That is really good news: together with Billa, the start-up Wunderkern from Lower Austria has saved a total of 2.3 million apricot kernels from being wasted in recent months, making an important contribution to more sustainability. The Wachau company is therefore all the more pleased that the world’s first milk alternative made from fruit seeds – as we reported – is now available nationwide in the supermarket chain’s branches.
“The very first milk alternative made from rescued apricot kernels”: The Lower Austrian start-up made headlines last November with this global innovation. The vegetable milk substitute, which could be won at the tasting, also led to discussions among the readers of “Krone” and made it clear how opinions differ on this.
Every year, 500 million kilos of fruit seeds are thrown away
But one thing is certain: food waste affects us all. Instead of oats or soy, Wunderkern’s plant-based milk alternative is made from salvaged apricot kernels, which juice manufacturers normally discard in incredibly large quantities. According to the company, 500 million fruit seeds are thrown away by fruit processors in Europe every year.
Since the market introduction of the core drink, 2.3 million cores have been saved, Wunderkern now announces in a broadcast. With the expansion to a total of more than 520 supermarket locations, this number will now increase even further, as the two companies pursue ambitious goals together. The preserved apricot kernels are much more climate-friendly than dairy products, it is emphasized. According to the Lower Austrians, they even reduce CO2 emissions by at least 30% compared to oats and soya.
Production capacities were expanded
“Demand was so high that we couldn’t keep up with production,” adds Wunderkern founder Luca Fichtinger. The production capacity of the company from the Wachau has now been adjusted accordingly to prevent future supply bottlenecks. Behind the young brand is the Austrian research agency Kern Tec. The GmbH was founded in Lower Austria in 2019 by the four motivated young entrepreneurs Luca Fichtinger, Michael Beitl, Fabian Wagesreither and Sebastian Jeschko. Breaking down traditional structures in the food sector and promoting sustainable alternatives is the declared goal of the Lower Austrians.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
