Bags made of natural plastic from NaKu keep food fresher for longer and save it from the dustbin.
A third of all food in the world ends up in landfill. In the EU, 173 kilograms of food are thrown away per person every year. That makes a total of 88 million tons of waste per year. In Austria it is 760.000 tons. A good half of these are considered potentially avoidable. 53% of all food thrown away is accounted for by private households. In an average household, a quarter of the groceries bought are thrown away and end up in the bin. The main causes are a lack of purchasing planning, improper storage and misunderstood best-before dates. Vegetables, bread and dairy products top the "throw away list".
Why do we throw away food and not save it from the garbage can? There are many misunderstandings, especially when it comes to the best-before date (MHD): It is not a “recommended disposal date”. Rather, it can be compared to a guarantee. No one would throw away their electronics after the warranty has expired. The same should apply to food.
Most consumers do not control their food. But if a product still looks, smells and tastes good, then you can eat it without hesitation even after the best-before date has expired. There is still room for improvement with regard to storage. Many store their food unsealed or loose, exposed to air, which can reduce food freshness. NaKu has a solution for exactly this.
NaKu keeps food fresh for longer
Waste less food with NaKu organic bags!
Our biogenic packaging made of natural plastic is particularly breathable. Packaged baked goods, fruit and vegetables stay fresh longer in a breathable environment and are less prone to mould.
The material and manufacturing process of the NaKu bag have been perfected over the years to create an optimal climate for storing food in the bag. The taste, appearance and weight of the food are hardly changed by storage. There is less bacterial contamination and dehydration is counteracted. You can thus preserve the quality of the food for longer and thus save it from being thrown away.
By storing your food in NaKu bags, you conserve valuable food resources, protect the environment, and save money! Less wasted food also means less CO2 , especially when you consider the elimination of unnecessary transport.
BOKU freshness study
A study by BOKU shows that fruit, vegetables and bread stay fresh longer in NaKu organic bags. In the course of the study, the food was stored in three different ways: open, in conventional plastic bags made from petroleum and in NaKu bags made from natural and rapidly renewable raw materials from European agriculture. Apples, mangoes, tomatoes, lettuce, chanterelles, bread and rolls were examined.
The foods were evaluated for appearance, smell, taste, weight loss and infestation with microorganisms over a number of test days. The products were then ranked by storage variant with regard to their evaluation and an overall evaluation was carried out. For all the foods tested, the NaKu bag made of natural plastic performed better than the conventional plastic bag made from petroleum and open storage. Second best is open storage. On the other hand, the tasters rated the products from the conventional plastic bags as the worst without exception.
The BOKU freshness study
The study can be read here.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about food waste
How much food waste is there in Austria and what are the causes of it?
In Austria, 760.000 tons of food are thrown away annually, half of which could be avoided. Fifty-three percent of this waste comes from private households. The main causes are poor shopping planning, improper storage, and a misunderstanding of best-before dates.
How do NaKu organic bags help reduce food waste?
NaKu's organic bags keep food fresher longer thanks to their breathability. This prevents mold growth, reduces bacterial contamination, and counteracts drying out. As a result, less food is thrown away.
What did a study by BOKU Vienna reveal?
A study by BOKU (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna) has shown that food stored in NaKu bags stays fresh longer than when stored openly or in conventional plastic bags.
