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reportFood Packaging and Distribution
2.4.2 Short Description

Food packaging acts to enclose processed food in a stable environment and protect it from environmental changes (such as moisture, light, oxidation, and temperature), physical damage, and contamination by micro (and macro)-organisms.  In addition it provides information to the consumer.  By doing so it improves quality,extends the shelf-life of processed food and allows the consumer to assess whether the product is suitable.  Food packaging also provides important ancillary functions: authentication of the foodstuff and product, evidence of tampering/breach of package integrity, and consumer convenience.  Food can be packaged using a number of different materials, the most prominent of which are: plastics, paper and cardboard, metal, and glass.

Plastics are virtually ubiquitous in packaging, as single material films and containers, in combination with other plastics, or as coatings for other materials (such as paper card  and metals).  Global consumption of plastics has increased from some 5 million tonnes in the 1950s to nearly 100 million tonnes today[i].  Of this amount, approximately 44% is used for a relatively short period and then discarded.  Plastics used for packaging purposes make up a significant portion of this, and food packaging materials in turn account for approximately 50% (by weight) of total packaging sales[ii].  The packaging industry itself is worth about 2% of Gross National Product in developed countries[iii].  A number of broad drivers in the packaging sector are shaping innovation in product and process development.  Theseinclude decreasing material and energy usage, reducing packaging weight (termed light-weighting), increase food safety and quality (through improved performance in a variety of environmental conditions plus additional functionality), and recyclability or biodegradability (food packaging accounts for some two-thirds of total packaging waste).

These broad packaging drivers are linked to the drivers in the broader food manufacturing sector, which include the interest in decreased wastage (by improving shelf-life and giving visual indicators as to food’s freshness), and increasing consumer confidence and convenience in processed food.  In conjunction with an effective packaging system, improvements in identification of items and stock control ensure that delivery is efficient and that foodstuffs are maintained in the appropriate conditions throughout the supply chain.  This includes RFID tags for logging the movement of stock at all stages of the supply chain and other tags to provide covert or overt identification and authentication.

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Visits: 31, Published on: December, 2nd 2008, 11:54 AM, Last edit: June, 5th 2009, 11:29 PM Size: 4 KByte

Tags: Packaging Short Description

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