Smart Packaging: Food Safety Enhancement, Shelf-life Extension and Food Waste Reduction

I will be presenting at the upcoming SIALCanada 2013, scheduled for April 30 to May 2, 2013 in Toronto, Canada.  

My talk entitled: " Smart Packaging: Food Safety Enhancement, Shelf-life Extension and Food Waste Reduction " will be focused on the applications of smart packaging in food industry.

Abstract

There is a growing need to address the most pressing issues facing food supply, namely food safety, food waste and food access. Innovative packaging solutions could play a key role.

The focus of smart (active and intelligent) packaging has moved from specific retailer and manufacturer driven benefits like shelf-life extension, traceability and food waste reduction, to include more consumer focused benefits such as food quality and safety, freshness and information. Active and intelligent packaging is the results of “thinking outside the box.” They are based on a deliberate interaction of the packaging with the food and/or its direct environment.

Outline

1. Food supply hot issues: Food Safety, Food Waste and Food Access
2. Packaging’s vital role
3. Active and intelligent Packaging: Concept, Applications & Innovations
4. Take home

M&S Using Water-Saving Packaging to Transport Flowers

Retailer Marks and Spencer is using modified atmosphere packaging, which uses less water, to transport thousands of flowers over Valentine’s Day. The company, which already uses the special packaging to transport fruits and vegetables, said it will save 10,000 litres of water on Valentine’s Day by using this technology to deliver its £22 bouquets of Fairtrade red roses, reported the Daily Mail.

Finlays Horticulture has used MAP bags to transport flowers to M&S customers since 2011, according to M&S. Once a bag is sealed, oxygen levels in the bag decrease and carbon dioxide levels increase naturally. The change in atmosphere reduces the respiration rate of the flowers, which extends storage time and reduces the need for water, said M&S.

The MAP packaging has been designed to be airtight, which takes up less space and weight in delivery trucks, saving on fuel.

Source

PaperNuts: eco-friendly loose fill void packaging materials