A step forward in sustainable TVP

The food tech industry is on the cusp of some major changes with the launch of sustainable textured vegetable protein (TVP) and a range of compostable packaging products. Zehnder Technologies already produces high-quality TVP made from sunflower. Mid-2021 is the expected release date for its compostable disposable packaging range.

Zehnder Technologies is led by Josef Zehnder, a former executive of Australia’s Byron Bay Cookie Company. Backed by his 30-plus years of experience in food manufacturing, the company also includes a number of experts in the food technology and business sectors. 

We have the technology

Zehnder says his products will reshape both the $1.5 trillion meat market and the $85 billion fast-food packaging sector. “We are long overdue for a change to outdated meat alternatives such as soy, pea and wheat, whose production models haven’t improved since the 1970s,” he says. “Our technology enables this.

“Interestingly, it’s not the vegetarian or vegan market looking for new answers. Recent statistics show the majority of consumers looking for a drastic change are Generation X meat-eaters with serious concerns about their health and the environment. 

“The production of soy is extremely damaging to the environment. It uses up large areas of landmass and water, resulting in deforestation. We use sunflower to make our TVP products. They’re firmer and more nutritious than most already in the market and have little to no difference in taste or texture than regular meat foodstuffs. We see this as a unique feature of our product.”

The whole package

Botany Fields, the company’s TVP product, launches this month. It will be distributed across retail, foodservice and supermarket sectors.

Zehnder’s packaging arm, ZehnPak, is finalising the commercialisation of its compostable disposable packaging. The technology aims to disrupt the global takeaway packaging market. It includes coffee and drinking cups, cutlery and plates as well as fresh food wrapping. All products cost less to produce than current packaging on the market.

“There are an estimated 500 billion plus non-recyclable disposable packaging products choking waterways, landfill and oceans,” Zehnder says. “We have a solution to change the way we dispose of waste. You can also compost it to create new soil.”

The packaging doesn’t use chemicals, plastics or coatings and uses less water than recycled paper. It starts to break down within a week, leaving no residuals in the environment.

To find out more, head to zehndertech.com