TEFEN, ISRAEL - Innovative Modified Atmosphere/ Modified Humidity (MA/MH) packaging developed by StePacPPC is facilitating the transition away from ice-filled polystyrene and waxed carton boxes for packaging fresh broccoli and other vegetables for long-haul shipments in both the United States and Japan.
“At a time when flexible plastic packaging is under the spotlight, we have, together with researchers at the Agrotechnology & Food Sciences Group at Wageningen University, demonstrated that our functional ‘lean and green’ packaging solution reduces the carbon footprint by approximately 40 percent in shipments from Salinas Valley on the West Coast of California to New York on the East Coast, demonstrating a positive environmental impact,” informed Gary Ward, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, StePacPPC.
Polystyrene foam boxes filled with ice have been widely used for the domestic transport of many vegetables in Japan. While such packaging has excellent insulation properties and helps maintain low temperatures, it is not an environmentally friendly packaging material, a press release explained. Polystyrene foam is becoming increasingly shunned by retailers concerned about the ease with which it fragments, its persistence in the environment, and the fact that it is non-recyclable. Polystyrene generates significant disposal challenges, prompting calls for it to be phased out and be replaced with more eco-friendly alternatives.
The press release explained that many countries have already banned polystyrene entirely. Japan is placing growing regulatory emphasis on reducing the use of non-recyclable materials including certain types of polystyrene foam.
“It also has proven capabilities for preserving both the quality and nutritional value of fresh broccoli during prolonged storage, extending shelf-life, minimizing waste, and enhancing food safety,” Ward concluded. “Our Xtend bulk packaging also successfully preserves other produce traditionally shipped on ice, such as bok choy and green onions.”
Likewise, in the U.S., waterproofed waxed carton boxes used for iced broccoli shipments are increasingly unwelcome, the release added. Their wax coating renders them unsuitable for paper recycling, relegating them to general waste. Worse, landfilled waxed cardboard can produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Certain states, such as California, have placed local bans on non-recyclable containers.
To read the entire press release, click here.
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