edible 'nakedpak' food wrap made of algae explores sustainable packaging solutions

naama Nicotra introduces ‘NakedPak’ edible food packaging 

Addressing the issue of climate change, designer Naama Nicotra uses natural edible materials with agar, the essential ingredient produced from algae, to create a series of dissolvable food packaging. The food wrap series titled ‘NakedPak’ explores the idea of going back to natural and sustainable solutions that were used for centuries, but have been replaced by plastic and paper packaging. 

naked ice cream – vanilla ice cream coated with raspberry-flavored agar

all images courtesy of Naama Nicotra

Packaging formula uses ingredients produced from algae

Naama Nicotra’s NakedPak formula uses algae as the main ingredient to form bioplastic packaging. The resulting material is transparent, tasteless, and can be manufactured as a two-dimensional sheet or as a three-dimensional structure. Spices and sauces can be incorporated into the NakedPak natural material, thus producing flavored packaging that dissolves in boiling water.

In NakedPak, the designer also challenges the topic of hygiene with the so-called ‘Apple Principle’. This principle entails that the food has to be rinsed before being eaten just like an apple that is sold in bulk, exposed to dirt, and carried in a bag. Most fruits, vegetables, nuts, and pastries are sold like apples, rinsed, or brushed off before consumption. Therefore, NakedPack is a behavioral and mental change that unfolds a new sustainable direction to solve food packaging waste.

naked soup – vegetable broth with frozen-dried vegetables

NakedPak adapts to various meals and dishes

Although the NakedPak series offers five dishes, the bioplastic packaging can be adapted many various meals. Each dish contains all the spices and flavors needed to be entirely prepared. Starting with the soup, it is made of vegetable stock and contains dry-frozen vegetables that are flat-pressed to form a light circular sheet. Once rinsed and boiled, the vegetables return to their flavorful states. On the other hand, the spaghetti is wrapped with tomato sauce, which produces a gradient that reveals its contents. Just like the soup, the spaghetti has to be rinsed in the sink and cooked according to the ‘one-pan pasta’ method. 

In the third curry dish, the wrapper is made of Thai vegetable curry and contains a serving of white rice. Once dissolved the curry wrapper cooks with the tasty rice. The fourth dish is a vegan lasagna that contains sheets of ‘Beyond Meat’, vegan cheese, tomato sauce, and flat lasagna. After being rinsed, the lasagna is placed in a pan, covered in water, and placed in the oven. As for dessert, vanilla ice cream is wrapped in a layer of raspberry sauce to form a ball reminiscent of fruit. Just like an apple, the ice cream is rinsed and ready to be consumed. 

naked curry – a single portion of rice, wrapped in Thai green curry

NakedPak proposes a solution to the near future

NakedPak integrates sustainable processes that are taking place more and more all over the world. It illustrates the importance of challenging our consumption behaviors that have fed into the climate crisis. ‘NakedPak is a suggestion for the near future, a vision, a dream. A world in which we will not want to miss out on being comforted by delicious food’, shares Naama Nictora.

naked spaghetti – a single portion of spaghetti, wrapped in tomato sauce

naked ice cream – vanilla ice cream coated with raspberry-flavored agar

naked curry – a single portion of rice, wrapped in Thai green curry

1/3

naked lasagna – layers of 'Beyond-Meat', cheese, tomato sauce, and lasagna

naked lasagna – layers of 'Beyond-Meat', cheese, tomato sauce, and lasagna

material research: form, structure, color, flavor, texture, sealing

project info:

name: NakedPak
designer: Naama Nicotra

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions’ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: zaha mango | designboom