Linpac split packs help reduce consumer food waste

23 January 2012


Multi-material packaging manufacturer Linpac aims to help reduce food waste generated in the home with the launch of a range of split MAP packs for both fresh and cooked meats.

The packs allow contents to be divided into separate portion-size compartments, and are particularly suited to one or two-person households, the company says.

A pack for fresh meat is already available to retailers and packers in the Iberian region, with plans to roll the innovative design out across Europe in the coming months.

And a multi-pack for cooked meats is also being developed for the protein packaging market for the European summer barbeque season in 2012.

“A study into food waste funded by the EU estimates that households are responsible for 42% of the food waste issue, whereas consumers often see it as a supply chain problem,” says Linpac Packaging director of innovation Alan Davey.

“Clearly, while food waste remains such a major problem for the environment, it is essential for all the links in the food supply chain to play their part in preventing food waste.

“Well-designed packaging can help consumers buy the right amount of food and then keep it in the best condition for longer. Linpac’s split packs are designed so that the consumer can buy a tray of four chicken fillets, for example, open one side of the pack and use two of them, then put the remaining two back in the fridge in a pack which is still completely sealed, with all the properties of an unopened pack.”

Linpac claims to be one of only a few food packaging companies to manufacture both films and trays for MAP applications, and the split pack design is a showcase of their expertise in this area.

Using the correct MAP conditions, the shelf life of fresh poultry can typically be increased from around four to seven days to between 16 and 21 days under refrigeration, while that of red meat can increase from two to four days to between five and eight days, depending on pack design.

Where cooked or processed meats are packed in modified atmosphere packaging, shelf life increases from two to four days to between two to five weeks.

“We are confident that these packs will prove popular with both consumers and retailers,” says Davey. “The benefits they offer to both parties are clear.

“Awareness of the food waste issue is low, particularly by householders and we believe that these packs will help consumers become more aware and subtly help to change their behaviour to reduce the amount of food they throw away.”

With over 40 years of experience in food packaging safety and security, Linpac Packaging is an international market leader in the production of primary fresh food packaging and food service solutions, operating across a network of 23 plants in 15 countries.


Linpac MAP split pack tray



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