On this occasion, we interviewed Taraka Ramji Moturu, co-founder and CEO of PeelON, a startup working to combat food waste through innovative packaging solutions.
What problem does your startup address and what solution does it propose?
Food waste and plastic pollution are two interconnected global crises. Nearly 40% of fresh produce is lost due to moisture loss, ethylene-induced ripening, and microbial spoilage during transportation. At the same time, conventional plastic materials, when not properly managed, can have a significant impact on the environment.
PeelON addresses both challenges simultaneously. We develop home-compostable flexible packaging films integrated with plant-derived active additives that regulate ethylene production, reduce moisture loss, and provide antimicrobial protection. Our technology creates a controlled micro-environment inside the packaging, extending shelf life by up to three times without synthetic chemicals.
Unlike conventional compostable materials that focus only on end-of-life sustainability, PeelON improves the product’s performance during use. This dual impact — reducing food waste and replacing fossil-based plastics — creates both environmental and economic value across the fresh produce supply chain.
How and why did you start this entrepreneurial adventure? Advice for entrepreneurs?
Coming from a scientific background in plant biology and molecular systems, I saw firsthand how post-harvest losses undermine farmer incomes and food security. My co-founder and I realized that solving food waste required re-engineering the micro-environment around fresh produce rather than relying solely on cold chains.
We started PeelON to apply biological intelligence to material science — what we call “Nature Intelligence.” The journey has been challenging: developing formulations, validating pilots, and scaling manufacturing all require persistence and deep technical iteration.
My advice to future entrepreneurs:
Focus on real problems with measurable economic impact. Build credibility through data, not storytelling alone. And most importantly, resilience matters more than brilliance — progress compounds over time.
How do you expect the sector to evolve? Expectations for your startup?
The packaging sector is shifting from passive containment to active and intelligent materials. Future packaging will regulate atmosphere, interact with produce physiology, and integrate traceability systems. Sustainability will no longer be optional — regulatory pressure and consumer awareness are accelerating change globally.
We expect compostable materials to evolve beyond simple substitution and become performance-driven solutions.
For PeelON, our goal is to become a global supplier of high-performance compostable films for fresh produce logistics. We aim to scale manufacturing capacity, expand into Europe and North America, and collaborate with large retailers and exporters to integrate our films into mainstream supply chains.
Our long-term vision is to redefine how fresh food travels across borders — with lower waste and lower environmental footprint.
Any new developments you would like to share?
- We recently achieved OK Compost Home certification from TÜV Austria, validating biodegradability under home composting conditions.
- We are also expanding commercial pilots with exporters in North America and Europe, and scaling production of our resin compounds for broader flexible film applications.
- Additionally, we are advancing new formulations tailored for leafy greens and tropical fruits, targeting longer transit routes.
In what areas would you like to collaborate?
We are open to collaboration in:
- Active packaging research with universities
- Integration with packaging converters and machinery manufacturers
- Joint pilots with retailers and exporters
- Circular economy data partnerships
- Venture capital partnerships focused on climate tech and agri-food
We are particularly interested in partnerships that accelerate adoption across international supply chains.