A team of students from Indonesia’s IPB University’s TechNature Group has developed an eco-friendly active packaging sheet, called NacoPack, to slow the ripening of Cavendish bananas.
The packaging is made from rice straw and activated coconut-shell carbon.
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The 60 x 40cm reusable sheet absorbs ethylene gas and water vapour to reduce damage during distribution and can be composted after several uses.
The team — consisting of Aisha, Hawa Zahra Ramadhani, Moch Ragil Zia Rahman, Pradiptha Aryasena and Qoida Amanina Syahadah — designed the product to address high food losses in Indonesia, the costs of which are estimated by the country’s Food and Agriculture Organization and Ministry of Agriculture at up to Rp551 trillion ($32.9bn) per year.
Much of this comes from the loss of fruits and vegetables along the supply chain.
The TechNature Group plans to later adapt NacoPack for other climacteric fruits such as mangoes, papayas and avocados.
Student team leader Aisha Nurfadhilla stated: “NacoPack is designed not only to extend the freshness of fruit but also to be an environmentally friendly packaging solution because it is easily biodegradable, thereby reducing plastic waste and adding value to agricultural waste.”
NacoPack has been showcased at scientific events and exhibitions, including the Youth Action Exhibition 2025 at the 24th International Student Summit on Food, Agriculture and Environment, held in association between IPB University and Tokyo University of Agriculture.
