SMART PACKAGING PROMISES INDUSTRY ECONOMY

With the advancement of the consumption of processed foods, grows the food packaging market. An eye in this potential, major chemical industries, as the Brazilian Braskem and the German Henkel, study packs and "smart" stickers, which through special chemical characteristics may indicate to consumers the quality of packed food. The news should go into commercial scale yet in this decade, companies say.
"In Brazil, the trend is increasingly to process food. The country today is a major exporter of grain, there is a huge opportunity to add value to our already agribusiness selling packaged products, "said recently the President of the Brazilian Association of plastic Industry (ABIPLAST), José Ricardo Roriz.
"The increase of income also brings changes, you go out fresh food consumption. Today people want food packed, washed, prepared and that the packaging make sure that the product has a shelf life much more, "he said. The shelf life is the length of time that a food keeps its physical characteristics (smell, texture, flavor, appearance) and microbiological characteristics, no signs of deterioration or proliferation of disease-causing agents. Second Roriz, Brazil still has a lot to move in that direction. "We have a huge field for the plastics market, given this new consumer profile", he believes.
Smart packaging, nanotechnology applications also fall in this process and can bring economic benefits to the industry. "Today one of the largest applications of nanotechnology is in the area of plastics, are nanomoléculas that increase the useful life of products. Often, in a country the size of Brazil, where the freight cost is too high, if you can increase the shelf life of the product, has a huge economy, "explains Roriz.
The research team from the Braskem technology and innovation is perched on packaging "active smart", that can notify you when the product is no longer ideal for consumption. The goal is to develop plastic resins that improve safety conditions for food intake, and increase its service life.
"The active systems react to what happens inside or outside and intelligent packaging has to communicate any changes to function as, for example, of temperature," explains the research and Development Manager of Braskem, Fabio Suffered. Braskem is developing antimicrobial and thermo-transfer applications in packaging which can warn the consumer if the product is suitable for consumption and to envasador if the packaging has a problem.
"This technology can benefit the food industry while avoiding losses. The food chain in Brazil today loses much due to poor logistics, with losses in transportation and handling. The type of packaging can reduce it, "he says. In addition to the packaging market, which may include cosmetic and pharmaceutical segments, in addition to the food, the company sees new technology applications in non-woven market, home appliances and automotive.
Still no commercial application for the product, but it is expected to be able to put it on the market from 2018. "Before 2018 the chances are low, because we are looking for what is more challenging, to create value for the string", says the Manager, who bet that the application should be tested first in mature markets.
As the manufacturer of adhesives Henkel studies functional substrates for your adhesives intended for food packaging. "Are substrates with additional barrier characteristics, with features to offer additional information to the consumer, for example, if the product was throughout the distribution chain above or below a certain temperature," explains VP of adhesive technologies for MERCOSUR, Antonio do Vale.
"These are all innovative elements, for us as suppliers of adhesives, represent important opportunities in new materials," he says. According to the Executive, are products that are in development phase, on projects in partnership with customers, hence the confidentiality. "This product may have a disclosure on the market in the next two or three years," he predicts.
The German closed recently partnered with the American company Nordson adhesive application, with the aim of developing new technologies for the packaging market. "We will work together in a solution that allows the employees of industries to work more comfortably and safely", says the Executive.
The area of packaging and fast moving consumer goods (consumer products) represent 30% to 35% of the global business of Henkel, second Valley. The company invests in research and development (P&D), about 3% of its sales.