Environmentally Compatible Food Packaging

Food packaging performs an essential function, but packaging materials can have a negative impact on the environment. This collection reviews bio-based, biodegradable and recycled materials and their current and potential applications for food protection and preservation. Beginning with an examination of the latest advances in bio-based food packaging materials, this book discusses the factors involved in choosing alternative packaging materials such as consumer preference, measuring the environmental performance of food packaging, eco-design, and the safety and quality of recycled materials. It examines applications of environmentally-compatible materials in particular product sectors, including the packaging of fresh horticultural produce, dairy products and seafood. The text also covers active packaging, modified atmosphere packaging, and biobased intelligent food packaging and concludes with a summary of the legislation and certification of environmentally-compatible packaging in the EU. With its distinguished editor and contributors, Environmentally-compatible food packaging will be a valuable reference tool for professionals in the food processing and packaging industries.

Table of Contents:
PART 1 BIOBASED FOOD PACKAGING MATERIALS: NEW DIRECTIONS State-of-The-Art Biobased Food Packaging Materials G Robertson, University of Queensland, Australia - Introduction: biobased packaging, the food industry and the environment - Classification of biobased food packaging materials - Properties of biobased food packaging materials - Assessing the biodegradability of biobased materials for food packaging - Applications and challenges for biobased food packaging - Future trends - Sources of further information and advice - References Types, Production and Assessment of Biobased Food Packaging Materials S Imam, G Glenn, B-S Chiou, J Shey, R Narayan and W Orts, USDA-ARS-PW-WRRC, USA - Introduction: rationale and need for biobased food packaging - The environmental impact of conventional food packaging - Opportunity for renewable polymers - Production of biobased food packaging materials - Hybrid blends and composites - New developments in the production of packaging from recycled lignocellulosic fiber and renewable materials - Assessing the biodegradability of renewable materials in food packaging - Biodegradable packaging life-cycle assessment (LCA) - Food safety concerns: applications and adoption by the industry - Future trends - Sources of further information and advice - References Thermoplastic Nanobiocomposites for Rigid and Flexible Food Packaging Applications J Lagaron, E Gimenez and M Sanchez-Garcia, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, Spain - Introduction: plastic food packaging, sustainable materials and barrier properties - "Barrier properties" limit the use of plastics in monolayer packaging - Novel developments in barrier polymeric structures - Polymer blends: the case of permeable fillers - Nanocomposites: the case of impermeable fillers - Nanobiocomposites for monolayer packaging: polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactones (PCL), polyhydroxialcanoates (PHA) and starch - Future trends and outlook - Nomenclature - References Improved Fibre-Based Packaging for Food Applications J Poustis, JPC Packaging Institute, France - Introduction - Properties and uses of fibre-based food packaging - Innovative methods to improve fibre-based packaging for food applications - Suitability of new fibre-based packaging materials for food packaging - Assessing the biodegradability of new fibre-based packaging materials for food packaging - Applications and future trends in the food industry - References Starch-Based Edible Films Y Zhang, Z Liu and J Han, University of Manitoba, Canada - General properties and structure of starch - History of edible films - Edible film materials and their previous applications - Starch film-forming mechanisms - gelatinization and recrystallization - Appearance and physical properties of starch films - Plasticization of starch films - Trends in starch research and applications - References The Use of Chitin and Chitosan for Food Packaging Applications I Arvanitoyannis, University of Thessaly, Greece - Introduction - Mechanical properties - Thermal properties - Gas permeability - Water permeability - Conclusions - References PART 2 USING ENVIRONMENTALLY-COMPATIBLE PACKAGING TECHNOLOGIES IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY Consumer Attitude to Food Packaging and the Market for Environmentally Compatible Products I Arvanitoyannis and A Kasaveti, University of Thessaly, Greece - Introduction - Packaging materials - "Green" packaging - Disposal of packaging materials - Recycling of packaging materials - New packaging technologies - Food packaging regulation in the European Union - The study of consumer behaviour - Conclusions - References Environmental Assessment of Food Packaging and Advanced Methods for Choosing the Correct Materials K Verghese, RMIT University, Australia - Introduction - Modern day lifestyle conflicts and demands from the retail sector - Recognition of environmental impacts of packaging in the food industry - Environmental assessment of food packaging systems - Environmental assessment tools for food packaging systems - Sustainable packaging developments - Implementing environmental assessment approaches into your product-packaging system development process - Future trends - Sources of further information and advice - References Measuring the Environmental Performance of Food Packaging: Life Cycle Assessment G Parker, Ciba Expert Services, UK - Introduction - Environmental