Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23B—PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES
  • A23B7/00—Preservation of fruit or vegetables; Chemical ripening of fruit or vegetables
  • A23B7/14—Preserving or ripening with chemicals not covered by group A23B7/08 or A23B7/10
  • A23B7/144—Preserving or ripening with chemicals not covered by group A23B7/08 or A23B7/10 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
  • A23B7/148—Preserving or ripening with chemicals not covered by group A23B7/08 or A23B7/10 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor in a controlled atmosphere, e.g. partial vacuum, comprising only CO2, N2, O2 or H2O
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/24—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23B—PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES
  • A23B7/00—Preservation of fruit or vegetables; Chemical ripening of fruit or vegetables
  • A23B7/14—Preserving or ripening with chemicals not covered by group A23B7/08 or A23B7/10
  • A23B7/144—Preserving or ripening with chemicals not covered by group A23B7/08 or A23B7/10 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
  • A23B7/152—Preserving or ripening with chemicals not covered by group A23B7/08 or A23B7/10 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor in a controlled atmosphere comprising other gases in addition to CO2, N2, O2 or H2O ; Elimination of such other gases
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B25/00—Packaging other articles presenting special problems
  • B65B25/02—Packaging agricultural or horticultural products
  • B65B25/04—Packaging fruit or vegetables
  • B65B25/041—Packaging fruit or vegetables combined with their conservation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
  • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
  • B65B55/04—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
  • B65B55/10—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by liquids or gases
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
  • B65B57/10—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
  • B65B61/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
  • B65D33/01—Ventilation or drainage of bags
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D65/00—Wrappers or flexible covers; Packaging materials of special type or form
  • B65D65/38—Packaging materials of special type or form
  • B65D65/46—Applications of disintegrable, dissolvable or edible materials
  • B65D65/466—Bio- or photodegradable packaging materials
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/18—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient
  • B65D81/20—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
  • B65D81/2069—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas in a special atmosphere
  • B65D81/2084—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas in a special atmosphere in a flexible container
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/24—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants
  • B65D81/26—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with provision for draining away, or absorbing, or removing by ventilation, fluids, e.g. exuded by contents; Applications of corrosion inhibitors or desiccators
  • B65D81/263—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with provision for draining away, or absorbing, or removing by ventilation, fluids, e.g. exuded by contents; Applications of corrosion inhibitors or desiccators for ventilating the contents
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
  • B65D85/30—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure
  • B65D85/34—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure for fruit, e.g. apples, oranges or tomatoes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
  • B65D85/50—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for living organisms, articles or materials sensitive to changes of environment or atmospheric conditions, e.g. land animals, birds, fish, water plants, non-aquatic plants, flower bulbs, cut flowers or foliage
  • B65D85/505—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for living organisms, articles or materials sensitive to changes of environment or atmospheric conditions, e.g. land animals, birds, fish, water plants, non-aquatic plants, flower bulbs, cut flowers or foliage for cut flowers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23V—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION
  • A23V2002/00—Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
  • Y02W90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
  • Y02W90/10—Bio-packaging, e.g. packing containers made from renewable resources or bio-plastics

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to a package for preserving respiring produce contained in the package, in particular vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs, comprising a packaging material, in particular a polymer film, provided with at least one perforation enabling gas exchange, in particular the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, with the outside atmosphere surrounding the package.
• the invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a package.
• shelf life of natural products is of interest to producers, sellers, re-sellers and consumers alike.
• food stuffs like vegetables, fruit, herbs and/or spices, taste, flavour, ripeness and/or structural properties (e.g. firmness) are particularly relevant, as well as
• vase life the time cut flowers and/or flowers in a bouquet retain acceptably pleasing appearance and/or fragrance on display.
• the vase life is a few days up to about two weeks at most. Shelf life and vase life are affected by initial produce quality and by conditions of storage and/or transport.
• Natural produce such as flowers, vegetables, fruits and/or herbs tend to respire after being harvested, involving inter alia to a consumption of oxygen and a generation of carbon dioxide. The respiration continues for prolonged periods, in particular if the produce has undergone little to no processing, e.g. having been washed and possibly peeled and/or chopped up, but otherwise fresh and uncooked.
