California-based pomegranate grower and producer POM Wonderful says it has underlined its commitment to sustainability by certifying its POMxL liquid pomegranate extract with a third-party program, Upcycled Certified, according to a news release.
POMxL is made under POM Wonderful’s Specialty Ingredients division, which provides raw ingredients to suppliers across the food and beverage industry. Made from 100% upcycled material using the rinds of pomegranate fruit, POM Wonderful uses a proprietary method to press whole pomegranates to create POM 100% Pomegranate Juice. After the initial press, the crushed rinds are then pressure extracted — without the use of harsh chemicals — and concentrated, resulting in a liquid extract containing pomegranate polyphenol antioxidants, the release said.
“As an agriculture company, we are hyper-focused on minimizing our impact on the environment and maximizing the benefits from each fruit in the pursuit of a zero-waste future,” Jason Horvath, sales manager for POM Wonderful Specialty Ingredients, said in the release. “We are proud to provide products that result in healthier food choices, while solving a climate need for waste reduction.”
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Beyond being a key ingredient in POM Wonderful’s Antioxidant Super Tea, POMxL can be used in a variety of applications, including beverages, plant-based foods and beauty products. In addition to its Upcycled Certification, POMxL as an ingredient can help suppliers reduce sodium and sugar; enhance color, flavor and texture; and add antioxidant goodness to their products, according to the release.
More sustainability milestones
Last year POM Wonderful transitioned all its 16-ounce bottles of POM Wonderful juices to 100% rPET (recycled plastic) and completed work on its solar farm, which provides more than 90% of the company’s electricity needs for its Del Rey, California processing facility, the release said.
In 2020, POM Wonderful launched the Innovation Challenge, offering $1 million in funding and development resources to innovators who could create an economical and environmentally friendly solution to upcycle its 50,000 tons of pomegranate husks, the release said.
To date, The Wonderful Company and its owners, Stewart and Lynda Resnick, have invested more than $1.3 billion in environmental sustainability initiatives to help fight climate change, according to the release. This commitment includes a $750 million gift from the Resnicks to the California Institute of Technology in support of the school’s environmental sustainability research, the release said.
