Texture Analysis: A tool for developing new food packaging from byproducts (waste)

By-products and waste generation are having an impact on environmental, economic, and social sectors. 

 

To the environment, these contribute to GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Many of these biomaterials are not utilised and end up in municipal landfills where they create serious environmental problems due to microbial decomposition and leachate production. In some cases, the by-products are burned to remove fungi and parasites. From the economic point of view, the adverse impact is due to the costs related to the handling of solid waste in landfills. Moreover, the management of large amounts of different degradable materials poses a challenge.

 

However, there is an increasing need for biodegradable, environmentally friendly and functional food-packaging materials. In this regard, proteins obtained from agri-food industry by-products may become a promising and sustainable (less impact, valorisation) source of such materials.

 

Testing the integrity of packaging seals - Is Your Seal Satisfactory?

When a food product is wrapped, the package’s overall integrity, particularly of the seal area, is crucial to avoid contamination and resultant spoilage or safety issues.

The role of a packaging seal varies between products, and the importance of several factors will have different weights depending on its use. Some require excellent mechanical strength or a perfect airtight seal, whereas some must be easy to open.

The Packaging Research Revolution: Biodegradable Polymer Films

The majority of countries worldwide are making an effort to reduce their mark on the planet, and cutting down on plastics is an obvious place to start because of the availability of alternatives, and due to the large amount of waste they leave behind.

One of the largest sources of single use plastics is packaging. There is a large amount of academic and industrial research into this area. Stable Micro Systems equipment is a regular feature of publications due to the need for mechanical property analysis; one of the drawbacks of biodegradable polymers is their reduced structural integrity. Consequently, Texture Analysers are necessary to perform tests for both R&D and quality control, once the product has reached production. The following are a selection of recent publications into this interesting and important field, specifically those focussing on polymer films.

The Packaging Research Revolution: Biodegradable Polymer Films

The majority of countries worldwide are making an effort to reduce their mark on the planet, and cutting down on plastics is an obvious place to start because of the availability of alternatives, and due to the large amount of waste they leave behind.

One of the largest sources of single use plastics is packaging. There is a large amount of academic and industrial research into this area. Stable Micro Systems equipment is a regular feature of publications due to the need for mechanical property analysis; one of the drawbacks of biodegradable polymers is their reduced structural integrity. Consequently, Texture Analysers are necessary to perform tests for both R&D and quality control, once the product has reached production. The following are a selection of recent publications into this interesting and important field, specifically those focussing on polymer films.

Texture Analysis in Research: Packaging Applications

Due to consumers now hating plastic, waste companies are being forced to find alternative solutions.

The holy grail of packaging development is now to present a recyclable, compostable, biodegradable and environmentally friendly solution which does not compromise on packaging integrity and desired performance.

Researchers from the National University of Trujillo have been investigating biodegradable foam trays based on starches isolated from different Peruvian species.

Texture Analysis in Research: Edible Packaging

At the grocery store, most foods — meats, breads, cheeses, snacks — come wrapped in plastic packaging.

Not only does this create a lot of non-recyclable, non-biodegradable waste, but thin plastic films are not great at preventing spoilage – and some plastics are suspected of leaching potentially harmful compounds into food.

Current food packaging is mainly petroleum-based, which is not sustainable. It also does not degrade, creating tons of plastic waste that sits in landfills for years – an issue that is now weighing heavily on the minds of all consumers after recent documentaries. To address these issues, scientists are now developing a packaging film made of milk proteins — and it is even edible.

Is your Ice Cream Tub at the Top of the Stack?

An ice cream tub has an important job. It must attract the supermarket shopper with an appealing design, often showing off the ice cream through a transparent window. 

The structure of the ice cream should be protected – any decorations or surface construction should remain in place and not be squashed by the lid. At the same time, there are requirements for packaging to be lightweight, stackable and suitable for nesting in pallets during shipping as well as minimising both empty space and material usage.

