1,721,179 research outputs found
Hollistic approach to a succesful market implementation of smart packaging
No full textMarket implementation of active and intelligent packaging (AIP) technologies specifically for fiber-based food packaging can be hindered by various factors. This paper highlights those from a social, economic, environmental, and legislative point of view, and elaborates upon the following aspects mainly related to interactions among food packaging value chain stakeholders: (i) market drivers that affect developments, (ii) the gap between science and industry, (iii) the gap between legislation and practice, (iv) cooperation between the producing stakeholders within the value chain, and (v) the gap between the industry and consumers. We perceive these as the most influential aspects in successful market implementation at a socioeconomic level. The findings are supported by results from quantitative studies analyzing consumer buying expectations about active and intelligent packaging (value perception of packaging functions, intentions to purchase AIP, and willingness to pay more) executed in 16 European countries. Finally, in this paper, we discuss approaches that could direct future activities in the field towards industrial implementation
Hollistic approach to a succesful market implementation of smart packaging
No full textMarket implementation of active and intelligent packaging (AIP) technologies specifically for fiber-based food packaging can be hindered by various factors. This paper highlights those from a social, economic, environmental, and legislative point of view, and elaborates upon the following aspects mainly related to interactions among food packaging value chain stakeholders: (i) market drivers that affect developments, (ii) the gap between science and industry, (iii) the gap between legislation and practice, (iv) cooperation between the producing stakeholders within the value chain, and (v) the gap between the industry and consumers. We perceive these as the most influential aspects in successful market implementation at a socioeconomic level. The findings are supported by results from quantitative studies analyzing consumer buying expectations about active and intelligent packaging (value perception of packaging functions, intentions to purchase AIP, and willingness to pay more) executed in 16 European countries. Finally, in this paper, we discuss approaches that could direct future activities in the field towards industrial implementation
Smart packaging: innovaties in actieve en intelligente voedselverpakkingen
No full textUit recente studies blijkt dat de consument nog steeds erg veel waarde hecht aan de diverse functies van verpakking. Naast een optimale bescherming van het voedingsproduct staan duurzaamheid en de kostprijs steevast in de top 3. Op de volgende plaatsen apprecieert de consument de productinformatie en het gebruiksgemak dat past bij verschillende levensstijlen, verpakking die consumptie, transport en opslag vergemakkelijkt, en ten slotte verpakking als perfecte marketingtool.
Elke Europese inwoner genereerde in 2019 gemiddeld 177 kg verpakkingsafval, waarvan gemiddeld slechts 64.8% gerecycled werd. Met het nieuwe EU actieplan voor een circulaire economie, worden nieuwe doelstellingen en maatregelen opgelegd, met als doel in 2030 enkel nog herbruikbare en recycleerbare verpakkingen op de Europese markt te brengen.
Maar duurzaamheid heeft niet enkel betrekking op verminderd gebruik van verpakkingen of van circulaire materialen, zoals hernieuwbare, recycleerbare en gerecycleerde materialen en herbruikbare verpakkingen. Duurzaamheid betekent ook het garanderen van kwaliteit en veiligheid van het product gedurende zijn houdbaarheidsperiode om zo voedselverspilling tot een minimum te beperken.
Innovatieve verpakkingsconcepten, zoals actieve en intelligente verpakkingsconcepten, kunnen bijdragen aan de optimalisatie van de voedsel supply chain. Actieve verpakkingssystemen ‘interageren’ met het verpakte product om kwaliteitsverlies tegen te gaan en de houdbaarheid te verlengen, terwijl intelligente verpakkingen veranderingen in de verpakking tijdens transport en opslag ‘monitoren’ en/of specifieke informatie ‘communiceren’ over het verpakte product.
Hoewel deze slimme verpakkingen substantieel kunnen bijdragen tot verlenging van de houdbaarheid, vermindering van voedselverspilling en verbetering van voedselveiligheid, stelt men vast dat de implementatie in de Europese markt, in tegenstelling tot de VS en Azië, zeer traag verloopt.
Onze recente paper onderzoekt vanuit een holistische benadering hoe de verschillende stakeholders van de voedselwaardeketen, elk met hun eigen belangen en perspectieven, kunnen meewerken aan een succesvolle marktimplementatie van actieve en intelligente voedselverpakkingen. De socio-economische factoren die een belangrijke rol spelen houden nl. voornamelijk verband houden met de interacties tussen belanghebbenden in de waardeketen van voedselverpakkingen
Smart packaging: innovaties in actieve en intelligente voedselverpakkingen
No full textUit recente studies blijkt dat de consument nog steeds erg veel waarde hecht aan de diverse functies van verpakking. Naast een optimale bescherming van het voedingsproduct staan duurzaamheid en de kostprijs steevast in de top 3. Op de volgende plaatsen apprecieert de consument de productinformatie en het gebruiksgemak dat past bij verschillende levensstijlen, verpakking die consumptie, transport en opslag vergemakkelijkt, en ten slotte verpakking als perfecte marketingtool.
