Fresh produce packaging company StePac has expanded its range of top seals with products for the retail fresh produce sector. Its upgraded portfolio includes lean and recyclable easy peel film structures designed to be sealed onto trays or containers housing produce items such as summer fruits, freshly cut fruits and vegetables.
The films are engineered with the company’s modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) condensation control technology, which it says is capable of significantly extending the shelf life of fresh produce and preserving their quality and nutritional value. Its modified atmosphere properties slow respiration inside the packaging, the company says, delaying the ageing processes and inhibiting microbial decay.
“We are leading the transition from the use of traditional clamshells for packaging fresh berries to leaner, greener and more attractive top-seal solutions,” said Gary Ward, PhD, Business Development Manager for StePac. “This shift is designed to award multiple benefits. Firstly, it generates as much as 25-30% reduction in plastic use as it is a leaner product compared to the commonly used clamshells. Secondly, it is fully recyclable and thirdly, it provides shelf-life extension properties, enhancing food quality while reducing waste, all of which fall in line with our sustainability strategy. Last, but not least, it also ensures food safety.”
The company's packaging is being used in the domestic Israeli market by Rafkor, which packs and markets fruits grown by the farmers in the Upper Galilee region of Israel. “Since we started using StePac’s fully recyclable top seal solution for cherries, litchi, stone fruits and pears, we have noticed a reduction in waste and quality complaints from our customers,” said Haviv Aharon, CEO of Rafkor. “This has a lot to do with the shelf-life extension properties of the product. Furthermore, since the product is hermetically sealed it helps enhance food safety. This is driving sales of our products in the e-commerce sector. We are now looking to expand the use of the film to other fruits.”
StePac's resealable top seal is comprised of a laminated structure composed of two layers, with a pressure sensitive adhesive in between. A die-cut in the lower film layer, opens up a window that displays the produce packed in the tray and can be cut to the desired dimensions. The adhesive between the two layers is sufficiently strong so that the upper layer of film can be peeled and resealed to the lower layer up to 20 times making it ideal for multiple servings and can be applied to PET and PP trays as well as eco-sustainable materials. The resealable film also features a tamper evidence seal assuring customers that the packaging has not been breached or sabotaged in any way before purchase.