ALKELUX

Alkelux is a startup that aims to offer a safe alternative to existing packaging by transforming a natural waste product — licorice — into a high-impact antimicrobial additive capable of drastically reducing food waste through the introduction of next-generation active packaging that is natural, sustainable, and industrially scalable.

The starting point is a critical fact: 33% of food produced globally is wasted, often due to ineffective packaging and the absence of natural preservation systems that extend shelf life without resorting to food additives.

Alkelux acts precisely on this structural knot, proposing a patented technology that allows for the direct integration of a completely natural antimicrobial additive, derived from licorice waste, into plastic materials.

The technology: a natural, patented antimicrobial additive integrable into production

The heart of Alkelux’s innovation is an antimicrobial additive extracted from licorice waste, developed and patented to be integrated directly into plastic pellets without modifications to existing industrial plants, with certified compatibility with the main polymers: PP, LDPE, PLA (TRL7 reached).

This technological choice allows packaging manufacturers to adopt Alkelux in a “ready to use” mode, reducing technical barriers and adoption times.

Experimental tests show a clear result on shelf-life:

• a product packaged with traditional packaging shows signs of deterioration after 3 days;
• while the same product packaged with Alkelux packaging remains intact for up to 8 days, → with a 3x increase in shelf life.

The benefit is twofold:

1. Reduction of food waste throughout the entire supply chain,
2. Greater profitability for large-scale retail (GDO), producers, and retailers thanks to fewer rejections and lower replenishment frequency.

Zero plastic, same technology: the frontier of natural coating

One of the most innovative points of the project is the extension of the technology to coatings and gels applicable directly onto the fruit without the need for packaging, through the use of a safe and transparent antimicrobial coating.

This positions Alkelux at the heart of new European policies dedicated to the reduction of single-use plastics, sustainable packaging, and the circular economy.

Unlike competitors who use copper, zinc, or nickel, Alkelux proposes solutions that are: 100% naturally derived, completely metal-free, suitable for food contact, and compliant with the sustainability requirements demanded by the GDO and ESG standards.

To achieve the same level of antimicrobial activity as competitors, Alkelux uses 60% less additive, reducing costs, environmental impact, and resource use.

The technology is already tested on an industrial scale and is compatible with PP, LDPE, PLA, and with standard extrusion lines already operational at customer sites.

Team

The startup is led by a team with complementary skills:

• Matteo Poddighe – CEO
• Emina Bilanovic – CMO
• Carlo Usai – CFO
• Davide Sanna – Tech Advisor
• Marco Scatto – Industrial Advisor

A heterogeneous team with managerial, industrial, and technological experience.