OVERVIEW:

The field of food packaging has been a subject of intensive research over the past 2 decades but is still today at the stage of development. Active packaging can be defined as a packaging with performs some desired function other than merely providing a barrier to the external environment. Active packaging must not be confused with intelligent packaging, which informs or communicates with the consumer the present properties of the food, or records aspect of its history. Ideally, the objective of packaging is the maintenance of the quality of the food at the level achieved at the final stage of its processing (product quality, maintenance of the organoleptic properties, etc. In Practice, food quality decreases from the final step of food processing stage due to packaging process or packaging material available do not match the requirements imposed by the food. The role of packaging materials has been undermined as they could be advantageously used to contribute to the retention of the food quality.

MAIN RESULTS:

A natural extract has been selected. Its oxygen scavenging activity has been tested, as well as its suitability to be included in a coating. The oxygen scavenging system selected is composed of a combination of natural extracts and a biodegradable adhesive layer.

A coating containing the active extract has been formulated and tested in its scavenging activity. The formulation satisfies the purpose in terms of transparency, viscosity and adhesion properties. As such, a specially formulated resin that does not prevent the oxygen scavenging activitiy of the entrapped active system was  developed and tested in terms of peeling test and assessed against competitive with respect to established poly(urethane) based adhesive films used in multilayer food packaging films.

A high oxygen barrier was developed with extremely low gas permeation, i.e. 1,26 cm³ O₂/m³·d ·bar, which means a barrier improvement factor of 1807 times greater than native commercially available polymer. This outstanding result was achieved through a two stage research. Firstly the possibility of using organically modified nanoclay fillers in conjunction with a suitable compatibilizer was evaluated. Despite appropriate exfoliation and improved mechanical properties of the PP modified film, the oxygen barrier did improve by a factor of 10 which was not viewed by the consortium enough for the scope of Freshfilm. As such, a water based non-porous coating was applied onto the PP yielding the formation of high oxygen barrier film.

An oxygen permeable polyethylene film was selected. Commercial available PE films have been either foamed using SBS, EVA and PLA or microperforated in an attempt to increase gas transmission properties of said film. Whilst the use of foaming agents did not notably lead to the expected result, microperforation has a detrimental effect on film transparency hence disqualifying such efficient technique in the view of developing a transparent multilayer film.

Multilayer film integration and lamination has been performed by both RTD performers and across the supply chain represented by the different industrial members of the consortium.  Films samples were placed in purposed designed cell and Freshfilm capacity at absorbing oxygen was determined accordingly to DIN 6139-1 „Oxygen scavengers for packaging applications — Part 1: Determination of capacity“.  The gas permeable barrier/[(natural extracts):resin]/high oxygen barrier multilayer architecture displays high oxygen scavenging capacity in both cell measurement and Freshfilm sealed trays.

Freshfilm sealability was demonstrated by both RTD performers and industrial partners. Product acceptability in terms of transparency was validated through a panel of industrial experts, organoleptic properties validated through a jury of sensors and positive impact regarding meat product quality preservation assessed through lipid oxidation and microbial activity studies. Effectively, Freshfilm can prevent lipid oxidation of packaged products as well as decrease order spoilage microbial population up to 2 log.

A two levels Freshfilm recyclability was demonstrated. On one hand, product pelletization and production of added value recycled black litter bags were produced from the resulting granulates. Surfactant assisted cold and hot water treatments for film separation and quality of recovered Freshfilm components was demonstrated, recovered material re-integrated food packaging film production as raw material due to their high cleanliness. Furthermore, Freshfilm meets EN-13428:2004 (“Packaging-Requirements specific to manufacturing and composition”), EN-13430:2004 (“Requirements for packaging recoverable by material recycling”) and EN-13431:2004 (“Requirements for packaging recoverable in the form of energy recovery, including specification of minimum inferior calorific values”).

See the article published in the International Innovation Journal:

FreshFilm Article

Monday, 26th September. Freshfilm annual meeting

12:30 Welcome address. Project summary

13:00 Technical progress. Last results and update. Discussion on last results

(lunch break)

15:30. Exploitation and dissemination plan.

Last exploitation activities. Patent

16:30 Financial report

17:15 Concluding remarks

17:30 Closure of the meeting

Tuesday, 27th September. Freshfilm review meeting

9:15 Welcome address. Freshfilm project summary

9:45 Project review. Work Packages

– WP 1: Enhancement of the current understanding of natural antioxidants and their oxygen scavenging capabilities.

