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Brasil
PackTrends
2020
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quality and new technologies
or accelerate compostability and biodegradability
(ROBINSON; MORRISON, 2010). The company Rohm
and Hass sells an acrylic nanoparticle (Paraloid BPM-
500) to increase the PLA (polylactic acid) resistance, a
compostable polymer.
The company StoraEnso significantly stepped
onto the innovation of renewable source materials,
investing in a plant in Finland to manufacture a new
nanomaterial, the microfibrillated cellulose, which will
allow the weight reduction in paperboard packages, and
improvement of the barrier properties.
Edible coatings from biopolymers applied to
food and pharmaceuticals have been studied even at
Brazilian universities and they can be used to preserve
fresh fruits and vegetables, including the ones minimally
processed, dried fruits, cheeses, meat products and
other food. They can be formulated to provide a barrier
to humidity, gases and have further functionalities,
to be a vehicle to enzyme, antioxidants, aroma and
pigments, working as an active coating. Carbohydrates
(starch, cellulose) and proteins (zein, casein, gelatin,
collagen) based coatings combined with nanoclays have
their mechanical and barrier properties improved and
can be used as a vehicle for other active agents aiming
at functionality.
The
companies
involved
with
the
commercialization of raw material produced with
nanotechnology are only a few and can be divided in
two groups: plastic resins manufacturers (DuPont,
Bayer, Honeywell, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical) and
additives and fillers manufacturers for the plastics
industry (Southern Clay Products, Nanocor, ColorMatrix,
LANXESS). Nanocor have partnerships with companies
that produce plastic resins that use nanoclay (Nanomer)
in their products, including Honeywell (Aegis), Nylon
Corporation of America (nanoTUFF and nanoSEAL) and
ColorMatrix Corporation (Imperm).
There is little collaboration among them and
they do not share the high development costs. There
is little competition due to the low number of involved
companies. The production is low and most of times
with no economy of scale. Another problem is the use of
conventional equipment in the packaging manufacture.
The new materials show different rheological properties
and crystallization rate from conventional polymers.
The difficulty of selling technologies and the
time between the development and the product
commercialization are still the big obstacles for the
nanotechnology applications in the package sector.
The commercialization
According to Business Insight, the future of the
nanotechnology in the package sector for food and
beverages is associated with some drivers (BARNETT,
2011a):
• The governmental investments will be aimed at de-
veloping economies.
• The commercialization will be the biggest challenge.
• The food safety will be the focus for the development
over the medium term.
• The cost-benefit will gradually improve.
• The new products will aggregate more benefits.
Although the great innovation potential and
the high investments that have been done, the
nanotechnology in the package sector is not a
conventional technology yet. Market restrictions
are related to many factors: nanoscience and
nanotechnology are not consolidated; the long-term
effects over the consumer health are barely studied;
there is distrust from the consumer; there is regulatory
risks since the legal issues are beyond innovations and
The future of the nanotechnology in the package sector