Business creating onion skin packaging to reduce waste

In Oban, a new start-up is making waves by creating eco-friendly packaging from onion skins. This innovative company, known as HUID, is led by Renuka Ramanujam, a former textiles student who initially discovered the potential of onion skins as a dye for clothing. Now, she is taking her passion for sustainability to the next level by developing packaging materials that aim to reduce waste and lower carbon emissions. HUID sources discarded onion peels from farmers and agricultural businesses to create a cardboard-like material and an alternative to traditional plastic films. This initiative is backed by the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, an organization that promotes sustainable manufacturing practices. One of the remarkable features of onion skins is their anti-microbial properties, which can help extend the shelf life of perishable foods. The process of creating this eco-friendly packaging involves extracting high-quality cellulose from the outer layers of onion skins and blending it with a biopolymer. Biopolymers are long-chain molecules derived from natural sources such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. In the UK, households are estimated to throw away around 90 billion pieces of plastic packaging each year, and HUID is determined to make a difference. Renuka Ramanujam began her journey by experimenting with onion skins on her bedroom floor. She was motivated to find a solution to the problems caused by plastic, which can leach harmful chemicals into food when heated. 'Imagine any meal you have - there’s bound to be some onion in there. Onions are a global staple for cuisines. They’re everywhere, so their waste is everywhere too,' she explained. Originally from India but holding Dutch nationality, Renuka moved to Oban in 2021 after receiving an invitation from a friend. She found that the local community was incredibly supportive, which encouraged her to stay. Since bringing on board chief scientific officer Marie Rapin, the pace of development has accelerated. Marie is currently working on a flexible film that could replace plastic bags for food items like spinach. 'At the moment, the prototypes are translucent and a little bit thicker than we want,' she noted. The team is also exploring the possibility of creating products similar to egg cartons. They hope to launch their first product next year, which will be paper made entirely from onion skins. Renuka is also keen on replacing traditional cardboard and paper packaging. 'Trees are super important to the environment, because of the animals they home and the carbon they hold. Onions don’t have that responsibility. Our material would save trees,' she stated. Renuka believes that packaging will always be necessary, whether for protection or cost reasons. 'We want to make sure it’s done in the best way possible,' she added. A representative from the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland emphasized their commitment to championing sustainable solutions and supporting small and medium-sized businesses by providing access to expertise and equipment that they may not otherwise have.