– WP 2: An innovative natural anti-oxidising coating packaging material

– WP 3: Conserving the life of the anti-oxidant coating.

– WP 4: Study and optimization PP and PE barrier properties

– WP 5: Integration of the packaging system

– WP 6: Validation of the packaging system, quality assurance and safety monitoring

– WP 7: Assurance of recyclability of the packaging

12:00 Exploitation and Dissemination Plan

12:30 Open discussion

13:30 Closure of the meeting

Agenda for the next meeting

Place: in AMB facilities. San Daniele del Friuli, Italy.

Tuesday 25th, Technical Meeting:
14:00 -18:00
Project objectives: review technical progress
Technical presentations: last results
Deliverables
Next steps: next tasks and inkinds

Wednesday 26th, Exploitation Board Meeting
8:00 -12:00
Exploitable results and exploitation strategy
Deliverable: Final Plan
Dissemination activities

13 octuber 2010

REA, PLACE ROGIER 16, BRUSSELS

9.00 Registration

9.45 Welcome address.
Mr. Graham Stroud – Director REA

Chair: Perter van der Zandt – REA SME actions

10.00 Main principles of the R4SME programme
Ms. Corinna Amting – Head REA SME actions

10.45 coffee break

11.10 Amendments of the Grant Agreement
Mr. Per Martin Schmidt – REA SME actions

11.50 Reportin and Review
Ms. Karin Johansson – REA SME actions

12.30 lunch break

13.30 Financial issues
Mr. Nicolo Giacomuzzi – REA Finance

14.20 Legal issues
Ms. Olivia Reymond – REA Legal

15.00 IT Tools
Ms. Cathy Pouret – REA SME actions

15.40 Questions to Panel of REA speakers

16.30 Close of the day

Thursday, 24^th June. Freshfilm annual meeting

9:15        Welcome address. First year of activity

9:30        Project review. Technical progress.

1. WP activity report
2. Preliminary results discussion

12:00        Project review. Exploitation and dissemination plan

13:00        Lunch break

14:00       First year financial report

15:30        Next Year planning roundtable           .

16:30        To do list for the next 6 months

17:00        Concluding remarks

17:30        Closure of the meeting

Fryday, 25^th June. Freshfilm review meeting

9:15        Welcome address. Freshfilm project introduction

9:45        Project review. Work Packages:

• WP 1: Enhancement of the current understanding of natural antioxidants and their oxygen scavenging capabilities.
• WP 2: An innovative natural anti-oxidising coating packaging material
• WP 3: Conserving the life of the anti-oxidant coating.
• WP 4: Study and optimization PP and PE barrier properties

12:00         Exploitation and Dissemination Plan

12:30        Open discussion

13:30        Closure of the meeting

Participant list:

CTIC – Emilio San Martín

ITAV – Carlos Borlado, Guillaume Saint-Pierre, Miguel Herrero

FHG – Andrei Holzer, Sven Sängerlaub, Kajetan Müller

EVESA – Chris Szauman

INVOS – Josef Skrasek

AMB – Christopher Spitzley

SESA-ASINCAR – Natalia Fidalgo

PAR – Mike Davies

The meeting will take place in the facilities of SOST:

SOST – Spanish Office for Science and Technology

Rue du Trône, 62, 7ème étage

1050 Bruxelles

Tel.: + 32 (0) 2 289 26 95

www.sost.es

Freshfilm project partners held a working meeting on 26 March in London to discuss the progress of investigations and highlight the work plan for the coming months.

The work has a term of two years for its development and the kick-off meeting took place in September last year in Alesón, CTIC headquarters, which coordinates the project framed within the Seventh Framework Program for R & D of the European Union, and with partners from Germany, UK, Czech Republic, Italy, Estonia and Spain.

“New active and recyclable packaging with natural antioxidants to extend the shelf life of packaged foods (FRESHFILM)” aims to address the needs of food product companies, the food packaging industry and consumers.

It is about developing a material in order to lengthen the life of the packaged food and, at the same time, is recyclable. For this, the research try to use natural compounds that scavenge oxygen and act as antioxidants. Natural compounds kidnappers of oxygen, which act as antioxidants, are mixtures of plant extracts. The new material will be useful mainly for meat, but also for vegetables, salads and pastas.

FRESHFILM aims to answer market’s main concerns in relation to flexible packaging, such as: the extension of shelf life of fresh foods, reducing the weight of packaging and the recovery, recycling or reuse of materials component.