Elke Europese inwoner genereerde in 2019 gemiddeld 177 kg verpakkingsafval, waarvan gemiddeld slechts 64.8% gerecycled werd. Met het nieuwe EU actieplan voor een circulaire economie, worden nieuwe doelstellingen en maatregelen opgelegd, met als doel in 2030 enkel nog herbruikbare en recycleerbare verpakkingen op de Europese markt te brengen.
Maar duurzaamheid heeft niet enkel betrekking op verminderd gebruik van verpakkingen of van circulaire materialen, zoals hernieuwbare, recycleerbare en gerecycleerde materialen en herbruikbare verpakkingen. Duurzaamheid betekent ook het garanderen van kwaliteit en veiligheid van het product gedurende zijn houdbaarheidsperiode om zo voedselverspilling tot een minimum te beperken.
Innovatieve verpakkingsconcepten, zoals actieve en intelligente verpakkingsconcepten, kunnen bijdragen aan de optimalisatie van de voedsel supply chain. Actieve verpakkingssystemen ‘interageren’ met het verpakte product om kwaliteitsverlies tegen te gaan en de houdbaarheid te verlengen, terwijl intelligente verpakkingen veranderingen in de verpakking tijdens transport en opslag ‘monitoren’ en/of specifieke informatie ‘communiceren’ over het verpakte product.
Hoewel deze slimme verpakkingen substantieel kunnen bijdragen tot verlenging van de houdbaarheid, vermindering van voedselverspilling en verbetering van voedselveiligheid, stelt men vast dat de implementatie in de Europese markt, in tegenstelling tot de VS en Azië, zeer traag verloopt.
Onze recente paper onderzoekt vanuit een holistische benadering hoe de verschillende stakeholders van de voedselwaardeketen, elk met hun eigen belangen en perspectieven, kunnen meewerken aan een succesvolle marktimplementatie van actieve en intelligente voedselverpakkingen. De socio-economische factoren die een belangrijke rol spelen houden nl. voornamelijk verband houden met de interacties tussen belanghebbenden in de waardeketen van voedselverpakkingen
A lab approach to Simulate the Effects of Thermoforming on the Gas Permeability of Commercial Multilayers
No full textIn the search for sustainable food packaging, critical reflection on the choice, combination and quantity of (bio)materials for specific applications is becoming increasingly important to prevent food waste. Our previous research has shown the combined effects of material thinning and polymer reorientation on the gas permeability of thermoformed multilayer trays. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of simulating the thermoforming process by heating and deforming (bio)plastic multilayers in a lab scale set-up to determine the maximum thinning and the associated gas permeability properties.
First, thermal and tensile properties of commercial PE/EVOH/PE and ecovio®/G-Polymer/ecovio multilayer films (~85 μm) are characterized. Next, tensile testing at selected temperatures is applied to determine the maximum stretch, based on the elongation at break. Then, hot stretching of 70x60 mm2-films in machine and/or cross direction (MD, CD, MD+CD) or 45°, is done in an oven at optimal temperature by applying maximum gravity without breaking the multilayer. The microscopical thickness resulting from these situations is compared with the thinning in the bottom, walls and corners of thermoformed trays. The results show that thinning of both films is proportional to an increase in the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), with the PE-layers providing a better water vapor barrier than the ecovio-layers. In contrast, the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) is not proportional to thinning of the total film, nor the thickness of the barrier layer. Here, polymer reorientation comes into play, even resulting in improved oxygen permeability coefficients as compared to the base films.
