Iraqi lemon-peel packaging wins international Arab Star Pack award

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Industry and Minerals said Monday that the National Center for Packaging and Wrapping has won an international prize in the Arab Star Pack competition for developing an edible container made from dried lemon-peel waste.

Dr. Abdulrahman Abbas al-Samurai, director general of the Industrial Research and Development Authority, said the award “came as recognition of the innovative model presented by researcher Rasha Fawzi Dawood, represented in an edible container made from lemon-peel waste.” He described the project as a “practical research project that reflects the center’s sustainable orientation and support for environmentally friendly products usable in safe industrial applications.”

The Arab Star Pack award page confirms that the winning entry — “Edible container from lemon peels” — was submitted by Iraq’s National Center for Packaging and Wrapping. The description states: “The package was made from dried lemon peels to serve as an edible container alternative to plastic food packaging, with high nutritional content because lemon peels are rich in many vitamins and minerals and also qualify as green, environmentally friendly products.”

The ministry said the innovation forms part of its 2024 research plan, aimed at advancing green-economy principles and environmental sustainability by developing alternative packaging materials and technologies that reduce waste and pollution.