Campden BRI in EU Shelf-Life-Extending Packaging Project

To demonstrate applicability to real food situations, the material and technology will be tested within industrial packaging production processes for modified atmosphere and stretch wrap packaging of fresh beef steaks.

16 May 2012 --- A new EU funded project (ISA-Pack), which started in January, aims to develop a novel packaging material with integrated active and intelligent systems for extending the shelf life of a variety of products. To demonstrate applicability to real food situations, the material and technology will be tested within industrial packaging production processes for modified atmosphere and stretch wrap packaging of fresh beef steaks. Lynneric Potter, from Campden BRI's packaging team, explains more:

"The project will develop a novel unsaturated polyhydroxybutyrate copolymer material, identify synergistic combinations of active food preservation chemistries that may be grafted within polymeric materials, and develop an accurate and reliable intelligent indicator system that may be directly printed onto packaging materials.

The ultimate aim is to reduce retailer supply chain wastage of fresh food produce by 75%."

The ISA-Pack project brings together research and development effort from five countries. European companies and research organisations will collaborate over a three year period to create innovative sustainable materials, accurate and reliable indicator systems and cost benefits to both supply chain and consumer.

The ISA-PACK project comprises of the following partners:

UK MatRI, United Kingdom

University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

Campden BRI, United Kingdom

Instituto Tecnologico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logística ITENE. Spain

Domino Printing Sciences Plc, United Kingdom

Biopac (UK) Ltd, United Kingdom