Combines breathability, mechanical performance and aesthetics
BASF and Fabbri Group have developed a sustainable solution for cling film used in fresh-food packaging. Based on BASF’s compostable ecovio, Fabbri Group then produced a transparent stretch film, Nature Fresh, where meat, seafood as well as fruits and vegetables can be wrapped manually or with automatic packaging equipment.
Nature Fresh combines optimal breathability for an extended shelf life of fresh food with transparency and mechanical properties for automatic packaging, and has been approved to US and European standards.
With this property profile, the film helps to keep food fresh for a longer period of time when compared to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) alternatives used for cling film such as polyethylene (PE). As a consequence, the greenhouse gas emissions originating from food that is produced and distributed – but ultimately wasted – can be reduced. After usage, Nature Fresh can be composed together with any food waste in home compost or industrial compost according to national legislation. It thus enables organic recycling and helps closing the nutrient loops towards a Circular Economy.
Carsten Sinkel, global business development biopolymers at BASF, explained: “We observe a changing market environment: The market is looking for alternatives to PVC that is today’s performance standard for most cling film packaging of fresh produce. PE films are lacking in performance, often leading to a reduced shelf life of packed fresh food.
“This results in considerable greenhouse gas emissions from food waste. Fruits and vegetables, for example, are responsible for 33% greenhouse gas emissions from all food waste globally. Our certified compostable ecovio enables the production of a cling film that prolongs shelf life of fresh food, and at the same time can be composted after use together with organic waste according to national legislation.”
To find the match of a sustainable material with packaging properties and easy wrapping, ASBF and Fabbri Group jointly developed a cling film which can also be used on stretch wrapping machines.
Stefano Mele, CEO at Fabbri Group, continued: “The Fabbri new way to sustainability is combining our Nature Fresh solution with our new Automac NF wrappers so that the food packaging industry can benefit twice – from an innovative cling film and easy film processing. In this way, our certified compostable cling film can be used together with trays and labels of the same kind in order to have a complete compostable packaging.”
Fabbri Group offers Nature Fresh in four different formats: as rolls for manual or automatic packaging machines in industrial food packaging, for cutter boxes in hotels, restaurants and catering services, as jumbo rolls for converters as well as rolls for end-consumer hand-wrapping applications.