• the atmosphere within the package is affected by the respiring produce. Conversely, an atmosphere surrounding natural produce affects the respiration,
• MAP the produce is packaged, and an artificial gas mixture is used to establish a distinct interior atmosphere in the package, which may however change later on due to the respiration of the packed produce.
• CAP the produce is packaged, and the composition of the package atmosphere is controlled by including an active absorber for an atmosphere component, e.g. an oxygen scavenger and/or by adapting transmission of the packaging material to allow exchange with an exterior atmosphere outside the package, e.g. by perforating the material.
• MAP/CAP atmosphere packaging
• Another aspect of fresh and/or respiring produce is, on the one hand, the production of water vapour by the produce and, on the other hand, sensitivity to humidity by the produce and/or live contaminants (e.g. microbes, insects, parasites, fungi, ...) . Therefore, humidity of the atmosphere inside a package should also preferably be controlled.
• a package for preserving respiring produce contained in the package in particular vegetables, fruit, herbs, spices and/or flowers, is provided.
• the package defines a package volume for containing a portion of the produce and a package atmosphere, and comprises a packaging material, in particular a polymer film, provided with at least one perforation enabling gas exchange with the atmosphere surrounding the package to form the package into a Controlled Atmosphere Package (CAP) .
• CAP Controlled Atmosphere Package
• the packaging material has a Water Vapour
• WVTR Water Vapour Transmission Rate
• CO2TR carbon dioxide transmission rate
• O2TR oxygen transmission rate
• WVTR Water Vapour Transmission Rate
• CO2TR carbon dioxide transmission rate
• the packaging material provides, compared to presently available packages, in particular a high
• a high WVTR reduces humidity build-up in the package atmosphere, and in particular it reduces formation of water films and/or droplets in the package atmosphere, e.g. on surfaces within the package, such as on an inside surface of the packaging material. This reduces fungal growth and/or other decay processes.
• a too high WVTR causes decay by losing turgor, drying out and/or withering of the produce, which also is unacceptable.
• a high CO2TR facilitates escape of carbon dioxide and thus reduces elevating CO2 concentration in the package atmosphere, thus reducing or preventing risks of anaerobic decay processes. Further, CO2 may dissolve in water, from which it may re-enter the package atmosphere later on, and with which it may react to form carbonic acid which in turn may affect taste and/or composition of food produce stored in the package .
• Closing the bag may also be done by hand with a closing device (e.g. tie, clip, tape, elastic band, etc.) and/or by folding and/or knotting.
• a closing device e.g. tie, clip, tape, elastic band, etc.
• the package may be (further) closed by other techniques, e.g. by use of adhesives and/or by welding which may comprise using a hand-held device and/or an automated device which may be comprised in the apparatus.
• the package may be closed immediately after filling or produce may be filled in the package and the package being closed after a further treatment step and/or conditioning step, e.g. cooling.
• a too-low 0 2 -concentration may accelerate anaerobic decay processes; however, a too high concentration enables prolonged development and aging of the produce. Both should be prevented.
• the oxygen transmission rate OTR of the packaging material enables an inflow of oxygen into the package
• An oxygen concentration in a range of typically 1- 10%, preferably 2-8% e.g. 3-7% more preferably 4-6% may be preferred to decelerate aging processes (also known as
• Such concentrations may be achieved by the at least one perforation forming the package as a CAP.
• the oxygen transmission rate of the package as a whole can be increased .
• Each perforation affects the transmission rate of the package as a whole for oxygen, carbon dioxide and ethylene.
• the open area of microperforations for CAP affects the water vapour transmission rate of the package as a whole only insignificantly.
• the high ratio b facilitates control over the oxygen concentration and the carbon dioxide concentration in the package atmosphere by perforating the material.
• the oxygen concentration in the package atmosphere may be lowered to a reduced oxygen concentration in order to slow down aging processes, while at the same time ensuring a minimum equilibrium oxygen
• the carbon dioxide concentration in the package atmosphere may be controlled to a desired maximum value.
• aging, maturation and/or decay are slowed down and in particular anaerobic processes such as bacterial growth are prevented.
• it is preferred that the equilibrium oxygen concentration and/or carbon dioxide concentration are reached as soon as possible.
• a combination of CAP and MAP may be used.
