A fully compostable shrink-wrap for cucumbers has been developed in South Australia and is set to be launched on international markets.

The compostable wrap is manufactured by BioBag World Australia, The Lead South Australia reported.

Launched in September, it took 12 months to develop in partnership with South Australian produce and packaging businesses IG Fresh Produce.

It is being touted as an environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional polyethylene plastic wrap and has already generated export interest from Qatar and South Africa, according to the article.

“The potential is endless. It’s improving all of the time. I see it as a direct replacement for plastic," said BioBag World Australia director Scott Morton.

IG Fresh executive director George Antonas said he was approached by South Australian independent grocer Drakes Supermarkets to develop a compostable fruit and vegetable wrap to replace traditional shrink-wrap.

Antonas said the product was being used exclusively on cucumbers sold at Drake’s 38 South Australian supermarkets until Oct. 16, after which it would be available for a wide range of purposes.

The bioplastic film is made from a compostable resin called Mater-Bi that uses substances obtained from plants including non-genetically modified corn starch.

While there are other compostable products on the market, Antonas said creating a 100% industrially compostable cucumber wrap required a unique process.

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