Braskem develops packaging for export of papaya

To strengthen its external sales and increase your profitability, the great challenge of the Brazilian berries grow on trees is to ensure the protection and conservation of their products until they get into the hands of the consumer. To meet this demand, Braskem has developed, in partnership with customers, a new plastic solution unique to the market of papaya. Petrochemistry worked in conjunction with the Union of Growers of Brazilian Papaya (UGBP), a company of Linhares (ES). Together, the companies have developed a safer and attractive packaging for fruit. Now, papaya follows for other countries involved in a polyethylene film, which gives the quality, safety and aesthetics that local farmers wanted. The big challenge was to find a suitable movie that doesn't harm the fruit. "We wanted to provide a gain of consumer quality and establish our brand. For that, we can develop together a package that met all requirements ", explains Rodrigo Martins, Director of UGBP. According to Malik, the use of plastic can reduce some of the most common damage to fruit on the market. After several tests, it became clear that the packaging allows for more uniform fruit ripening, ensures protection against contamination and increases the exposure time on newsstands in up to four days. The new package is now available in Brazil and in the United States – one of the main consumers of papayas in the world – in individual versions and in boxes. "The partnership with producers of UGBP was very productive and successful. Our greatest challenge was to align our technology resin with the farmers ' demands, but always seeking consumer desires in such different markets, in Brazil and abroad. It was another successful test for Braskem's portfolio in the packaging sector, "says Albertoni Bloisi, responsible for market development at Braskem. With average production of 600 tons of papaya per month, UGBP exports to France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Spain, England, Canada and United States. In the domestic market, the organization sells to the South, Southeast and Midwest.