Junibee: company manufactures vegan packaging to replace plastics
Junibee developed the first vegetable wax packaging marketed in Brazil. Vegan option replaces the use of plastics when packaging food
You can pack your food and store it without using plastics. This is the proposal of Junibee, a company created by Fernanda Albertoni that manufactures wraps and other types of vegan packaging to make the daily kitchen more sustainable. The brand's main product is the vegan wax packaging, developed to replace the use of plastic film and which is reusable and biodegradable. The brand also makes cloth bags for shopping and bags from refrigerators to vegetables and plans other plastic-free products to serve an increasingly conscientious public.
Vegan wax packaging is nothing more than a cotton cloth coated with wax, oils and vegetable resins. It works as a grip wrap, that is, it is malleable and can be molded with the heat of your hands to the food you want to pack. Ideal for preserving fruits and vegetables, it replaces plastic film - as well as moldable packaging models made with beeswax.
In addition to avoiding the generation of waste, another advantage of vegetable wax packaging over plastic film is that it allows food to breathe, as it is not waterproof. This makes fruits and vegetables stay fresh in the fridge longer. On the other hand, if you're thinking about using the wrap to pack snacks or other items for travel, for example, be careful to pack only drier things like nuts or cookies, as items like sauces or broth can leak into your bag. or backpack, depending on how long it takes you to consume them - if it's a quick trip, just make sure the packaging is well molded to the food.
The main component of the Junibee packaging is carnauba wax, which has antibacterial properties, which also helps to increase the shelf life of food in the refrigerator. After using, just wash it with mild soap and water, using a soft brush. Do not wash in hot water as this can damage the wax's composition. The packaging, which is compostable, is available in three sizes and in several prints and is expected to have a shelf life of about 6 months (when it is no longer working, put it in compost bin or organic waste).
Creator of the brand, Fernanda says that she lived in Switzerland and California for a while and already knew from abroad the beeswax cloth used to package food. "I thought about bringing the product to Brazil and making a vegetable version, for the vegan public and to take care of the bees."
She herself tried various types of vegetable wax and, after a year and a half, she managed to come up with a recipe with good results. “Vegetable wax is denser, less malleable and a little less sticky than bee wax. I tried it myself until I found a fabric and a combination of oils that worked”, she reveals.
All production is done by hand, in the office that Fernanda set up in Vinhedo, in the interior of São Paulo. She and three other people make Junibee products, in addition to organizing contact with suppliers, resellers and eventual direct consumers.
The brand already has a print made 100% with organic cotton and the idea is to expand the use of the material for all prints in the future. Among Junibee's other products, the shopping and storage bags are all made with organic cotton and the bag for refrigerator is made up of 83% organic cotton and 17% recycled PET.
Used to replace the paper and container combination in the storage of already washed sheets, the bag preserves the crispness of vegetables better and should be kept moist in the refrigerator. The blend of cotton and PET allows for a softer fabric, but the team at Junibee is already doing tests to use only cotton.
Nutritionist by training, Fernanda says she wanted to be an entrepreneur at Junibee when she started working serving people at home. “I started working in hospital and clinic and realized that the big problem was for patients to follow the diet at home. Then I started to attend at home and then I could see the equipment that the person had and help with more precise guidance. I already had this concern with the exaggeration of plastic, so I decided to create a product that would help me and others.”
At the beginning, Junibee was a second activity, but the brand grew so fast that it ended up becoming the “plan A” of Fernanda, who is now entirely dedicated to the business. Vegetable wax is the great differential of Junibee's packaging, which attracts a public that in general has already moved from plastics to beeswax packaging and is now looking for a vegan option for food packaging.
Fernanda and her team have control over the entire production process and carefully monitor the choice of suppliers. All ingredients used in the manufacture are of controlled origin and had a sustainable production. In addition to the current products, Junibee already has plans to expand the offer of items that facilitate the daily lives of those looking to have a life with less plastic. Already in the planning line are a reusable and washable washcloth to remove makeup, a cloth strainer for vegetable milk and a shopping bag with recycled cotton.