performance of biopolymers - Measuring environmental impacts: the science of life cycle assessment - Results of existing life cycle assessment studies of biopolymers - Measuring the environmental performance of packaging: future trends - Sources of further information and advice - References Eco-Design of Food Packaging Materials H Lewis, RMIT University, Australia - Introduction - Key drivers of eco-design of food packaging materials - Eco-design strategies for food packaging materials - Future trends - Conclusions - Sources of further information and advice - References Additives for Environmentally Compatible Active Food Packaging S Irmak and O Erbatur, Cukurova University, Turkey - Introduction - Antimicrobial/antioxidant agents incorporated into polymers - Chemical preservatives - Peptides and proteins - Polysaccharides - Natural antimicrobial/antioxidant compounds from plant sources - Extraction and fractionation techniques of antimicrobial/antioxidant compounds from plant sources - Antimicrobial and antioxidant tests - Suitability of new coatings and adhesives for food packaging - Incorporation of antimicrobials/antioxidants into polymer materials - Applications in food industry - Future trends - References Recycling of Food Packaging Materials: An Overview D Dainelli, Sealed Air Corporation, Italy and EuPC (European Plastics Converters Association), Belgium - Introduction - Regulation of recycling of food packaging materials - Recycling paper food packaging: collection, separation and processing - Recycling plastic food packaging: collection, separation and recovery - Recycling of other materials - Supply chain management to reduce packaging waste - Conclusions - References Recycled Plastics For Food Applications: Improving Safety and Quality V Komolprasert and A Bailey, Food and Drug Administration, USA - Introduction - Plastic food packaging and the environment - The recyclability of packaging plastics - Recycling processes - Improving the recyclability of plastic packaging for food use - The safety and quality of recycled plastics - The use of recycled plastics in the food industry - Future trends - References Recycled Paper and Board for Food Applications: Improving Safety and Quality C Nerin, University of Zaragoza, Spain - Introduction - The recyclability of paper and board - Improving the recyclability of paper and board packaging - Testing the safety and quality of recycled paper and board - Future trends - Sources of further information and advice - References PART 3 ENVIRONMENTALLY-COMPATIBLE FOOD PACKAGING FOR PARTICULAR APPLICATIONS Overview of Environmentally Compatible Polymeric Materials for Food Packaging E Chiellini, A Barghini, P Cinelli and V I Ilieva, University of Pisa, Italy - Introduction - Polymers from renewable resources - Multilayer packaging films - Technology for biobased polymer processing - Economic issues regarding biodegradable polymers - Conclusions - Sources of further information and advice - Reference Modified Atmosphere Packaging using Environmentally Compatible and Active Food Packaging Materials C Guillaume, P Chalier and N Gontard, University of Montpellier II, France - Introduction - Modified atmosphere packaging of fruit and vegetables: using proteins to control gas transport phenomena through paper-based materials - Antimicrobial modified atmosphere packaging: antimicrobial properties of aroma compounds and their controlled release using the paper coating agent as an inclusion matrix - Future trends - References Active Environmentally Compatible Food Packaging R Catalá, P Hernández-Muñoz and R Gavara, IATA-CSIC, Spain - Introduction - Basic characteristics of active packaging - Biopolymer-based active materials for food packaging - Future trends - References Biobased Intelligent Food Packaging P Taoukis, National Technical University of Athens, Greece and M Smolander, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finland - Introduction - Biobased tools for the detection of quality-indicating metabolites - Biobased tools for the detection of pathogenic and microbial contamination - Biobased indicators for monitoring the time-temperature history - Other intelligent packaging systems utilising biomolecules - Future trends - References Environmentally Compatible Packaging of Fresh Agricultural and Horticultural Produce C Bishop and S Hanney, Writtle College, UK - Introduction - Specific challenges for fresh produce packaging - Industry response - Storage of packaging material - Supply chain - Reducing the environmental impact of secondary packaging - returnable plastic crates - Conclusions - References Biobased Packaging of Dairy Products M Jakobsen, University of Copenhagen, V K Holm, Danish Technological Institute, G Mortensen, Danish Dairy Board, Denmark - Introduction - Required properties in relation to dairy products - Current applications of biopackaging of dairy products - Future trends - Sources of further information and advice - References Environmentally Friendly Packaging of Muscle Foods P Dawson, K Cooksey and S Mangalassary, Clemson University, USA - Introduction - Types of meat packaging - Source reduction - Recyclable material - Bio-based materials - References Legislation and Certification Of Environmentally Compatible Packaging in The European Union C Enguix, A Imbernon and J Ferrer, AINIA - Instituto Tecnológico Agroalimentario, Spain - Introduction - Packaging waste legislation - Biodegradable waste - Legislation on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food - Future trends for the legislation of materials and articles intended to come into contact with food - References

About the Author :
University of Pisa, Italy