Active biodegradable packaging design

FRUITS & VEGETABLES / NEW PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES
Active biodegradable
packaging design
TAILORPACK
Active biodegradable packaging suitable for keeping
TAILORPACK
Labelled project
Project holder
INRA - UMR Ingénierie des
Agropolymères et Technologies
Emergentes (IATE)
Objectives
ailored design of multiple-layer
T
composites on a nanometric scale
using fibres, protein layers and
nanoparticles which can control matter
exchange: gases, water vapour, active
compounds.
In spite of all the efforts made to promote the health benefits of fruit and
vegetables, their short lifetime is a barrier to their consumption. Losses
between harvesting and marketing are estimated at 50% worldwide and
overall physical in-store losses range from 5to 30% in volume, i.e. a turnover
loss of 2,5 to 8% for supermarkets.
The objective of this project is to develop innovative tailored packaging from
renewable resources which are a green alternative to synthetic films and better
adapted for the exchange of gases and vapours required for conservation in
an altered atmosphere. At the same time, implementation of active systems
for controlled emission of active ingredients will provide complementary
functions.
This approach will be applied to plant models of economic interest and
differing complexity with regard to their physiological and microbiological
characteristics: button mushrooms (respiration), apricots (ripening),
strawberries (microbiology).
The stated objectives of the project are :
> S low down respiration in living perishable foods and hence their senescence
>D
elay ripening or maintain the state of ripeness
>M
inimise proliferation of microorganisms (health safeguard)
FRUITS & VEGETABLES / NEW PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES
Active biodegradable packaging design
Funding
Total cost of project : 1.569.433 €
Funding granted : 452.437 €
Funding organisations : Agence
Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) Programme National de Recherche en
Alimentation et Nutrition Humaine
(PNRA)
Outcome expected
The project should lead to:
> r eduction of losses between harvest and marketing
> r eduction of in-store losses owing to the products studied having a longer life
estimated at 2-6 days
>u
se of the materials developed as small units to sell fruit from automatic dispensers
(schools, stations, etc.)
>u
se of co-products from processing industries (starch mills) for active biodegradable
packaging.
Schedule
Labelled : June 2007
Start of project : January 2008
Duration : 4 years
Partners
Contact
Carole GUILLAUME
UMR IATE
Tél : +33(0)4 67 14 42 07
[email protected]
> INRA Montpellier - UMR IATE
> INRA Avignon - UMR SQPOV
>C
NRS - Institut Charles Sandron - UPR 22
>C
entre Technique Interprofessionnel des Fruits et Légumes (CTIFL)
> I ndustries
www.inra.fr/inra_cepia/ressources_
renouvelables/projets/tailorpack
Colabelling
Tél : + 33 (0)4 67 04 75 56
Fax : + 33 (0)4 67 04 75 99
[email protected]
Pôle de compétitivité Qualiméditerranée
Agropolis International
Avenue Agropolis - 34394 Montpellier cedex 5
www.qualimediterranee.fr