Sustainable design of a primary and secondary reusable and recyclable insulated packaging for fresh produce (tomatoes) to extend supply chain life and reduce food wastage in Africa

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Valueform Ltd is a technology company focusing on the development of natural and sustainable packaging solutions. Sub-Saharan Africa is a major producer of fruits and vegetables, yet food losses prevent a sustainable supply chain. This is expressed by these countries having a need to import the very same vegetables they locally produce as the majority of products has gone off before reaching the consumer. And primary and secondary packaging for these countries is currently imported and has a need for active refrigeration, which is in many cases not feasible with local communities having no access to the power grid. In addition, the primary packaging is not made from natural and sustainable source, hence adds an environmental and disposal burden to these countries. The currently used design for the intended storage of fruits and vegetables is imperfect and leads to millions of tons of food wastage lowering the levels of food security. This is a challenge to be addressed as per SDGs.We are developing a novel and innovative packaging that can limit the rate of food waste due to inappropriate storage to the supply chain. Our unit is created of locally available natural products that are inexpensive and readily available in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as developed nations. Our box has an insulating and functional component as well as a smart design that allow longevity of the box and easy replacement of broken/ worn components.