In the pipeline
developments in the packaging technologies sector. As the report
points out, packaging materials are constantly evolving to meet the
demands of the marketplace.
A recent market report from researchandmarkets.com has uncovered a number of interesting developments in the packaging technologies sector. As the report points out, packaging materials are constantly evolving to meet the demands of the marketplace, much in the same way as new food products are continually being developed.
The report reviews significant technical developments in the field, discusses potential applications for each technology and its status of development.
Recent innovations include biodegradable films made from pectin and starch, the use of vitamin E as an antioxidant in packaging film and conductive inks developed for microwave packaging. Other developments include computer modeling impact on packaging material selection and silicon oxide films that improve oxygen and moisture barriers. These are just some of the many developments emerging from research labs worldwide.
Food processors and manufacturers of course have a significant interest in improving their food products, as new packaging films that offer optimal barrier properties can enable to develop foods that stay fresh longer. Extending shelf life can mean improving profit margins.
Many of these innovations are still under development, but they nonetheless help to show the direction in which the food processing industry is going. For many products, there is definite commercial potential in the near term.
Some researchers on the other hand are currently looking to license new technology or establish joint ventures to market new products. The researchandmarkets report therefore also covers recently developed technologies where there is definite scope for marketing.
For many in the industry, this is the difficult part. The factor that most influences and directs packaging technology is consumer demand, and this can be highly volatile. Demand can fluctuate, and this can cause shifts in packaging trends.
This complicates issues for food companies as the cost of implementing new technologies needs to be assessed against the likely benefits. It has become more difficult for the food and packaging industries to develop packaging that pleases the consumer, maintains product quality and still manages to generate profit.
For a complete index of the report, visit this website.