• the initial package atmosphere may be established at or near the time of closing the package by creating in and/or
• the total open area of the perforations for CAP should be determined based on the produce (to be) packed and the transmission properties of the packaging material itself; the transmission rate of the package for each substance is formed by the combination of the transmission rate of the packaging material and the
• the perforation ( s ) in the package should provide an open area configured to control inflow of oxygen into the package volume, in particular establishing a minimum inflow to prevent anaerobicity and a maximum inflow to ensure the low oxygen concentration slowing down the metabolic processes of the produce (a.k.a. "putting the produce to sleep”) .
• perforations considering that perforations are a-selective with respect to O 2 and CO 2 : typically the ratio for the flow of CO 2 : 0 2 for 1 small laser perforation is approximately 1.
• the perforations in the package therefore determine simultaneously an upper limit for outflow of CO 2 and inflow of O 2 .
• Manufacturing a CAP package thus forces a compromise between on the one hand raising the outflow of CO 2 , which is desired, and on the other hand raising the inflow of O 2 , which is undesired .
• a high CO 2 TR of the packaging material is therefore beneficial in establishing an improved concentration balance between O 2 and CO 2 in the package atmosphere, since this raises the transmission rate for CO 2 for the CAP package as a whole.
• the high CO 2 TR of the packaging material facilitates escaping the aforementioned rule of thumb and achieving a comparably lower concentration of CO 2 in the combined
• perforations may be reduced, reducing the inflow of O 2 and therefore the equilibrium concentration of O 2 in the package atmosphere without significantly reducing the outflow of CO 2 , i.e. without significantly increasing the equilibrium
• the high WVTR ensures a low water vapour concentration in the package atmosphere, reducing absorption of CO 2 in water and/or adverse reactions of CO 2 with water, in particular acid-forming.
• PHAs poly-3-hydroxybutyrate
• PVB polyhydroxyvalerate
• PH polyhydroxyhexanoate
• cellulose acetate nitro cellulose
• PLA polylactic acid
• PBS polycaprolactone
• PCL polycaprolactone
• Other suitable materials comprise ethylene-vinyl alcohol polymers and/or cellulose nanocrystals. Films of polyurethane, due to its high elasticity, and of polystyrene, due to its brittleness, are found unsuitable for reliable perforation and lack robustness for use as packaging material, for produce in general .
• the film may for example be a partly or fully laminated structure, or a single layer substrate, for instance multi-layer paper laminate, polymeric laminate, single layer polymeric films etc.
• a layer of metallization may also be provided.
• a laminate may be preferred for sealing and/or welding, e.g. for closing a package. This may in particular be advantageous for tray sealing packages wherein a tray may have one composition and a closing film (usually a top film) may have another composition, in particular the tray is a
• a laminate may be laminated fully or partly providing regions of more and less layers.
• the film can for example be made by extrusion processes such as blowing, casting or calendaring processes. Extrusion and/or blowing are preferred for manufacturing the film as a tubular material .
• the produce may be pure, e.g. a single species of fruit or vegetable, or it may be a mixture, e.g. a mixed flower bouquet, a vegetable mixture and/or a herb mixture, etc .
• WVTR Low Density Lip-VTR
• too high WVTR may cause drying out of the produce which may be undesired.
• a well selected WVTR may optimise shelf life of the produce. It has been found that for several species of produce, an optimum WVTR may be desired in view of the open area of the at least one perforation to form the CAP.
• the packaging material may therefore have, in particular for produce having a relatively low transpiration rate such as blueberries, chicory, grapes, pomegranate, etc., a Water Vapour Transmission Rate (WVTR) in a range of 100 - 1000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), preferably in a range of 150 - 800 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), more preferably in a range of 250- 700 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), most preferably in a range of 400 - 600 ml/ (m 2 .24 hrs ) .
• WVTR Water Vapour Transmission Rate
• the packaging material may have, in particular for produce having a relatively high transpiration rate such as asparagus, avocado, peas, snap beans, mango, a Water Vapour Transmission Rate (WVTR) in a range of 100 - 1000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), preferably in a range of 700-1100 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), more preferably in a range of 800 - 1100 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), most preferably in a range of 900 - 1000 ml/ (m 2 .24 hrs ) .
• WVTR Water Vapour Transmission Rate
• the packaging material may have a carbon dioxide transmission rate (CO2TR) in a range of 1000 - 12000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), preferably in a range of 2000 - 10000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), more preferably in a range of 4000 - 9000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), most preferably in a range of 5000 - 8500 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs) .