We conclude that this approach can support the optimization of thermoforming processes by determining the maximal stretch of the individual layers while safeguarding the gas barrier properties of the final packaging, e.g. in thermoformed fiber-based trays.confidentia
PAPERONICS: design and development of HF RFID-assisted smart packaging using hybrid electronics on paper substrates
No full textCustomer relationship products using printed electronics on fiber-based substrates are still in an early stage of development and applications in the market remain rather limited. Though paper is an interesting biobased and recyclable material, it is a challenging printing substrate because its surface roughness and permeance influence the conductivity of the printing ink. The aim of this study is to design and develop, smart packaging demonstrators by integrating screen printed antennas and RFID chips as smart labels in reusable cardboard packaging. First, the best paper/functional silver ink combinations were selected based on the characterization of the paper surface roughness, air permeability and sheet resistance. Next, antennas were screen printed on selected paper substrates and a flexible high frequency RFID chip (13.56 MHz) was connected on top of the antenna with a conductive adhesive. Functional RFID labels were integrated in cardboard packaging and potential applications were investigated. The findings show that these smart labels can be integrated in warranty packaging for valuable products and in reusable boxes for third party logistics. The functionality and the reliability of the reusable smart boxes was simulated and in parallel a web-based software application that mimics the functional abilities in the complete logistic cycle of this smart box was developed. This study is supported by stakeholders of the smart packaging value chain involved in ink, paper and packaging production; printing, RFID and integration technologies; branding as well as potential end-users. We conclude that this multidisciplinary approach is a good example for future implementation of hybrid electronics in sustainable smart packaging solutions.Thanks to all research partners for the pleasant and constructive collaboration: Wim Deferme, Jarne Machiels, Dimitri Adons, Elien Seegers, Zander Heckens and Wouter Van Rompaey (UHasselt), Raf Appeltans, Kris Myny (imec), Akash Verma, Eleonora Ferraris (KU Leuven), Dieter Bauer, Sven Sangerlaub (Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging
IVV), Thomas Weissbach, Arved Carl Hübler (Technische Universität Chemnitz) and Marie Geiβler, Katrin Kuehnoel, Lydia Tempel (Papiertechnische Stiftung).
Thanks to the 34 industrial partners for their financial and technical support in PAPERONICS, in particular FETRA vzw (Brussels, Belgium).
Thanks to VLAIO and AIF for funding ‘PAPERONICS: Low cost multisensory paper & packaging applications’ (‘19-’21) Agentschap Innoveren en Ondernemen, Belgium (VLAIO) (HBC.2018.0225)
German Federation of Industrial Research Associations (AIF) (IGF-Vorhaben Nr.: 242 EBG).
Last but not least, thanks to my MPR&S colleagues Roos Peeters, Gudrun Nowicki, Caroline Maes, Chris Vanheusden, Bram Bamps and all others for their support
Processing and optimizing polyhydroxyalkanoates: circular materials of the future for use as innovative food packaging material
No full text1. Polyhydroxyalkanoates are promising circular plastics
2. Nanocomposite materials for use as active packaging materials
3. Strategies to enhance PHA nanocomposite processing and properties
4. Safe use of biodegradable nanocomposite material
Processing and optimizing polyhydroxyalkanoates: circular materials of the future for use as innovative food packaging material
No full text1. Polyhydroxyalkanoates are promising circular plastics
2. Nanocomposite materials for use as active packaging materials
3. Strategies to enhance PHA nanocomposite processing and properties
4. Safe use of biodegradable nanocomposite material
A lab approach to Simulate the Effects of Thermoforming on the Gas Permeability of Commercial Multilayers
No full textIn the search for sustainable food packaging, critical reflection on the choice, combination and quantity of (bio)materials for specific applications is becoming increasingly important to prevent food waste. Our previous research has shown the combined effects of material thinning and polymer reorientation on the gas permeability of thermoformed multilayer trays. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of simulating the thermoforming process by heating and deforming (bio)plastic multilayers in a lab scale set-up to determine the maximum thinning and the associated gas permeability properties.
First, thermal and tensile properties of commercial PE/EVOH/PE and ecovio®/G-Polymer/ecovio multilayer films (~85 μm) are characterized. Next, tensile testing at selected temperatures is applied to determine the maximum stretch, based on the elongation at break. Then, hot stretching of 70x60 mm2-films in machine and/or cross direction (MD, CD, MD+CD) or 45°, is done in an oven at optimal temperature by applying maximum gravity without breaking the multilayer. The microscopical thickness resulting from these situations is compared with the thinning in the bottom, walls and corners of thermoformed trays. The results show that thinning of both films is proportional to an increase in the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), with the PE-layers providing a better water vapor barrier than the ecovio-layers. In contrast, the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) is not proportional to thinning of the total film, nor the thickness of the barrier layer. Here, polymer reorientation comes into play, even resulting in improved oxygen permeability coefficients as compared to the base films.
We conclude that this approach can support the optimization of thermoforming processes by determining the maximal stretch of the individual layers while safeguarding the gas barrier properties of the final packaging, e.g. in thermoformed fiber-based trays.confidentia
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