THE PACKAGING OF THE FUTURE WILL BE SUSTAINABLE, ACTIVE AND INTELLIGENT

Traditional packaging protect the product and, moreover, are cheap and durable. However, its durability is a serious problem for the environment, for this reason it is worked on the development of sustainable materials that meet the trends in manufacturers and consumers.

One of the environmental strategies which are betting is the use of materials obtained from raw materials from renewable sources, once completed their life cycle, have the ability to biodegrade. "Currently, these materials represent only 1% of the world production, according to European Bioplastics, but in the near future an increase in this market segment is expected to quadruple this figure in 2017. Specifically, in 2013 world production of bioplastics was 1.6 million tons and is expected to reach 6.2 million tons in 2017, according to the Institute for bioplastics and Biocomposites".

One line of research of the BIOMAT group is the preparation of mixtures renewable and biodegradable of polymers to improve properties and reduce material costs.

The container, which acts as a barrier between the food and the outside, changes from being a mere container (passive containers) to play an active role in maintaining and even improving the quality of the food. An active container is intended mainly for prolonging the life of the packaged food by controlling permeation phenomena, either through the use of barrier materials or by retaining harmful substances and/or the incorporation of beneficial substances for food packaging.

Active packaging have the problem of being 50% more expensive than conventional but the advantage of reducing the 1% of 'food waste', which in the case of containing chicken saves per day € 2.5 extra preserved. BIOMAT has developed a new biodegradable packaging for fatty products, both liquid and solid, from agro-industrial by-products, contributing to sustainable consumption of raw materials as well as by-product recovery. The container is transparent and at the same time, an excellent barrier to ultraviolet light and gases like oxygen. Multilayer laminates are usually used as a barrier to gases, however, the product developed by BIOMAT group is monolayer, which is why it cost is greatly reduced. Furthermore, it can be heat sealed and is printable.

The containers not only fulfill the function of preserving food, also facilitates its transport, draw consumer attention and inform about its content. In fact, 33% of purchasing decisions are made based on the packaging. And a good packaging can be as viral as a good video or online content, because the 74% of young people share online special packaging.

A package can be smart if it can communicate with a person or a machine. In the first case, the package improves its function to inform the consumer to provide first-hand information on the state of putrefaction containing product. The package usually contains a band that reacts with acetic acid coloring shows the product label green (if the product is fresh), orange (should be consumed urgently) and red (if you do not consume). In the second case, the container can contact the linear or the store to inform the system of the number of products that are accessible to the public and automate, if necessary, one replacement.

CONCLUSION

Containers for food have become a decisive factor in sales strategy.

Today the package is the key element of differentiation from competitors.

Extend the life of the product, provide additional information about its status, and enhance the power of sale on the package itself emerge as growth strategies for this sector.

The demands of new markets and the need to comply with existing legislation relating to sustainability are new challenges for the design of packaging.

Companies preferences are based on optimization of the distribution cycle. Meanwhile, the consumer prefers a package that provides a new function, as provided by Self-heating systems.

The creating of new packages to meet the needs of consumers and packers are the new challenges which become new lines of research.

More information:

Beatriz Villanueva IPS beatriz.villanueva@institutoips.org T: 91 625 27 90/626 423 216 www.institutoips.org T. Garrido, A. Etxabide, I. Leceta, S. Cabezudo, the Caba K., P. Guerrero. (2014). Valorization of soybean by-products for sustainable packaging. Journal of Cleaner Production, 64, 228-233.

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