BfG warns of loss of freshness due to PPWR requirements
According to vegetable growers, the lack of exemptions could lead to reduced shelf life, loss of freshness and increased food waste.
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BASF SE and Israeli packaging manufacturer StePac Ltd. are working together to develop the next generation of sustainable packaging specifically for the fresh produce sector. BASF's chemically recycled polyamide Ultramid Ccycled offers the partner new possibilities in the conversion of contact-sensitive packaging formats to higher sustainability standards in a circular economy.
StePac, specialising in the development of functional packaging solutions, is a pioneer in the use of chemically recycled plastics for the packaging of fresh, perishable food. The company was recently certified according to the REDcert standard for the use of chemically recycled polyamide 6 in its flexible packaging under modified atmosphere.
The two brands Xgo and Xtend are based on MAP technology with customised moisture control. Respiration in the packaging is effectively slowed down, the product ageing process is delayed, microbial decay is inhibited and preserves the quality and nutritional value of the food during prolonged storage and transport. The Xgo and Xtend Circular products contain 30 per cent chemically recycled Ultramid Ccycled polyamide, with the option of a higher percentage.
„This partnership will help strike a balance between creating the most environmentally friendly plastic packaging possible and extending the shelf life of fresh produce through more responsible use of thin plastic films. The improved packaging formats will further help to significantly reduce food waste - an extremely important task considering that it is responsible for around eight per cent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.“
Gary Ward, Business Development Manager of StePac
Chemically recycled plastics equivalent to virgin material
With ChemCycling BASF is breaking new ground in the recycling of plastic waste. Chemical recycling primarily comprises plastic waste that would be utilised for energy recovery or landfilled. It thus complements mechanical recycling and accelerates the circular economy by recovering food-grade recycled plastic.
„In a thermochemical process, our partners extract recycled raw materials from these used plastics, which are then fed into the BASF Verbund. The raw material can be allocated to specific products, such as Ultramid Ccycled, using a mass balance approach. This helps to replace fossil raw materials and is an important step towards a circular economy. As chemically recycled plastics are equivalent to virgin material in terms of quality and safety, the range of sustainable plastics that can be used for packaging fresh produce is expanding.“
Dr Dominik Winter, Vice President of BASF's European polyamide business.
The Colombian exporter of passion fruit, Jardin Exotics S.A.S., will be the first customer to use the new Xgo Circular packaging brand. Thanks to the customised modified atmosphere packaging, which is supplied as a film for horizontal filling and sealing, the quality of the passion fruit is preserved during the long sea voyage from Colombia to Europe. As the fruit is packed for retail on the spot, there is no need for the usual repackaging on arrival. The combination of the product-specific film properties and the high water vapour permeability make this packaging solution for passion fruit unique.
Source: BASF
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