StePac packs a punch in COVID-19 war with protective fresh produce solutions

27 Mar 2020 --- The global coronavirus outbreak is causing significant disruption in the fresh produce supply chain and concerns around the potential contamination of unpacked foodstuffs when handled. This is according to reports by StePac, an Israeli-based specialist in functional packaging for fresh produce. StePac is promoting the shelf-life-extending capabilities of its portfolio amid calls from The European Organization for Packaging and the Environment (EUROPEN) for the European Commission to recognize packaging as critical to the uninterrupted flow of perishable goods.

Recently, EUROPEN called on the European Commission to reclassify packaging as an essential component in maintaining the uninterrupted flow of product groups that the Commission has identified as critical, such as “health-related and perishable goods, notably foodstuffs.”

Perishable fruits and vegetables, characterized by a relatively short shelf-life, gain an extended lifespan through functional packaging – a benefit that becomes more vital in times of possible shortages and profligate stockpiling by consumers.

While governments are coordinating necessary measures to ensure the continuous movement of fresh produce between countries and continents, border restrictions and workforce shortages have induced considerable delays in cargo flows, rendering perishables particularly vulnerable to spoilage and waste.There are reports of vessels not being unloaded on time due to the coronavirus outbreak, which is particularly problematic for perishable fresh produce.

“We are continuously hearing reports of vessels not being unloaded on time, and containers left sitting for long periods at harbors,” shares Dr. Gary Ward, Business Development Manager at StePac. “Fresh produce exporters and importers are concerned that by the time their produce reaches the customer, the quality will have deteriorated considerably, impacting its value and increasing waste.”

“Our unique packaging products can extend the shelf-life of fresh produce by 50 percent to 100 percent, offering a lifeline for all stakeholders in the fresh produce supply chain and helping weather the logistical storms,” adds Ward.

StePac has developed advanced Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) solutions which effectively delays ripening and aging processes, inhibits microbial decay and preserves the quality and nutritional value of the fruit and vegetables packed within.

The packaging is extensively used for prolonged storage and long-haul shipments of a range of fruits and vegetables, including broccoli, blueberries, cherries and pomegranates.

StePac's Xgo lidding films inhibit post-harvest microbial decay and extend the shelf-life of extracted pomegranate arils for up to 17 days.The implicit abilities to significantly extend shelf-life via StePac’s MAP solutions have been instrumental in helping growers, packers and distributors extend seasonality, ship by sea instead of by air and reduce waste along the supply chain. For example, the supplier’s recently-developed fully recyclable Xgo lidding films and standing pouches inhibit postharvest microbial decay and extend the shelf-life of extracted pomegranate arils for up to 17 days, preserving the fruit’s organoleptic properties.

COVID-19 contamination concerns
Another major coronavirus concern is the contamination risks that can arise from the handling of foodstuffs. Consumers are increasingly seeking packaged fresh produce that would traditionally sit naked on the shelves. Before the coronavirus outbreak, there had been a trend towards loose and unpacked fresh produce, identified by WRAP as a strategy to decrease food and plastic packaging waste.

Solutions such as StePac’s Xgo brand of retail packaging formats are hermetically sealed and not only preserve the quality and shelf-life of fresh produce, but also prevent potential contamination.

“StePac’s Xgo packaging acts as a physical barrier that prevents contact of the produce by the human hand from the moment it is packed until it is opened by the consumer. Consequently, once packed, the risk of produce being contaminated during the supply chain is effectively eliminated. Such assurance is not guaranteed when fruits and vegetables are sold loose or housed in packaging with punch holes or perforations,” explains Ward.

Virus-fighting vitamin C preservation
The supplier’s unique polymer packaging formulation has also demonstrated capabilities for preserving nutritional value of fresh produce following prolonged storage. A 2018 independent study conducted by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey analyzed the post-harvest quality of Hicaznar pomegranate fruit packaged in StePac’s Xtend branded MAP packaging and noted that this packaging better preserves the vitamin C content than the naked control during six months of storage at 6°C.

StePac's four-pillared packaging environmental sustainability strategy.“Pomegranates contain more than 100 phytochemicals with many reputed health benefits,” Ward tells PackagingInsights. “They are a rich source of antioxidants, helping to prevent cancer, protect against Alzheimer's disease and heart disease, while they also have anti-inflammatory properties. Pomegranates are also a rich source of vitamin C, E and K and provide a good source of folate and potassium. These multiple health benefits have led to a renaissance in the consumption of this Biblical fruit.”

Also, nutritional analysis of shipments of fresh broccoli arriving in Japan revealed that the general nutritive value and vitamin C levels were better retained in StePac’s Xtend iceless packaging than in standard iced packed broccoli.

“Vitamin C is known to help strengthen the immune system and tackle infections, such as the common cold and flu. Consumers are seeking natural immune-boosting sources in the hope of building better resistance to the COVID-19 virus,” notes Ward.

StePac’s MAP solutions are based on 25 years of accumulated research and expertise in biology, plant physiology, phytopathology and post-harvest sciences. The supplier recently announced its four-pillared strategy for greener packaging.

By Joshua Poole