Proper packaging and timely distribution of food is essential to the success of a business. Packaging should be, first of all, economical. Other factors like environment and practice come after how cost is affected. Millions of dollars are spent in research and development to bring packaging concepts into reality. It is necessary to implement modern packaging concepts in shopping centers, restaurants and kitchens, which will be more than safe or durable. There may come a time when your packaging is edible, reusable, etc. So in 2015, how close are we to making these concepts a reality? We have listed the top 3 technological advances in the world of packaging, let’s take a look.
1. Edible packaging
A simple apple is preserved within its own natural edible casing. Taking inspiration from this, a team of researchers from Harvard University innovated a wide variety of foods that are tastefully packaged and delivered, in a suitable edible casing. Sort of like pumpkin soup delivered in a spinach membrane and chocolate syrup in a cherry membrane. This serves many purposes. First of all, it reduces the thrash and increases the flavor of the food. Interestingly, Japan has been using this type of packaging for quite a few years. They package their sweets in edible rice wrappers.
2. Smart packaging
If your disposable food containers start to change color, don’t be surprised. Researchers at the University of Connecticut, Rutgers University, and Kraft Foods have invented an “electronic tongue.” In order to control whether the food has started to degrade or not, the idea came to life. The basic idea is to install sensors in the packaging that will give an indication by changing the color of your packaging in case the food is rotten or spoiled. Other features, like an instant preservative container that stores food just before it starts to spoil. Another aspect is the antimicrobial packaging, which actively repels spoilage agents like bacteria that can spoil food and keeps food fresh. This definitely helps keep food fresh longer. Smart packaging is the new method adopted by packaging companies who want to save themselves from food spoilage, which is a really major problem.
3. Water soluble packaging
The only problem with the packaging is that it can be recycled or thrown away, eventually not allowing it to deteriorate. Packaging waste is a real problem and this revolutionary new product, invented by MonoSol for the fast food and instant food markets, is a water soluble packaging. Especially used in the case of foods such as cereals and soups that only require water to cook, this container dissolves easily in water and leaves absolutely no trace. This method is getting a lot of recognition because it not only saves time but also saves a lot of effort and is working in the right direction to reduce waste.
