Victorian startup Natural Branding Australia is set to conduct a farm trial with a citrus grower in Mildura, aiming to laser-brand 10 percent of its 2025 harvest crop. This initiative is part of an effort to replace plastic stickers on fruit, potentially cutting 500 tonnes of plastic annually from the food supply chain. Plastic stickers currently serve essential functions in the fruit industry, such as traceability with PLU codes, branding, and providing additional product information through QR codes. However, Natural Branding Australia's technology promises to incorporate these elements through precise laser markings without compromising product quality, shelf life, or integrity.
Since its inception in 2023, the company has tested its technology on various fruits, including avocados, citrus, and apples, in different regions like Mildura and Tasmania. These tests have involved labeling 200-500 pieces of fruit at a time at packing sheds. With a $50,000 grant from LaunchVic and Agriculture Victoria, the company plans to expand its trials to include more citrus growers in Mildura by 2025.
The technology developed by Natural Branding Australia is said to be tailored for fruit branding, distinguishing it from other laser branding systems. It operates on a lease-to-run model, which, according to the company, is more suited to the Australian market, allowing for ongoing optimization of the branding process without the need for high up-front costs.
Laser labeling technology, while not new, has seen limited adoption in Australia to date. Other companies, such as Costa Group, and international entities like Laser Food and Eosta, have explored similar technologies, indicating a growing interest in sustainable labeling solutions within the global fruit supply chain.
Source: Business News Australia