Uflex’s Flexfresh film packaging extends shelf life of fresh produce
Uflex, in collaboration with a foreign technology partner, has developed Flexfresh equilibrium modified atmospheric packaging (EMAP), which can extend the shelf life of fresh produce.
Several packaging solutions for fresh produce struggle with a water condensation problem within the pack. As products tend to perspire, modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) is not feasible as a result of higher release of CO2 within the bag.
It is important for fresh produce packaging to have steady oxygen levels to keep the product fresh.
Uflex chairman Ashok Chaturvedi was quoted by the Business Standard saying: “Flexfresh, while maintaining the humidity inside the bag at 98%, keeps the product absolutely dry without allowing condensation of the humidity.
“This results in very low weight loss of the produce as it continues to breathe in hydrated oxygen available inside the bag.
“The film provides good release characteristics of CO2 emitted by the produce.
“This ensured that the produce in a few cases could be protected naturally from diseases such as botrytis, gray mould etc, using high CO2 content.”
Uflex is working with supermarkets to promote the benefits of Flexfresh in fresh produce such as potatoes, sprouts and papaya.
Uflex, its partner and a packaging institute will carry out experiments to study the advantages of using Flexfresh for shelf life extension. It also intends to extend this technology to other packaging formats.
The company is currently developing a pack film under form, fill and seal (FFS) format, which can be used for cut and whole products.
The Indian firm commissioned two respiration metres at its research and innovation laboratory at its Noida facility in India.
Uflex Flexfresh vice-president Siva Shankaran was quoted by Business Standard saying: “A team of food technologists and packaging professionals are in the process of developing Flexfresh across packaging formats.
“Flexfresh is currently available as liner bags in 5kg and 10kg standard international sizes, flow wraps, FFS film and lidding film.”
