A startup in Oban is creating environmentally friendly packaging from onion skins in an effort to lower emissions and waste.
The initial user of onion skins as a source of fabric dye was Renuka Ramanujam, CEO of HUID and a former textiles student.
The 30-year-old’s business buys leftover peel from farmers and other agricultural enterprises in order to create a material that resembles cardboard and a substitute for flexible film.
Support for it comes from the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, an industry-led organization.
Why Onion Skin for packaging?
Because onion skins have antimicrobial qualities, packaging made of them may help perishable foods last longer.
High-quality cellulose is extracted from the outer onion skins and combined with a blend of biopolymers to create the eco-packaging.
Considering that UK homes discard an estimated 90 billion pieces of plastic packaging each year, HUID is working to reduce waste.
“Plastic leaches chemicals into food when it’s heated. I wanted to find a solution from something with no value.
“Imagine any meal you have – there’s bound to be some onion in there. Onions are a global staple for cuisines. They’re everywhere, so their waste is everywhere too”, Ms Ramanujam said.
Ms. Ramanujam, who is Dutch by nationality but originally from India, moved to Oban in 2021 from London at a friend’s invitation.
Next year, they intend to introduce their first product, which will be paper produced completely of onion skins. Additionally, Ms Ramanujam also hopes to replace cardboard and paper packaging.
“Trees are super important to the environment, because of the animals they home and the carbon they hold,” she said. Onions don’t have that responsibility.
A spokesperson for the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland said it championed sustainable solutions and supported small and medium-sized businesses through access to expertise and equipment they may not have.
Date : 21 to 25 Oct 2024 (5 Days)
Time : 07:00 PM – 10:00 PM
To get regular Food Industry updates, feel free to join our WhatsApp group: Joining link