Delicious yet delicate—these might be the first words that come to mind for a consumer when thinking about berries. Berries have specific needs, not only in the field but especially in the post-harvest phase. Due to their delicacy, a packaging solution tailored to their requirements can make a difference, protecting them and extending their shelf life. It can also help maintain their organoleptic properties.
ILIP, an Emilia-based company specializing in packaging solutions for the fruit and vegetable sector and the agri-food industry, dedicates particular attention to the berries sector among its many diverse packaging solutions for fresh produce. It was, therefore, almost natural for ILIP to decide to participate in the new Berry Area at Macfrut, a trade fair specifically dedicated to fresh produce, which will be held in Rimini from May 6 to 8, 2025.
“With our participation in the Berry Area,” Gianluca Tamagnini, Business Manager of ILIP's BU Fresh Produce Packaging (cover photo), told us, "we aim to gather insights into the sector's needs, analyze critical issues, and further improve our technical support. For us, it will serve as a listening hub. Our research and development department is always focused on innovation, and with the upcoming new European packaging regulation PPWR (EU Regulation 2025/40), dialogue with all industry players will be essential. Our clients need solutions to reduce costs, which also means reducing product waste.”
With the goal of minimizing waste while protecting berries and continuing to pursue sustainability—an issue always under scrutiny in Brussels—ILIP has developed a specialized packaging solution for berries: the B40 and B46 Air Wave heat-sealable baskets.
ILIP's Air Wave basket
They do not require absorbent pads at the bottom and can be recycled within the R-PET stream after use. “The Air Wave range is a solution developed based on the needs of the British market, always at the forefront and a benchmark in the berries sector. We have reduced the weight of the basket while maintaining its technical and mechanical performance and ensuring an extended shelf life for the product. Thanks to the curved bottom that absorbs shocks, Air Wave baskets do not require pads. They are also made from mono-material R-PET, making them suitable for further recycling. Well-designed packaging can extend the life of berries and enhance their appeal, as consumers are increasingly attentive to the aesthetics of fruit.”
The latest innovation introduced by ILIP is the recycling of already recycled PET trays (R-PET), T2T R-PET®, embracing the principles of a circular economy. The Emilia-based company is one of the few in Europe to have vertically integrated tray recycling: “It was a challenge to start recycling post-consumer trays. Previously, we only recycled R-PET bottles. To achieve this, we had to establish a second dedicated recycling line at our AMP Recycling plant in Ferrara,” Tamagnini continued.
“Sustainability is something we have pursued, something that has distinguished and differentiated us since 2004,” he added. “We have codified it into our three Rs: Reduce, Recycle, Renewable Resources. In the early 2000s, we introduced compostable PLA bioplastics, which was our first step.
ILIP's Life+ packaging line
More recently, we have introduced highly innovative and distinctive packaging solutions such as Life+ Bioactive, an active packaging that, thanks to a natural substance extracted from the exoskeleton of crustaceans and various plant-based extracts, can extend the product’s shelf life by up to 48 hours. Among its features were the ability to reduce wilting and juice leakage, slow down ripening, preserve organoleptic properties, and delay bacterial and mold proliferation.
It is essential to consider the product's metabolism, and for strawberries, for example, Life+ Bioactive was truly effective. Commercially, it was not very successful, but we still believe in it. Perhaps the market was not ready when we launched it.”
If sustainability was, until recently, a feature that companies could choose to embrace as a differentiating element in the market, it is increasingly becoming a necessity to remain competitive. With the enforcement of the new European CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), which already applies to the 2024 financial year, more and more companies are required to prepare a sustainability report. Even if a company is not directly affected, the new regulation compels those who are involved to assess the sustainability of their suppliers along the entire value chain.
To access specific European markets, obtain bank financing, or enter large-scale retail chains, sustainability will soon become a decisive factor. Every detail, including packaging, could make a difference.
Barbara Righini
