research

Stretching shelf life

EMPA’s cellulose coating guarantees freshness for fruit and vegetables, with produce remaining fresh “significantly longer” than without the coating.

“In tests, the shelf life of, for instance, bananas was extended by more than a week. This significantly reduces food waste,” says Gustav Nyström, head of the Empa lab.

The department of commerce has proposed setting up a 21-member governing body representing manufacturers of basic materials for packaging, users of packaging, and traders, exporters and dealers besides officials of various ministries such as education, food processing and MSME.

The department of commerce said that it proposes to do so for “the promotion and development of quality and excellence in education, research and training in all disciplines relating to packaging, design and development” in the draft bill on which comments can be given by October 12.

This packaging is intended to maintain the properties of food for a longer period without the need to add chemical additives, as the packaging itself acts as an active barrier that favours preservation. This is because this biodegradable film contains antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds from mango leaf extract that have been tested in vitro, while at the same time offering a more powerful ultraviolet light filter that delays food spoilage.

McDonald's Germany is taking the next step on its packaging roadmap for less plastic and packaging waste, published in 2019. In 30 restaurants here in Germany, the company is now testing the packaging of most of its products in thin wrapping paper. The live experiment will initially run for two months until the end of September. On site, guests will have the opportunity to give feedback on the new packaging. At the same time, kitchen operations will be tested through the new process during the trial period.

There are many different ideas and initiatives to combat the plastic waste problem. With such an huge issue, it’s going to take a ‘thinking outside of the box’ mindset to help solve it. And that’s just what researchers at University of Edinburgh are doing. They are evaluating if PET waste could eventually become vanilla flavoring. Yes, you read that correctly.

Food Packaging Versus Food Waste – Moving Towards a Circular Economy was sponsored by Ishida Europe and Aston Business School.

Six food packaging megatrends are identified and discussed in the white paper: initiatives for plastic reduction; sustainable food packaging; food packaging and labelling regulations; consumer trends; in-novative food packaging technologies and packaging 4.0; and the cost of modern food packaging.

The report highlights the key findings and challenges in each of these trends, emphasising the com-plexity in many of the issues raised.