Gyeongbuk Province Develops Paper Trays to Replace Styrofoam for Apple Packaging

Kim Jong-su, Director of the Agriculture, Livestock, and Distribution Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, showing apple paper trays for export in Taiwan. (Photo by Gyeongbuk Province)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Yushin] Gyeongbuk Province announced on the 13th that it has developed a paper tray to replace the Styrofoam trays (commonly called 'Nanja') used for fruit packaging and applied it for the first time to apples exported to Taiwan and Vietnam.

The tray developed by Gyeongbuk Province is made to fit the size of the apples perfectly, preventing the apples from shaking during transportation and thus avoiding damage.

The currently used Styrofoam trays have smooth surfaces, and when there is a gap between the fruit and the tray, the apples move during transportation causing bruises. They also lack any breathability and moisture retention functions, which lowers the product value.

Gyeongbuk Province received complaints from overseas buyers about these issues with Styrofoam trays, conducted local investigations, and after a year of development with a domestic packaging material specialist company, succeeded in developing a customized paper tray that combines elasticity and breathability.

Last week, Gyeongbuk Province visited Taiwan to inspect the exported apples, and it was confirmed that this paper tray resolved the problems associated with Styrofoam trays.

Accordingly, Gyeongbuk Province expects changes in the previously sluggish export of Gyeongbuk apples.

Kim Jongsu, Director of the Agriculture, Livestock, and Distribution Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, said, "After 2 to 3 months of overseas pilot application of the paper trays and addressing any shortcomings, we will apply them to domestic distribution as well," adding, "Styrofoam fruit packaging, which has been taken for granted for 30 years, will disappear starting from Gyeongbuk."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.