Surprising Ways Nano-Enabled Food Packaging is Changing the Global Food Industry

Nano-enabled packaging incorporates nanomaterials that allow the packaging to respond to environmental conditions or repair itself or alert a consumer about contaminations. Achieved through the use of Nanoclay that allows the plastic to be stronger, light-weight and more heat resistant, the Durethen film material with the properties of polyamide 6 and Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH),  delivers an economical yet airtight packaging. The installed nanoparticles stop gases from entering the barrier and protect the moisture.

The Global Nano-enabled Packaging For Food Market is expected to grow significantly over the upcoming years. The growing demand for packaged food products is especially serving as a tremendous catalyst for the growth of the global market. The distribution of functional foods by complex delivery mechanisms is effortless with the introduction of nanotechnology. Shelf life, cost of production, cost of packaging, nutritional characteristics, texture as well as the taste of beverages and food products are improved by multifunctional nano-enabled packaging. The Nano-enabled Packaging for Food market is divided into three product types and applications for end-users with major players such as Amcor, Bayer, Danaflex-Nano, Honeywell, Tetra Pak International3M, Agion Technologies, etc.

There have been many new innovative developments in the field of nano-enabled packaging that is proving to be advantageous in the market. Active packaging is one such consideration that ensures antimicrobial properties, oxygen scavenging and shelf-life extension of food. These intelligent advancements mainly aid in preserving and maintaining the oxygen, humidity, and freshness of the packaged products. It has the ability to cancel undesirable taste and flavor and enhance the color or smell of the packed food by reacting to the internal environment. The nanostructured coating makes sure that it acts as an enhanced barrier against contamination.

There are various other types of packaging depending upon the preferred requirements.; nanocomposites or barrier pacing protects the food from oxygen, light, moisture and UV rays. Moreover, it gives strength, elasticity, and durability to the product and protects from external attacks such as fire, rodents, and unhygienic conditions. Antimicrobial Composites impede the growth of pathogens and microorganisms that are responsible for spoilage and inhibit its growth. Lastly, Smart Packaging helps to sense any biochemical or microbial changes in the food, for example identifying particular pathogens growing in the food, or particular gases from ruining the food. Some smart nano packaging has also been developed to be used to make sure that the food is safe for consumption and to avoid counterfeit products. 

Despite the developments, there has been a certain issue regarding the use of nanomaterials in terms of consumer safety in the field of nano packaging. Studies have shown the possibility of the migration of nanomaterials from packaging into food, with the rate of migration potentially associated with the percentage of nanomaterial present in the packaging material. However, scientists are hard at work to devise plausible solutions to this threat to the nano-enabled food packaging market. Nanotechnology offers various opportunities for improvements in packaging, which will be advantageous to consumers as well as manufacturers. 

Food packaging has been tracking the biggest developments owing to nanotechnology and is expected to witness a rapid increase in demand in the forthcoming years.