At the SM Custom Packaging conference, topics such as active packaging and the obligation of the end manufacturer to ensure the safety of the packaging material were discussed.

Active packaging films can extend the shelf life of sausage and cheese by releasing antimicrobial substances.

Until now, packaging has had a passive role, protecting the food against external influences such as light or mechanical damage. So called active packaging is now to achieve an additional shelf life extension. Functional packaging materials, for example, emit antimicrobial substances within the packaging. They enable the combination of the preservative function of the antimicrobial substances with the barrier function of the packaging.

SM Custom Packaging offer easy to use custom packaging options and custom packaging design in a huge selection of boxes, bags, and labels.

Natural fabrics preferred

Selcuk Yildirim from the Wädenswil University of Applied Sciences explained the essential points to be considered when developing antimicrobial films. Many substances can coat the movie, such as bacteriocins, organic acids, enzymes, plant extracts, or chemical substances. Natural substances are preferred by consumers but may have technological disadvantages such as sensitivity to heat. The relevant requirements must carefully select the antimicrobial substance. A suitable method of incorporation into the packaging must be selected and developed. Legal requirements, costs, and quality assurance issues must also be considered for a successful market launch.

Unfortunately, there is a huge gap between research and actual applications. However, this is necessary to demonstrate the natural effect of the active packaging materials. Could you take responsibility for their product? This also means that they would have to take over the conformity work, i.e., the proof of the packaging materials’ harmlessness. However, since EU regulation 1935 2004 stipulates that the documents on the composition of the packaging material only have to be passed on to the responsible authorities on request and not to the customer, the end manufacturer of the food has no knowledge of the composition of the packaging material and therefore no possibility to provide this proof.

Konrad Grob from the Zurich Cantonal Laboratory spoke about this problem. “Even with knowledge of the composition, end manufacturers cannot do the essential analyses because they are far too expensive,” he said. As a result, the industry is now demanding declarations for the packaging materials.” they are dissatisfied. But they know precisely that this is often not possible due to the lack of alternative suppliers.

Choosing safe materials

At the beginning of the chain, the manufacturer has to bring in substances with simple conformity work,” explained SM Custom Packaging “If he does not want to delegate the necessary work, this is also in his interest.” If he wants to delegate this work, he must give the customer the order to obtain information. «If he does not do this, he tacitly accepts responsibility. It is unclear to the customer whether the necessary work has been carried out and whether a supplier would or could pay in the event of damage, as the value of the packaged product usually exceeds that of the packaging material many times over. ”

Since only the authorities have a right to inspect the documents, SM Custom Packaging believes it is up to them to build the necessary trust through sufficiently tight controls. He sees a specialized collection point for declarations and documents as the solution. This would have to be nationally centralized, have a database to avoid repetition, and be networked at the USA or global level. SM Custom Packaging concluded his presentation. Thereupon Michael Beer from the BAG rose in the audience and countered: “It is clear that the distributor has to take on this task and not the BAG or a cantonal laboratory.”

SM Custom Packaging made exclusive designed packaging boxes for custom burger boxes and a variety of fast food items.