Advanced food packaging for a sustainable future

概述开发用于改进新鲜食品包装的新的先进解决方案对于解决重要问题至关重要，包括提高可回收性，食品安全，保质期，减少腐败和改善客户体验等。低环境影响的现代包装在长期、可持续和环保的供应链发展中发挥着关键作用。研究工程师将与Klöckner Pentaplast（KP）合作，Klöckner Pentaplast（KP）是一家位于塑料包装解决方案前沿的公司，致力于通过倡导循环经济方法来促进负责任的创新，其中塑料是有价值的原材料来源。对于新鲜食品包装行业，核心产品组包括：1）热成型托盘。这些都是制造热成型挤出刚性板（聚丙烯和PET），泡沫（发泡聚苯乙烯）和这些片材热成型为食品包装。2）相关的挤出薄膜。项目目标为实现完全循环经济而开发新鲜食品包装需要新技术来提供环境友好的解决方案，同时通过提高食品安全性，保质期，该项目旨在开发新的解决方案，解决这一研究问题的重要因素：1）单材料热塑性包装的密封和阻隔性能：薄膜盖和托盘之间的密封对于产品的安全性和保质期至关重要。在朝着资源循环的方向发展时，传统的方法受到质疑，薄膜和托盘传统上由不同的材料制成，这导致了与可回收性相关的挑战。该项目将专注于开发新的解决方案，在生命周期结束时进行完整的包装回收，符合现代和未来的环境需求。2）防雾：在透明食品包装中，包装内的雾化是废物的重要来源，影响可见性并从根本上降低消费者对产品的需求。通过对这一现象的探索，该项目旨在提供和测试可扩展的可行解决方案。

OverviewThe development of new and advanced solutions for improved packaging of fresh food is fundamental to tackle important issues including the likes of improved recyclability, food safety, shelf lifetime, reduction of spoilage, and improved customer experience. Modern, low environmental impact packaging plays a key role in the development of a long-term, sustainable, and environmentally friendly supply chain. The research engineer will work in collaboration with Klöckner Pentaplast (KP), a company at the forefront of plastic packaging solutions and committed to promoting responsible innovations by championing a circular economy approach where plastics are a source of valuable raw material.For the fresh food packaging sector, core product groups include:1) Thermoformed trays. These are manufactured by thermoforming extruded rigid sheet (Polypropylene and PET), foam (expanded polystyrene) and the thermoforming of these sheets into food packaging.2) Associated Extruded films.Project AimsThe development of fresh food packaging for a fully circular economy requires new technologies to provide environmentally friendly solutions while reducing waste by enhancing food safety, shelf life, and product desirability of any fresh product.The project aims to develop new solutions addressing important elements of this research question:1) Sealing and barrier properties for mono-material thermoplastic packaging: Sealing between film lid and tray is critical for safety and shelf-life of the product. Moving towards a circular approach for resources, conventional approaches are questioned, with films and trays traditionally made of different materials which then cause challenges associated with recyclability. The project will focus to develop new solutions for complete package recycling at end of life, compatible with modern and future environmental needs.2) Antifogging: In transparent food packaging, fogging inside the packaging is an important source of waste product, affecting the visibility and essentially reducing product desirability for the consumer. Through exploration of the phenomenon, the project aims to provide and test scalable viable solutions to this issue.