Long Life Solutions has secured major deals to supply its SmartLiner breathable membrane packaging to UK supermarkets for wrapping cucumbers.The SmartLiner bag can keep a cucumber fresh for up to 40 days if the East Lothian-based firm's storage guidelines are followed.
A survey by the Cucumber Growers' Association found that shrinkwrapped cucumbers stayed fresh for about 14 days and, although they were starting to grow soft, did not show any sign of fungal infections.
However, Long Life Solutions said its packaging had higher gas permeability than shrinkwrap, allowing greater inflow of oxygen and outflow of carbon dioxide. This inhibits the spread of bacteria and keeps the cucumber fresher and hydrated for longer.
Chief executive Andrew Wright said the SmartLiner bag would "reduce packaging waste by 2,800 tonnes at the consumer end" by taking shrinkwrap out of the supply chain.
"We are eliminating commodity packaging that adds zero value," he added.
The firm is also looking at using the SmartLiner bag for wrapping iceberg lettuces and cauliflowers.
Wright said the product had also been found to keep bread, fish, flowers and dairy products fresher than conventional packaging.
"Over the next two years, dairy will be our biggest market, particularly milk and cheese," he said. "We have been able to keep cheese fresh for up to five weeks."
Source: packagingnews
No comments:
Post a Comment