Use of biobased materials for modified atmosphere packaging of short and medium shelf-life food products

• Characteristics of several multilayered biobased plastics
• Performance of biobased plastics for MAP packaging of food products (barrier)
• Industrial performance (case studies)

The research objective was to evaluate the performance of biobased plastics for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) both on laboratory and industrial scales. Therefore the shelf-life (4 °C) of rumpsteak, ham sausage, filet de saxe, grated cheese and pre-fried fries that were MAP-packed in poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and cellulose-based multilayer packages was evaluated and compared with their shelf-life when packed in conventional materials. Furthermore, tests were performed on industrial packaging lines.The biobased packages showed sufficient gas-barrier to guarantee the shelf-life of MAP-packed food products, even when materials with lower barrier properties were used, but for rumpsteak and ham sausage, different light permeabilities of the packaging materials led to more discoloration. Furthermore, the biobased materials performed well on the industrial packaging machines, but seemed too brittle to hold larger contents. This study shows promising results toward the application of biobased packaging materials for different food products.Industrial relevanceEnvironmental concerns regarding food packaging have led to the development of more sustainable alternatives. One of these alternatives are biobased materials. This research shows that several biobased plastics can contain and protect the food as well as maintaining its sensory quality. The biobased packages showed sufficient gas barrier to guarantee the shelf-life of the MAP packed food products, even when materials with lower barrier properties were used. Furthermore, case studies at different companies (on industrial packaging lines) show that a successful entrance in the market will not be hindered by technical problems.