Active and Intelligent Packaging

Abstract

Attention! Detailed knowledge and knowhow required! Consumers, industry, the retail sector and foods themselves put very complex requirements on packaging materials. These requirements can only be met by developing customized solutions. The list of requirements on the packaging is long and includes: attractive and fresh appearance of the food product during the whole storage period, maximum microbiological safety with no or only very small addition of preservatives, stability of the high-value ingredients (e.g. vitamins, flavors) and low transport weight. In order to realize these requirements, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV are optimizing packaging materials and developing additional functionalities. This work is being carried out in the Materials Development, Retention of Food Quality, and Product Safety and Analysis departments at the Fraunhofer IVV. The Fraunhofer IVV has established an Expertise Center for Active and Intelligent Packaging which brings together all the expertise in this area. In collaboration with users, packaging solutions customized to the food contents are found.