Brasil Pack Trends 2020

BrasilPackTrends2020 149 qual ity and new technologies The incorporation of finely spread minerals in polymers is generally done in low density polyethylene, but it is also observed in the market the incorporation in polyamide and polyethylene blends. The mineral is encapsulated in particles by the polymer, forming a maze among the polymeric chains, which can adsorb gases like ethylene. Most of those films are opaque and have limited absorption capacity for that gas. The choice of the polymeric substrate must always consider the permeability to the vegetable respiration gases for which it is designated or use a perforated film, to avoid anaerobic conditions, which accelerate the deterioration of fruits and vegetables and can even bring risks of pathogenicity. Companies such as PEAKFresh, Bio-Fresh, Evert-Fresh, Amcor and many others sell active films for application in home packages, in bulk packages and for pallets covering. Besides promoting the ethylene absorption, the incorporation of certain minerals in polymers may also increase the films permeability, in a way that the ethylene and the CO 2 leave the package faster and the oxygen gets in faster as well, affecting a little of the vegetable physiology, due to a small change of the atmosphere inside the package, in relation to the air. Those changes in the permeability may reduce the concentration of ethylene inside the package headspace and, consequentially, increase the shelf life, independently of any ethylene absorption. FIGURE 6.8 Ethylene absorbers incorporated into plastic films Source: Press Release The function of the antimicrobial package is to power up the same functions as the conventional packages, which means, assure the safety, keep the quality and extend the product shelf life. Besides, it can reduce the potential of recontamination of processed food and beverages, simplifying treatments that aim to eliminate the contamination of package materials and promote the auto sterilization, at least in theory, of some products, like acid beverages such as fruit juices. They can be sorted in two types: the ones in which the active agent migrates to the surface of the food and the ones in which it is effective without the need of migration. Modified atmosphere packages with carbon dioxide, which has fungistatic and bacteriostatic activity, are examples of active antimicrobial packages. Ethanol and CO 2 emitters in the form of sachets control the growth of fungi on food and the contamination in the packages. SO 2 emitters are used in the form of sachets/ pads or incorporated films to control the development of fungi ( Botrytis Cinerea ) on grapes (Figure 6.9). Antimicrobial active compounds can also be incorporated in the package material. While incorporated in plastic packages, they generate the bioactive polymers. Various synthetic compounds (also called chemicals), naturals compounds and probiotics have had their antimicrobial potential analyzed, such as the metallic ions, natural extracts, organic acids and their salts, bacteriocins, fungicides, enzymes, Antimicrobial packages