• CO2TR carbon dioxide transmission rate
• preferred ranges may be 5000 - 12000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), preferably in a range of 6000 - 10000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), more preferably in a range of 7000 - 9000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), most preferably in a range of 7500 - 8500 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), e.g. 7000 - 9000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs) .
• the packaging material may have an oxygen transmission rate (O2TR) in a range of 500 - 4000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), preferably in a range of 750 - 4000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), more preferably in a range of 900 - 3000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), most preferably in a range of 1000 - 2500 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs) .
• O2TR oxygen transmission rate
• a high O2TR facilitates fine control of oxygen influx, e.g. by precisely establishing a ratio of the packaging material area and the open area of the one or more perforations.
• respiration of produce (and therefore the optimum concentrations of one or more of oxygen, carbon dioxide and ethylene in CAP) is not, as customarily thought, only dependent on particular produce species, but is specific for each batch of produce. Rather, variations in respiration between crops of a single species due to seasonal effects, handling and/or transport, or even due to different locations on a field, may outweigh differences between different
• the proper transmission rate for the package should preferably be established anew for each batch of produce to be packed, in particular for subsequent batches of the same species of produce or the same combination of species, e.g. mixed flower bouquets, mixtures of salads, fruits, vegetables and/or herbs, and the transmission rate for the package should be governed for the decisive component by providing the corresponding open area of the one or more perforations.
• predetermined atmosphere gases e.g. O2, CO2, ethylene, water, Certainly may be established and used to determine for the control of which component (e.g. O2 or CO2) the open area of the perforation ( s ) has to be made in order to provide optimum packaging conditions / shelf life.
• the high CO2TR enables both a relatively small O2 introduction and a relatively high CC ⁇ -exhaust from the package.
• the high ratio b may further cause that the aforementioned critical respiration ratio H is shifted so that providing the one or more perforations in view of controlling oxygen may be suitable over a larger variation of
• respirations This may obviate adjustment of a perforation system and/or possibly associated (re-) calibration.
• manufacturing speed of packaging material and/or packages may increase .
• a CO2TR e.g. in a range 10000 - 40000, in particular in a range 10000 - 35000 preferably in a range 15000 - 30000 or 20000 - 30000 may be desired for some types of produces and/or applications.
• An O2TR in a range 1000-4000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs) and/or a ratio b in a range 8 - 25, like 10 - 25 or even 12 - 20, may be desired for some types of produces and/or applications .
• Such high-transmission materials may be particularly suitable and/or desired for packaging of produce for transport and/or storage with interrupted or non-constant cooling.
• This may include one or more of shallow cooling (little difference to ambient temperatures), temperature variations and/or cooling to different temperatures, interrupted cooling and repeated cooling instances. The same holds, also or
• Typical examples comprise short-time packaging, overnight storage and/or transport, interrupted supply chains, supply chains without comprehensive and/or reliable
• such high transmission packaging in particular for wholesale portions and/or bulk portions, like pallet bags, liner bags and/or pallet covers or -wraps, bale covers or -wraps, etc., may be particularly effective in slowing down metabolic processes of the produce and preventing undesired processes like drying, anaerobe processes and/or formation of water droplets inside the package.
• cooling may be shallower than presently used and/or be
• the packaging material may be a polymer film having a thickness in a range of 10-200 micrometres, preferably in a range of 15-150 micrometres, more preferably in a range of 20- 100 micrometres, most preferably in a range of 20-75
• micrometres e.g. in a range of 25-50 micrometres such as 25- 40 micrometres.
• the thickness of the film determines inter alia its mechanical strength (lower strength for thinner material) and/or its transmission rates MVTR, CO2TR and O2TR.
• the film thickness may also, in combination with the size and shape of the perforation, determine the transmission rate of one or more gas components through a perforation.
• the total absorption may relate to the amount of packaging material, and thus to the thickness, and the absorption and/or an absorbed amount may affect the transmission rate of the material.
• manufacturing costs and material costs may depend on the thickness of the film; material cost may scale with film thickness whereas manufacturing costs may increase for very thin and very thick films.
• the thickness of the packaging material may therefore be optimized to several parameters and still provide the desired transmission rates.
