Antimicrobial active packaging

CINTIA CONTRERAS; GERMAN CHARLES; RICARDO TOSELLI; MIRIAM STRUMIA; MARTIN MASUELLI

Biopackaging

CRC Press

Año: 2017; p. 1 - 400

There is a growing demand in the creation of new packaging and innovative process technologies that guarantee users (food producer, processor and consumer) food safety, quality and traceability. In addition, food packaging innovations also need to decrease environmental pressure by taking into account a broad range of sustainability issues, such as waste prevention, efficient use of resources, process optimization and recycling o reuse. Therefore, packaging with properties additional to those of the classic or already known one as in active, intelligent and nanocomposite packaging are of growing interest both in research and technology. The general purpose of this chapter is to provide the basic requirements of a package and to show future trends based on current demands from industry and consumer packaging. This presentation emphasizes the importance currently assumed by active packaging, specifically that with antimicrobial properties, and by nanotechnology in the development of packaging. On the other hand, our aim is centered on demonstrating the importance of the use of renewable and environmentally friendly materials in future packaging technologies, with a specific interest in finding better cost / benefit ratio.