SelectPerm “Food packaging materials with O2 / CO2 selective
permeability” (CORNET RESEARCH PROJECT)
Introduction
For about 10 years now, “freshcut” products (freshly cut fruit and vegetables)
and fresh, individually portioned cheese has been gaining in importance and has lead
to a strong growing market in the retail food industry. In spite of all the positive
economic effects, criticism about the lack of freshness and fast microbiological
contamination has also increased. A remedy can be found in new packaging
materials and new packaging designs. Current packaging allows a very limited gas
exchange to occur. It does not take into account that freshly cut food needs
an optimum atmosphere of oxygen and carbon dioxide, although the food itself
subsequently changes this atmosphere due to respiration processes.
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PA, PE, PET, OPP,…
high barrier materials
possibility of packing
products in a modified
atmosphere (MAP)
too strong barrier: risks of
anoxia
limited permselectivity (S)
Macro-perforated films
Micro-perforated films
no MAP
no permselectivity
Nowadays, micro- and nano-perforated plastic films are used for food packaging, and
so are materials with high barrier properties, which allow packaging under modified
atmosphere. The perforated materials do not permit selectivity or control regarding
the gas exchange, while the MAP in the high barrier materials is modified by the
respiratory activity of the produce, with a risk of anoxia of the foodstuff after a while.
The aim of the project
This project aims to develop a packaging material with O2 / CO2 selective
permeability for the packaging of fresh produce. The project will target produce such
as fresh cut fruits mix and vegetables mix, and “camembert type” cheeses, and aim
to improve the shelf-life of these breathing produce by regulating the gas exchanges
and therefore the oxygen and carbon dioxide permeabilities of the packaging
materials.
Packaging material
O2
consumption
Oxygen
permeability
O2TR
CO2
production
Carbon
dioxide
permeability
CO2TR
Permselectivity
S = CO2TR /O2TR
Gas exchange in a packaging containing fresh produce
Materials
The materials used in the project are biobased and/or recyclable, in order to develop
sustainable packaging solutions: on the one hand, paper coated with a permselective film; on the other, materials made entirely of polymers (multilayer and
compounds).
Structure of the project
The project is divided into 3 phases and 8 work packages – WPs (duration: May 2014
– April 2016)
Coordination (WP 1)
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Study and modelling of the
needs of the produce in
terms of gas exchanges
(WP 2)
Development and
validation of packaging
materials with selective
permeability (WP 3-6)
Profitability study
(WP 7)
Dissemination (WP 8)
A numerical model will be developed in WP 2 to calculate the material properties and
required selective permeability. The model will be tested and verified by case studies
where fruit salad and Camembert-like cheese is used.
The permselectivity of promising materials will be investigated as a single or
composite material in WP 3 at the same time. The pure materials investigated in WP
3 will be combined in WP 4 taking into account the information gleaned from the WP
3 formulations. Packages of the most promising materials will be manufactured and
tested together with the above mentioned foodstuffs in case studies. Case studies
and experimental investigations on the permselectivity (PCO2/PO2) of different
polymer composites (synthetic and biopolymers) as well as coating formulations for
cartonboard will merge to form a broad knowledge base. WP 5 covers all the material
and permeability testing and will run as a “service work package” parallel to WP 3
and WP 4.
There will be a constant exchange of information between partners during the
simultaneous work on WP 2, 3, 4 and 5 to develop very efficient packages for the
case studies. In the end, the mathematical model (WP 2) will be developed further so
that the required permselectivity can be calculated for many other kinds of breathing
foodstuff if the required input parameters can be provided.
Recyclability, reuse and biodegradation via composting of most promising materials
and packages will be tested and evaluated in WP 6.
A profitability study will be performed in WP 7 taking into account all the information
obtained in the earlier work packages.
The wide dissemination of the results (WP 8) will proceed during the project and also
after completion of the project at national and international symposia or meetings.
Project Participants
The project consortium consists of relevant associations and SME companies of the
entire value chain. Expertise in the relevant areas, i.e. numerical simulation, food
packaging, polymer films, additives, fillers, paper and paperboard, is covered by the
participating research performers.
PTS (Papiertechnische Stiftung,
Germany)
– Coordinator, SME Association
PTS-PTI, Research Performing
Organisation
ZUT-CBIMO (West
Pomeranian University of
Technology, Szczecin,
Poland) – Research
Performing Organisation
Fraunhofer IVV (Fraunhofer Institute
for Process Engineering and
Packaging, Germany)
IVLV - SME Association
Fraunhofer LBF (Fraunhofer Institute
for Structural Durability and System
Reliability, Germany)
FGK - SME Association
PIO (Polish Chamber
of Packaging, Poland)
– SME Association
COBRO (Packaging
Research Institute, Poland)
– Research Performing
Organisation
CELABOR, Belgium - Wallonia
– SME Association, Research
Performing Organisation
CERTECH (Centre of
Technological Resources in
Chemistry, Belgium - Wallonia)
– SME Association, Research
Performing Organisation
Expected Project Results
In particular the outcome of the project will include:
• Knowledge of metabolism parameters (oxygen to carbon dioxide) for various types of
fresh, convenience and sensitive food products such as cut fruit or different types of
cheese.
• Models for calculating the required barrier properties to keep the inner atmosphere of
food packaging at a constant level.
• Information about the preparation of ternary polymer blends with stable morphology
by the non-reactive and reactive compatibilization of the innovative polymer blends. A
deep understanding of the influence of blend composition and morphology on the
permeability of various ternary blends will be necessary.
• Knowledge of the influence of modified zeolites and other functional additives on gas
barrier properties.
• Knowledge of formulation and processing of permselective coatings on paper and
board.
• A knowledge base for storing the relevant properties of the newly developed
materials.
Economic Impact
• Resource and cost efficiency - the development of specific packaging for breathable
products will ensure longer conservation time and will help to reduce food waste
significantly (in Europe, vegetable and fruit wastes represent about 20% of the
production in all steps in the distribution chain)
• Economic advantages and job creation for SMEs - the new packaging will open new
markets to SMEs which could extend their market to other countries in Europe or in
the world with the guarantee of optimal conditions of conservation, and therefore
allow them to increase their activity. This project could therefore lead directly to the
creation of new jobs.
• A significant economic impact for the SMEs will be reached in the project, especially
for packaging manufacturers, by saving time and money in the research and
development of new materials; but also for producers of breathable products by
providing them with an appropriate packaging solution.
• Safeguarding potential - this project will have a potential impact for packaging
manufacturers who are interested in developing new materials with specific
properties which guarantee the quality of the products that they package.
• These new materials will contribute directly to the quality of life of the European
population and could act as a springboard for the development of a biopolymersrelated economy in Europe.
The study was done within an international ERA-NET CORNET research project
named: “SelectPerm” Food packaging materials with O2 / CO2 selective permeability.
Thanks to Versaperm for the illustration of the selective permeability:
www.versaperm.com