EU project promotes active and intelligent packaging materials

The first version of an online database detailing available active and intelligent packaging (AIP) materials has been launched after a collaboration between research institutes, associations and SMEs.
 
The AIP Competence Platform is an EU project that has been developed as an information exchange on AIP materials, especially for SMEs to enable them to integrate AIP solutions into their products and adapt to respond to consumer demand for a high diversity of fresh and nutritious convenience foods.
 
The AIP Competence Platform states that active packaging describes mainly food packaging that interacts chemically or biologically with its contents or head space to extend shelf life. Packaging may be termed active when it affects one or more attributes of the packaging in a lasting and desired way. Besides oxygen scavengers, antimicrobial agents, moisture absorbers, ethylene absorbers, ethanol and carbon dioxide emitters can be used as active features in order to address the weak points in the shelf life of packed goods.

Intelligent or smart packaging is a special form of active packaging. One of the main purposes is to indicate whether the quality of the product has decreased before the product deteriorates. Time-temperature indicators (TTIs) are the most used applications in the field of intelligent packaging. Further applications with growth prospect are freshness indicators and tracking services via intelligent expiry date labels.

The AIP Competence Platform has been developed in collaboration between a number of European research bodies, such as Hungary’s GTE Scientific Society of Mechanical Engineering and Germany’s Fraunhofer IVV, plus associations and SMEs from across Europe.

The database can be accessed at http://kb.activepackaging.eu. It will be improved and updated on an ongoing basis.