Sustainable containers and films and smart packaging for tropical fruits

Follow five of the novelties related to postharvest included in Fruit Logistica 2020 Spotlight: Beautiful boxWith the cardboard box system Paperseal®, Italian company G. Mondini is marketing an alternative to plastic containers. Paperseal® is made from an MAP box shaped from pre-cut, flat cardboard onto which a barrier layer is automatically applied. Just like with the Thermosealer® technology, the boxes are made shortly before the sealing process. The innovative packaging design developed with assistance from Value Engineering can be easily integrated into existing packaging lines. It is secure, flexible, can be fully equipped with logos and information, and requires less plastic than conventional solutions do.G. Mondini Sustainably packaged in paperGKS Packaging is presenting its new vertical flow bag machine for the first time at FRUIT LOGISTICA. It was specially developed for the usage of completely recyclable and compostable paper. The paper is an FSC®-certified mono-material. It does not absorb any moisture from the packaged product and retains its firmness and structure. Agricultural products like potatoes or onions are easy to carry in padded or standing bags with carrying holes. The machine's sealing module can be used to give the bag a papier mâché window. The machine's CO2 footprint is minor. It has a modular structure and its components are exclusively made from recycled and recyclable materials.GKS Packaging b.v. Fresh filmAfter four years of intensive research Fabbri Group developed the first certified and industrially and home compostable film Nature Fresh. It provides a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging. Nature Fresh fits perfectly into the overall composting process, and the resulting compost is ideal for growing plants. The film is approved for direct contact with fresh produce, including fatty foods. The products can "breathe" under the film, which means they last longer. Because of its elasticity and adhesiveness, Nature Fresh can be used sparingly. It is available in large and small rolls for automated packaging processes as well as retail, converters and private homes. For its strategic relevance, the project received funding from the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.Gruppo Fabbri Smart packaging for tropical fruitsPackaging normally serves to protect and preserve fruits. The smart packaging Smart Ripe from ILIP combines these characteristics with an additional function: it informs the entire supply and value added chain as well as the consumer of the fruits' ripeness stages by monitoring certain quality parameters with an sensor-operated and battery-free RFID tag. It can detect deviations of some dielectric parameters of the fruit flesh depending on the ripeness stage. This information can be decoded with an external reading device and informs the user of three stages of ripeness and potential types of preparation. This way, the consumer can plan the right times and types of use. After initial tests with avocados, the packaging has now been developed to cover other tropical fruits.ILIP S.rl.  Paper instead of plasticThe company JASA developed the JASA Sleever as an alternative to plastic packaging. It is made from cardboard, and it securely and hygienically stores tablets of fruit and vegetables. The sleeve for square and rectangular tablets, pre-folded and glued on two sides, can be disposed of with paper waste. The produce is visible thanks to the product's innovative design. However, it is also protected and cannot easily be removed without breaking the packaging. A label on the underside holds the packaging together. It can be printed with a barcode or information about the product. JASA provides the right machines for constructing a fully automated line of Sleevers that the customer can integrate into their packaging line. The customer can generally continue using their current tablets.Jasa Packaging Solutions B.V. Pictures1 - Beautiful box, Paperseal® is made from layered cardboard2 - The new vertical flow bag machine from GKS Packaging prints on recycled paper3 - Nature Fresh film is certified home and industrial compostable4 - Smart Ripe from ILIP provides information on the ripeness of the packaged fruits5 - Produce can be packaged without plastic with the JASA Sleever