Swedish sustainable food packaging company Saveggy has secured a Eurostars grant of over EUR 440,000 (~USD 483,000). Eurostars is a joint program between the European Research Agency and the European Commission that supports the development of new and innovative ideas for small and medium-sized businesses in Europe.

Funds will be used to develop an edible coating made from plants that can prevent dehydration, oxidation, and microorganism growth, thereby increasing the shelf life of cucumbers. The grant will support Saveggy's R&D costs for the project. 

Saveggy notes that it is set to collaborate with Portugal's Arborea Bio Foods and Iceland's Thorverk to work on the project. The company reports that it is also looking to introduce the treated cucumbers in partnership with the ICA supermarket chain and producer organization, Odlarlaget, to launch the product next year.

Founded in 2019, Saveggy 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 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.