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Overview of the next generation of packaging technology |
A. L. BRODY, Rubbright•Brody, Inc., PO Box 956187, Duluth, GA 30095-9504 The conventional wisdom of sequential primary, secondary, and distribution packaging has served us well for a half century to help preserve and protect food. As foods have become more complex, consumers more demanding, and as distribution channels changed, the traditional role of packaging as a barrier and physical protector has been altered. Tomorrow, product, processing, packaging and downstream operations will be intimately linked through holistic hurdle technology. We shall certainly employ more plastic package materials in multiples, each contributing its own singular property. These plastics will be significantly more active and even intelligent--sensing, measuring and responding to optimize the internal package environments and enhance contained food preservation. Package structures will be multipurpose for preservation, distribution, automated preparation, and ease of consumption--to satisfy processor, marketer, retailer and consumer demands and desires.
Session 38, Exploring the limits of packaging: Role of emerging technologies
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