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Meal Kit Brand Tests Edible, Dissolvable Flexible Packaging

Meal kit pioneer Gousto Recipe Box trialed a pea protein-based film that exhibits many of the barrier properties that plastic offers. But instead of having to be discarded, the edible film dissolves harmlessly in hot water as the meal is cooked.

Instead of having to be discarded, the edible film dissolves harmlessly in water as the meal is cooked.
Instead of having to be discarded, the edible film dissolves harmlessly in water as the meal is cooked.

Instead of having to be discarded, the edible film dissolves harmlessly in water as the meal is cooked.

British meal kit pioneer Gousto Recipe Box delivers kits containing pre-measured ingredients and expert instructions to help consumers create delicious meals for themselves at home. The company recently teamed with Xampla, a mission-based commercial spinout from the University of Cambridge, U.K., to trial an edible film specifically engineered for a commercial stock (bouillon) cube packaging application in one of Gousto’s meal kits. Xampla says the application is a world-first edible packaging solution to be made from pea protein. More than 15 years of research has gone into it. The product can also be described as a plant protein polymer, natural polymer or protein polymer. This product is a single layer film, designed for this precise application. The edible stock cube packaging is being trialed to replace Gousto’s existing stock mix sachets, for a packaging-free stock that’s full of flavor.

Gousto is beta-testing the technology, rolling out this month, as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce plastic packaging in its recipe boxes. Following its first full year of profitability in 2020, the recipe box company recently became a certified B Corporation.

This was achieved in part by Gousto’s ongoing work to reduce plastic packaging in their recipe boxes. Last year the business cut plastic by 50% in their boxes by switching to more cardboard packaging and launching the Eco Chill Box. That project was an innovative insulator made of recycled cardboard, that keeps ingredients fresh in boxes. edible stock cube packaging is being trialed to replace Gousto’s existing stock mix sachets, for a packaging-free stock that’s full of flavor.edible stock cube packaging is being trialed to replace Gousto’s existing stock mix sachets, for a packaging-free stock that’s full of flavor.

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