‘Freshness Scanner’ Can Cut Nearly Half Of Food Waste By Predicting Shelf Life
How many times have you thrown out produce in the refrigerator because you couldn’t remember when you last used it, or it “didn’t look right”?
A new innovation from waste prevention firm OneThird could be the perfect tool in the supermarket or pantry to stop perfectly good vegetables and fruits from being tossed out.
At CES 2023, the company showcased how the gadget, called the ‘Freshness Scanner’, can reduce 40% of the perishable food discarded annually. According to a report by Hypebeast, this amounts to about US$1 million per year.
Founder Marco Snikkers explains that the device works by “accurately and objectively” predicting the shelf life of fresh produce, thereby allowing growers or stores to know how long an item will stay fresh, and when exactly fruits are ripe to be eaten.
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According to the firm, growers on farms can use the scanner to determine where to ship different batches of produce to ensure the highest level of quality, while distributors and wholesalers can check freshness standards of incoming shipments.
Retailers, such as supermarkets or fruit stands, can benefit too, as staff members can quickly assess the freshness of a product when receiving and displaying them, with the gadget providing “clear actions” on what to do next.
The data collected is then sent to a sharing platform in which managers can have an overview of every step of the supply chain, and make actionable adjustments on how to better reduce waste and spoilage.
Plus, no one will ever have to guess if an avocado is ripe enough to eat ever again.
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[via Hypebeast and OneThird, cover image via Jakub Gojda | Dreamstime.com]
