Saveggy

Saveggy is a Swedish startup that focuses on providing sustainable solutions for food preservation and is developing an edible, bio-based, and food-safe coating made from plants to replace plastic, which is generally used to wrap produce to prevent water loss, slow down oxidation, and stop bacteria growth. The coating can be applied to produce after it is harvested to keep it fresh for longer, thereby reducing food waste and use of plastic. Saveggy claims its preservation coating can extend shelf life by 3x to 4x and that it is entirely plant-based and free from additives. As of October 2024, the company had yet to successfully commercialize its product.

As of October 2024, Saveggy’s first product in development was the SaveCucumber coating, made from rapeseed and oat oil to protect cucumbers and eliminate the need for plastic packaging. The company also reported that it was developing more coatings for fruits and vegetables, including bananas, bell peppers, and egg plants.

Key customers and partnerships

In April 2023, Saveggy partnered with Arborea Bio Foods and Thorverk to develop its technology and extend the shelf life of other foods. This partnership was announced along with Saveggy receiving a Eurostars grant of EUR 440,000 (~USD 483,000). Following this, in September 2023, the company collaborated with the Swedish cucumber and tomato producer Odlarna to upscale the production of its edible cucumber coating.