• a thickness in a range of 20-50 micrometre, e.g. about 25 or about 40 micrometres may be particularly suitable for wholesale and retail consumer packages; both for bags and/or for tray sealing films. Larger thicknesses, e.g. 50-100 micrometres may be particularly suitable for wholesale
• packages as a lining even larger 60-120 micrometres may be particularly suitable for packaging wholesale containers and/or entire stacks of (wholesale) containers and/or pallets on an exterior side of the thus-formed package.
• the one or more perforations may comprise microperforations having an open area of below 1 square millimetre, preferably below 0.5 square millimetre, e.g. about 0.25 square millimetre.
• Such microperforations facilitate exchange of gases through the packaging material, but hinder contamination of the packed material from outside sources.
• Such microperforations may be made by (hot) needles.
• Laser perforation is an effective manner to provide such microperforations fast, reliable, food-safe, and in desired locations. Microperforations also tend not to significantly compromise integrity of the packaging material, in particular if the perforated packaging material comprises a polymeric film. Suitable films may range from a supple film to a rigid film for making a tray.
• Laser drilled microperforations may be approximately round or oblong, having a (largest) diameter in a range of 50 - 500 micrometres, in particular in a range of 60 - 400 micrometres, preferably in a range of 90 - 300 micrometres, more preferably in a range of 100 - 250 micrometres such as in a range of 120 - 200 micrometres.
• the packaging material preferably is biodegradable, preferably also compostable. This reduces waste.
• the material may even be not only environmentally friendly but also
• Biodegradability of the material may e.g. be determined according to EN 13432 and/or ASTM D6400.
• the packaging material is a polymer film
• the polymer may be manufactured from natural produce, e.g. from maize and/or potato starch, sugars, cellulose, tapioca, etc., and/or manufactured by substantially biological processes, e.g. fermentation processes using microorganisms.
• natural produce should be understood to mean that the produce (plants, algae, etc.) lived and was harvested and processed in the present time to provide a polymer material from which the film is made, and not earth oils etc. derived from natural produce growing millennia ago.
• the polymer film may be laminate or, preferably, a single-layer and/or a single-component material, which may facilitate manufacture, may produce less waste and/or be better bio-degradable and which may reduce costs.
• the package may contain at least one portion of respiring produce, in particular one or more vegetables, fruit, herbs, spices and/or flowers.
• the package may be stored with the produce kept fresh for prolonged periods.
• the package may be a wholesale package
• a method of manufacturing a package for preserving respiring produce comprises providing a portion of a packaging material, in particular a polymeric packaging material such as a polymer film;
• the method further comprises providing one or more perforations in the packaging material to determine a
• CAP Controlled Atmosphere Package
• the packaging material has a Water Vapour
• WVTR Transmission Rate
• CO2TR carbon dioxide transmission rate
• O2TR oxygen transmission rate
• the WVTR of the packaging material is in a range of 50 - 1200 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs)
• the CO2TR of the packaging material is larger than 1000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs) in particular larger than 5000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs), in particular in a range of 1000 - 15000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs) such as 5000 - 15000 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs)
• a ratio b CO2TR / O2TR of the packaging material is larger than 3, in particular in a range of 3 - 25; b > 3,5, more in particular a range 3,5 - 25 is preferred.
• the material is provided to manufacture the package; the perforations are made to
• the one or more perforations are determined to provide an open area to regulate inflow and/or outflow of one or more
• atmosphere gases in particular introduction of oxygen into the package and/or carbon dioxide from the package.
• CO2TR when determining the open area of the one or more perforations for controlling oxygen inflow, a significant amount of CO2 and water may escape from the package, compared to prior art, therefore improving the package atmosphere. Thus, a higher degree of control over the oxygen inflow may be achieved. Moreover, contribution of CO2 escape through the perforations may be neglected, further facilitating manufacturing CAP packages.
• Fig. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of an apparatus and indicates at least part of an embodiment of a method
• Fig. 2 is a graph showing the results of Table II.
• Fig 1. shows schematically an apparatus 1 for manufacturing modified atmosphere packages 3.
• the apparatus 1 comprises a package forming device 5 for forming, from
• the packaging material is supplied as a web of a packaging film 11 on a roll 13 for forming packaging portions, e.g. bags or tray lids, but other forms and types of packaging material are also possible; e.g. two or more types of packaging material may be provided, such as trays and sealing film (not shown) .
