Safe seafood delivery: Aptar’s SeaWell packaging system passes international e-commerce tests

24 Sep 2021 --- Aptar Food and Beverage has passed American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) and International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) 3A testing procedures for its SeaWell active packaging system, confirming its robustness for e-commerce seafood delivery. 

Already used in thousands of store locations, the novel active packaging solution utilizes integrated technology that traps and prevents accumulation of excess liquids inside the package, reducing microbial growth and chemical degradation, and aiding in odor control. 

Speaking to PackagingInsights,  Christa Biggs, manager of business development at Aptar Food + Beverage – Food Protection, explains the need for improved fish packaging technology. 

“At some point in the supply chain, bulk imported/exported seafood must be repacked into smaller units for stores or restaurants. This repacking phase can lead to seafood breakages or decreased product quality. Furthermore, seafood prep in stores often leads to food safety risks such as temperature abuse, cross-contamination, and quality control issues.”

“Our patented absorbent DripLock technology is manufactured into a tray or pouch configuration that collects and controls excess liquid. This offers better presentation, enables fresh seafood ecommerce sales, and a COVID-19 friendly, contactless product in stores,“ he asserts.

The proprietary technology enables e-commerce businesses to distribute frozen products and allow them to thaw in transit, delivering fresh, mess-free, ready-to-cook seafood for consumers to use at home.

The series of internationally recognized test procedures established by the ISTA and ASTM is the standard for defining how packages should perform. This ensures their contents are protected during transit.

SeaWell active pouches were filled with seafood and tested in multiple parcel configurations under small and standard packaging size parameters. These tests included drop testing, loose load vibration, low air pressure and vehicle vibration. After undergoing all analyses, the SeaWell active packaging system showed no damage, rips or tears.The SeaWell active packaging system.

SeaWell system versus polybag
In addition to passing the ISTA and ASTM protocols, the SeaWell system was also tested for consumer preference. 

In a study executed by marketing research firm Kaplan MRD, participants examined seafood packaged using SeaWell technology alongside the same seafood packaged in a traditional polybag. 

Results from the study indicated home delivery seafood buyers prefer seafood using the SeaWell technology over the alternative traditional plain polybag.

“With the ISTA and ASTM standards met and the positive consumer feedback received, Aptar is well-positioned to serve the e-commerce market,” says Neal Watson, VP and general manager of Aptar Food and Beverage – Food Protection. 

“We are confident these results will broaden access to seafood home delivery, helping this market deliver fresh, high-quality seafood to customers, leading to a better consumer experience.”

Fishy business 
Aptar isn’t alone in its efforts to innovate more convenient and environmentally sustainable fish packaging. SeaWell active joins a range of efforts to reduce plastic in seafood packaging.

Stora Enso’s EcoFishBox, made of renewable wood fibers, provides at least 40% carbon emissions reductions when compared to traditional polystyrene packaging, the supplier says. The packs were adopted last year by Kalaneuvos and its sister company Nordic Trout. 

Similarly, UK-based Elliott Absorbent Products this year released a range of ultra-thin, super absorbent sealed edge pads for fresh meat and fish, which it claims has the lowest carbon footprint of any such high absorbency pad on the market. 

Branded UniDry, the range uses 50% fewer materials than traditional pads and is almost 100% more effective, says the company. The solution enables customers to achieve environmental compliance, make major material reductions in their packaging and cut emissions from transport and storage.

Edited by Louis Gore-Langton 

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