Eco-friendly packaging to make citrus production more sustainable

A growing number of our products are being packaged using eco-friendly materials. Our target in terms of packaging and raw materials is zero waste while using 100% eco-friendly materials for our products by 2030. The latest in the series of more sustainably packaged products is Aphytis which is produced and packaged by Koppert Spain and used by citrus growers for the biocontrol of a number of scale insects. The new, eco-friendly packaging for Aphytis is made from 100% biodegradable cardboard and bioplastic PLA.

Used for the biological control of California red scale, oleander scale, San José scale and other scale insects, the parasitic wasp is reared locally in Spain and is increasingly used by citrus farmers in Southern European regions, MEA countries and South Africa to produce sustainably grown fruit without pesticide residues.

The packaging has been designed, developed and produced entirely by the Koppert production facility in the Murcian town of Águilas. All 6 elements of the new Aphytis container comply with the European standard EN13432, which regulates the requirements by which containers and packaging can be recovered through composting and biodegradation. The new Aphytis packaging also includes a sheet of natural cotton impregnated with a sugar solution. The strips of green paper that are used to release the parasitic wasp Aphytis melinus in the field, also use 100% biodegradable paper. The label itself is made with natural paper without additives.

The new eco-friendly Aphytis packaging reflects Koppert's commitment to the circular production processes and contributes to improving the sustainability of citrus production. This is not the first of Koppert’s products to use packaging that facilitates subsequent recycling. The introduction of the Ulti-Mite sachets that use 100% compostable packaging, and the Eco-friendly coolbox for transportation of live cargo are all part of a growing number of innovations to promote sustainable practices.

With our firm commitment to materials which are renewable or recycled, we contribute to reinforcing the sustainability and healthy image of citrus fruits; something that retailers and consumers are increasingly concerned about.