• the produce is provided as separate portions 9 by a produce transporter 14, but other ways of providing the produce as, or into, portions 9 may be used.
• the apparatus 1 is configured to form and fill the packages 3 and also to close and separate them.
• the apparatus 1 comprises an optional supply of different atmosphere modification gases to provide the package as a MAP.
• E.g. CO 2 and N 2 here in the form of gas bottles 21, 23.
• the apparatus 1 here comprises an optional supply of pressurised air in the form of a compressor 22.
• the oxygen for ozone formation may be provided from a separate tank 24 as shown.
• the atmosphere modification gas(es) may be supplied pressurised so that they may be transported by flowing under their own pressure so that one or more propellers are not needed; however, these may be provided.
• the device 25 comprises a manifold 27 connected by a gas supply conduit 31 to the package forming device 5.
• the manifold 27 and an optional feedback sensor signal line 33 are connected to a controller 29.
• the apparatus 1 further comprises a perforator, here a (possibly pulsed) laser 35 providing a (pulsed) laser beam 36, configured to provide the film 11 with microperforations.
• the apparatus 1 further comprises a camera 37 for imaging the microperforations and/or other control processes.
• the laser 35 and the camera 37 are operably connected with a perforation controller 39 for operational control, quality control and/or feedback control of the laser 35.
• the controller 39 may be programmable for determining one or more of the number, size and positions of the microperforations.
• the apparatus 1 may comprise a detector 41 and a calculator 43 configured to determine, e.g. by measuring and calculating on the basis of measurement results, one or more respiration properties, e.g. an 02 consumption and/or C0 2 -production of the produce to be packaged and, based on that/those, determining one or more of a composition of the target modified atmosphere, a composition of the modifying atmosphere, a number and/or size of one or more microperforations (to be) made in the packaging material of the package (s) .
• respiration properties e.g. an 02 consumption and/or C0 2 -production of the produce to be packaged
• plasticisers the source materials were in accordance with EU Directive 2002/72/EG.
• the material was sold as a food-contact safe and biodegradable film material conform EN 13432 and ASTM D6400.
• the single-layer film was thermally weldable
• the Oxygen Transmission Rate (O2TR) of the film was determined in accordance with ASTM D3985 2556 (coulometric method) at a test temperature of 23°C.
• a film of 80 micrometers thickness of the material still has a WVTR of about 120 g/(m 2 .24 hrs) and an O2TR of about 750 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs) and a CO2TR of about 3750 ml/(m 2 .24 hrs) at a ratio b of 5.
• the respective open area of each package was determined by measuring a respiration rate of the produce to be packed and taking into account the packaged amount of produce, the amount of packaging material, the volume of the produce in the package, the package volume (the two volumina enabling to determine the head space of the package) .
• the CAP packages for each type produce were, after manufacturing, stored under refrigerated and controlled conditions. Shelf life, on the basis of produce quality, was determined by a test panel composed of appropriately trained and experienced persons. The tested materials are listed below in Table 1. The test results are listed in Table 2 and graphically presented in Fig . 2.
• the material of comparative example Comp 1 was LDPE, this is a standard fresh produce packaging material.
• CAP packages of LDPE wherein the total open area of the microperforations is optimized with respect to the oxygen transmission rate of the package as a whole, provide a high relative humidity in the package atmosphere.
• microperforations i.e. high number of perforations and/or large open area per perforation
• the ratio of the transmission rates of the package as a whole of CO2 and O2, and therewith the flow ratio of CO2 : 02 through the package is about 1 and the
• the material of comparative example Comp 3 was a state of the art packaging material sold by the company Uflex Limited under the brand name FlexfreshTM film.
• the material provides a significant improvement over LDPE and polyamide. It exhibits a comparably significantly higher WVTR, a moderate O2TR but above average values of CO2TR and of the ratio b.
• CAP packages of this material require comparably less open area of the microperforations to optimize the total open area with respect to the oxygen transmission rate of the package as a whole, while providing a larger transmission for water vapour and CO2.
• the resultant packages provide a longer shelf life than those with LDPE and polyamide.
• the packaging material was that of Example 1
• the open area of the microperforations can be optimized for oxygen while the transmission rate for water and CO2 of the package as a whole is very high. From the test results it will be evident that the shelf life of such CAP packages is significantly extended for all tested species of produce compared to the other packages .

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