Texture Analysis in Action 2: Ring Pull Rig

The Ring Pull Rig was developed to allow manufacturers of food tins and beverage cans to measure the force needed to lift the ring pull and open the container. 

This relatively new development could signal the end of consumer frustration with trying to open metal packaging that is too stiff, or where the ring pull detaches from the lid. 

Understanding and quantifying the force needed to use a ring pull is vital for both packaging manufacturers and their customers to ensure safety, functionality and consumer experience.

Physical Analysis: Putting Cosmetics Packaging to the Test

The development of cosmetics for release into a competitive market is a high cost endeavour, so it would be inefficient for these high stakes products to be shipped in low quality packaging, or for the container to degrade during its shelf life.

Packaging is the first thing the customer sees in the shop so from this point of view the graphics and physical design are important to make it stand out amongst other similar products; the appearance of packages can directly affect marketing. However, the main purpose of packaging is to ensure the product arrives in a customer’s hands in perfect condition and to prevent any losses caused by shipping, handling or storage.

Testing packaging pouch performance

Stand-up flexible pouches are in vogue all over the world and according to experts are set to experience high growth in the future, too.

There are many reasons for this. They are attractive to consumers and easy to handle to transport, for instance. They were very much led by the squeezable baby fruit sauce packages but now when we observe the retail food shelves, we see ketchup, mayonnaise, wine, salsa, honey, juice, premixed cocktails, and a host of fluid food products in stand-up flexible pouches.

Lifting the lid on food and drink packaging tests

A new rig has been developed to allow manufacturers of food tins and beverage cans to measure the force needed to lift the ring pull and open the container. 

This new development could signal the end of consumer frustration with trying to open metal packaging that is too stiff, or where the ring pull detaches from the lid. 

Understanding and quantifying the force needed to use a ring pull is vital for both packaging manufacturers and their customers to ensure safety, functionality and consumer experience. 

Measuring Sauce Texture: Dispensing from Actuated Product Containers

Actuation Force test

Actuation Force Testing allows measurement of the force required to, for example, release mustard, ketchup or salad dressing  from dispensers, such as is found in fast food restaurants. 

Manually-actuated spray pump dispensers or finger pumps rely on the consumer to generate a hydraulic pressure in the pumping engine in order to dispense the fluid. 

Dispenser designs may change or vary or the every-increasing market for child friendly products may require adaptations.

Texture Analysis in Action: the Sachet/Tube Extrusion Rig

The SACHET/TUBE EXTRUSION RIG (A/STE) is a device which extrudes the contents of sachet and tube style packaging.

It has been designed to allow manufacturers of pharmaceutical, cosmetic and personal care products to quantify the ease of removal and application of products such as ointments, creams and gels.

The rig positions the product vertically between two rollers, clamping the closed end with a grip at the top. The grip then pulls the sachet/tube upwards through the rollers, forcing the contents out whilst measuring the force required.

Product developers can analyse changes in a product’s consistency throughout its shelf-life and adapt formulations accordingly whilst also enabling manufacturers to assess the suitability of packaging material and its construction.

Texture Analysis in Action: the Blister Pack Rig

The BLISTER PACK RIG* (A/BP)
 
There are a range of tests available which quantify the characteristics of blister packs. Perhaps the most important test is to measure the force required to remove the tablet from its blister pack. 

This simple imitative test, which can be quickly performed on a complete strip of tablets, enables the average extraction force as well as the maximum and minimum extraction forces to be determined. 

Materials and Packaging Physical Characterisation

Manufacturers today, particularly in the FMCG arena, are aware of the importance of packaging to the success of their businesses.

No matter how desirable or valuable a product, if its packaging fails, it may become unfit for purpose, impossible to handle and store, or even completely unusable and unsellable. Poor packaging performance can not only damage the product it contains, but also the reputation and profitability of the company that supplied it.