SYM Fresh Launch - Helping to Reduce Food Waste

Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc is pleased to announce the launch of a new product. SYM Fresh, reusable press n' seal fruit and vegetable bags, developed to keep climacteric fruit and vegetables fresher for longer.

Climacteric fruit and vegetables* release ethylene gas which causes them to continue to ripen after they have been picked. This maturation can alter the colour and texture of the produce, effectively shortening the shelf life.

The new SYM Fresh bags have been made with Symphony's d2p ethylene adsorber technology, which reduces the spoilage of climacteric fruit and vegetables.

SYM Fresh bags have a microporous structure which adsorbs and traps the ethylene inside the film, delaying ripening and regulating moisture, to slow down the drying out process. Conserving the nutritional qualities, crispness and flavour of the fruit and vegetables and extending the shelf life.

According to figures produced by WRAP** (Waste and Resources Action Programme) an estimated one third of all food produced globally goes to waste. The UK alone wastes approximately 6.6 million tonnes of food annually with households accounting for 70% of this figure, and 34% of this wastage consisting of fruit and vegetables.

Food waste is a humanitarian tragedy, but it is also an environmental problem. Rotting food generates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, more potent than carbon dioxide, and 11% of methane emissions come from food.
The principal reason cited for throwing food away (41% by weight) is that it was not used in time. Climacteric fruit and vegetables don't last very long before they begin to spoil, which is why SYM Fresh reusable fruit and vegetable bags are an essential addition to any shopping basket. Saving produce, saving money and quite possibly the planet too.

End:

*Climacteric fruit and vegetables - Apple, Apricot, Asparagus, Avocado, Banana, Blueberry, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Carrot, Celery, Courgette, Cucumber, Figs, Fresh Herbs, Guava, Kiwi, Leek, Lettuce, Mango, Mushrooms (non-moist) Nectarine, Papaya, Passion fruit, Peach, Peppers, Plantain, Plum, Tomatoes.

**Food Surplus and Waste Arisings in the UK Survey - WRAP (Updated January 2020)

NOTE TO EDITORS
Symphony Environmental Technologies plc

https://www.symphonyenvironmental.com
For more information please contact info@sym-fresh.net

Tel: +44 (0) 20 8207 5900

Tel: +44 (0) 203 829 5000

Tel: +44 (0) 203 764 2341

In addition to SYM Fresh Symphony have been perfecting for twenty years their d2w® biodegradable technology, which causes plastic to biodegrade much more quickly than ordinary plastic if it gets into the open environment. See www.d2w.net and www.biodeg.org

In addition to d2w, and of growing importance since the Coronavirus pandemic began, Symphony have developed a technology, marketed under their d2p® ("designed to protect") brand, which gives plastic antimicrobial properties. It has recently been approved by the FDA in the United States for keeping bread packaging free of bacteria.

They have now received test results from an independent laboratory showing a virus reduction of 99.9% after only one hour against a member of the BETA CORONAVIRUS group of viruses. This is a masterbatch technology which can be incorporated in a wide range of polymer products at an affordable cost, without disrupting the manufacturing process or the supply-chain.

Symphony also has range of additives, concentrates and masterbatches which can be incorporated in a wide variety of plastic and non-plastic products so as to give them protection against many different types of bacteria, fungi, algae, moulds, rodents and insects, and against corrosion, and fire. See www.d2p.net

d2p products also include odour, moisture and ethylene adsorbers as well as other types of food- preserving technologies. Symphony has also launched d2p antimicrobial household gloves and toothbrushes, and is developing a range of other d2p finished products for retail sale.

Symphony has also developed the d2Detector®, a portable device which analyses plastics and detects counterfeit products. This is useful to government officials tasked with enforcing legislation, and Symphony's d2t tagging and tracer technology is available for further security.

Symphony has a diverse and growing customer-base and has established itself as an international business with 74 distributors around the world. Products made with Symphony's plastic technologies are now available in nearly 100 countries and in many different product applications. Symphony itself is accredited to ISO9001 and ISO14001.

Symphony is a member of The OPA (www.biodeg.org) and actively participates in the Committee work of the British Standards Institute (BSI), the American Standards Organisation (ASTM), the European Standards Organisation (CEN), and the International Standards Organisation (ISO).

Further information on the Symphony Group can be found at www.symphonyenvironmental.com and twitter @SymphonyEnv
See also Symphony on Instagram.
A Symphony App is available for downloading to smartphones.
Facebook: Symphonyenvironmental - https://www.facebook.com/symphonyenvironmental/ Twitter @SymphonyEnv https://twitter.com/symphonyenv?lang=en Instagram: Symphonyenvironmental https://www.instagram.com/symphonyenvironmental/
Website: www.symphonyenvironmental.com