuring their controlled release over time. Additionally, the curable compounds used in the matrix can be tailored through free radical or ionic polymerization methods, allowing for customization based on specific preservation needs.
PìFresc also boasts significant versatility in its applications. The polymeric composition can be used in various formats, such as tags, stickers, or films, which can be directly applied to fresh produce or packaging substrates like plastic, paper, or metal. This flexibility allows for seamless integration into existing supply chains while offering producers and distributors a scalable solution to reduce spoilage and maintain the quality of their goods.
The manufacturing process is another standout feature of PìFresc. By incorporating essential oils into a liquid solution and polymerizing the mixture using light or heat, Agree NET has developed a time-efficient and less complex production method compared to previous technologies. This streamlined process not only accelerates production but also ensures the cross-linking density of the polymeric matrix is optimized, further enhancing the long-lasting antimicrobial effect of the essential oils.