WikiCells: Apples, tomatoes and oranges have natural edible exteriors to protect the inside goods. Taking a cue from Mother Nature, Harvard professor
David Edwards developed
WikiCells, an edible and biodegradable membrane, similar to the skin of a grape, which encases foods and liquids. The self-contained shell is made from vegetal elements with a taste specifically paired to match the enclosed snack or beverage. The product has no limits in terms of contents, with the ability to hold anything from yogurts to mousses to ice cream suspended in a hard chocolate shell. Indeed, Edwards
even introduced a WikiCocktail: Cointreau in a skin made of orange zest.
Vivos Instant Coffee: With instant coffee’s reputation
restored thanks to Starbucks Via, brands are experimenting with other fast
brew adaptations for customers seeking an immediate buzz. Water-soluble film specialist
MonoSol has produced a waste-free alternative to
Via, called
Vivos Instant Coffee. The edible and dissolvable packaging resembles dishwasher tablets but, instead of soap, contains a single serving of instant coffee that brews when dropped into a cup of hot water. MonoSol plans to eventually apply its dissolvable packet technology to other mixable foods and beverages, such as oatmeal, cereal, soup, gravy, and pre-portioned spices, with the goal of eliminating unnecessary waste.
Bob’s Burger Edible Wrappers: Brazilian burger chain
Bob’s recently introduced edible wrappers for its burgers. The limited time marketing campaign was based on Bob’s tagline, “Não dá pra controlar” (“You can’t control yourself”), which suggests that their burgers are so irresistible that customers can’t wait to unwrap them before chowing down. Diners even applied the condiments directly to the outside wrapper before digging in. The chain reported that the campaign was so effective that
no one threw out the paper packaging. In addition to bringing new meaning to the idea of fast food, these new edible wrappers could help cut down on landfill waste: a win-win all around.
