According to recent reports, more than 400,000 types of processed, packaged foods and beverages grace store shelves at this point. This segment of the market has already surpassed 2.7 trillion worldwide, and it’s only going to grow moving forward. These convenient items are revolutionary in their own right. Endless research, testing, engineering, and technological advancements have made them all possible. Still, there’s much more to come.
Global Packaging Solutions: Taking Food Processing to New Heights
Despite all the developments that have already brought changes to the industry, even more are on the horizon. Some are already in play, taking the evolution of food processing and packaging to entirely new heights. One of those is global packaging for food processing. That term refers to the technology, techniques, and materials used during the food manufacturing and packaging process and beyond. Global packaging solutions are revolutionizing the industry in many ways.
Improved Sustainability
Improved sustainability is one of the main advantages of global packaging solutions. They’re designed to maximize efficiency and environmental friendliness. Equipment in this category minimizes energy use, resource consumption, and emissions. It also helps reduce waste. All that helps food processing companies reduce their impact on the planet.
These solutions often include minimalistic packaging to further reduce waste. They can also include biodegradable or compostable packaging. Those packages are often made of plant-based materials like starches or cellulose. Edible packaging is also entering the mix. Though it’s still in its infantile stages, experts believe it holds a great deal of promise for further improving sustainability in food processing and packaging.
Smart Packaging
Some food processing companies are incorporating smart packaging into their global packaging solutions as well. Several types of smart packaging and labels have been developed. On foods that need to stay cold or frozen, smart labels can change color if they exceed safe temperatures. Smart labels on perishable foods can alert companies and consumers when they pass their expiration dates. Some packaging can detect carbon dioxide, oxygen, and other gases inside to determine how fresh or ripe foods are. Certain types of packaging can detect harmful bacteria in foods for added protection.
Modified Atmosphere and Antimicrobial Packaging
One specific type of smart packaging that’s completely transforming the food industry is modified atmosphere packaging. It can actually change the atmosphere inside the package to keep foods safer and make them last longer. Antimicrobial packaging has also been developed. It can thwart bacteria growth to prevent spoilage and foodborne illnesses. Those types of packaging are sure to reduce food waste. They also protect consumers, improve food processing companies’ profits, and foster sustainability.
Interactive Solutions
Certain types of interactive technology are also being incorporated into global packaging solutions. For example, packages can be equipped with RFID, NFC tags, or QR codes. People can scan those tags for information about packaging facilities, dates, shipping, and other important factors. They help supermarkets and other distributors ensure the foods they sell are safe for their customers. They can also give customers insight into where their foods come from. From another perspective, interactive packaging can allow production facilities to track their products. Some packaging even allows distributors and customers to send feedback directly to food processing companies.
Taking Food Processing Into the Future
Global packaging solutions span the entire food production and packaging process. They also extend well beyond that point. They’re designed to help processing facilities improve their efficiency and sustainability while also boosting their profits. They can help reduce waste throughout the lifespan of a company’s products. Some can keep foods fresh for longer and prevent contamination. These solutions are revolutionizing the food processing industry at this very moment, and they’re set to take it into the future.
