Sustainable Films and Their Practices for Fresh Produce
Packaging plays a vital role in today’s fast-paced business landscape, ensuring product protection, preservation, and presentation. As the packaging industry continues to grow and adapt to changing market demands, it’s crucial for companies to stay ahead and offer exceptional packaging solutions. To provide insights into this dynamic landscape, we have developed Packaging Talks – a series of conversational panels with Crawford’s packaging experts. Whether you’re a business owner, a packaging professional, or simply curious, our panels aim to offer valuable information and inspiration.
This month, we chat with Steve Thoms, Crawford’s Packaging Specialist, about sustainable packaging films and their practices for fresh produce.
What are sustainable packaging films?
Eco-friendly packaging films are tailored to fit different types of produce. For example, Cellulose films are made from paper. Polyolefin uses different cross-layer films to give you shrinkability and give you visibility with the proper sustainable film. For example, Polypropylene, you can create OTR rates, Oxygen Transmittal Rates based on pack size and venting, so, you get better shelf life.
Very interesting! Can you explain the importance of sustainable films for both retailer and consumer?
Everybody wants perishable product fresh, but we all forget sometimes that with perishable, you’ll have a short shelf life. So, in order to create a longer shelf life, you need to modify the atmosphere, and we do that by using sustainable films or sustainable products. One innovative product that we’re currently working on with retail and growers is a film called PE Film, designed for mushrooms to take the place of PVC, Polyvinyl Chloride. Retailers are looking to remove PVC from the shelves and as an alternative, we’re presenting a product that is stretchable, which is PE Films to replace PVC.
Amazing! Can you elaborate on the material options for sustainable packaging films for fresh produce?
Certainly! Sustainable packaging films come in various eco-friendly materials, tailored for freshness and reduced environmental impact. Crawford Packaging offers fully compostable liners, nylon-based films with modified atmosphere tech, and recyclable or home-compostable paper-based films. We also provide polyolefin and polyethylene films, including anti-fog and perforated options, to minimize plastic use. Polyethylene cling films are gaining popularity as PVC use declines, while BOPP films offer versatility with perforation, lamination, printability, and re-sealability. Choosing the right film ensures freshness while supporting sustainability.