11 Days Extra In-Store For Mushrooms in Sirane Packaging Film

An astonishing 11 days additional in-store shelf-life has been achieved in mushroom trials by an overseas customer using an innovative packaging film from Sirane.

13 Dec 2013 --- Mushrooms packed with Sira-Flex Resolve – Sirane’s new range of shelf-life extending bags and films – showed no browning and no condensation following the trials.

The mushrooms were packed in standard expanded polystyrene trays (EPS) which were then stretch-wrapped in Sira-Flex Resolve film using an Omori machine

Jeremy Haydn-Davies, Sirane sales director, said: “This is once again further testament to the unique properties of Sira-Flex Resolve, and results like this keep coming in. These are the most impressive yet with mushrooms, and are tremendously exciting.

"The company in question, which is a large company based overseas, achieved an additional 11 days shelf-life compared to their current packaging solution.

“We know Sira-Flex Resolve has some remarkable properties, and we’ve had people running trials around the world, many of whom are now starting to share their results.

“Supermarket shelves are often full of discounted mushrooms, which are turning brown. Trials show Sira-Flex Resolve can help retailers keep their mushrooms fresher for longer.

“With so many retailers having recently signed up to the Courtauld 3 Commitment – pledging to significantly reduce food waste – this could be good news all round.

“Coming just a few weeks after UK supermarkets hit the headlines for the wrong reasons – and the amount of fresh produce thrown away – this is a good news story.”

Sirane’s Sira-Flex Resolve is a unique film which has been developed to have the optimum balance between humidity control and O2 and CO2 permeability.

The permeability is temperature dependant so that the perfect atmosphere is maintained inside the pack even if the storage temperature is variable.

Simon Balderson, Sirane’s managing director, said: “The results are remarkable. There is no condensation on the inside of the film and the product does not dry out.

“The package atmosphere is maintained with the optimum balance of atmospheric gases to prevent degradation. In simple terms, the food lasts longer.

“Shelf life extension of several days and more is achieved for many products. The film is suitable for all types of vegetables including salads as well as many types of fresh fruit.”

The film is a natural bio-polymer made from plants. It is sustainable and fully compostable. The permeability is controlled by the property of the film itself.

Due to the unique structure of the film material, the permeability to humidity, O2 and CO2 is different in each case. This has allowed Sirane’s team of scientists to balance the permeability of each component to achieve the optimum result.

Earlier trials have shown very positive results with many other types of fresh produce.

Very positive findings have also been reported in strawberries, green beans, salads and potatoes. Mr Haydn-Davies added: “We try to avoid making claims that Sira-Flex Resolve will achieve a particular level of shelf-life, as there are so many factors at play.

“What we suggest is that customers try the film in their own food chain, in their own set of conditions, and see what results can be achieved by using Sira-Flex Resolve.”

Shelf-life extension is a hot topic, especially in the light of the Courtauld Commitment – Phase 3 of which was backed by 45 signatories, including all the major grocery retailers and many leading brand manufacturers, when they signed up to it earlier this year.

Targets include reducing household food and drink waste by 5%, and reducing waste in the grocery supply chain by 3%, as well as delivering better product protection to reduce waste.

Simon Balderson, Sirane’s MD, said: “Courtauld 3 wants retailers to ensure packaging develops and evolves. Not only is it possible to reduce packaging waste significantly, but it’s also possible to reduce food waste significantly with more advanced packaging.

“For many years now that’s what Sirane has been striving to do and we’ve had some major successes in the last 12 month. We’ve already worked on technology that will enable people to move towards achieving the aims of Courtauld 3 and beyond.

“Many companies may look at Courtauld 3 and think it will cost them more money,” said Mr Balderson, “but using more advanced technology can actually save companies money in the long-run, as they’ll get money back from reduced discounting, wastage and returns.”