Toppan develops new packaging for frozen storage of food

The new packaging has been designed to address issues of food safety and food loss by reducing discolouration, loss of flavour, and quality deterioration during frozen distribution and storage.

Toppan Printing (Toppan), a global leader in communication, security, packaging, décor materials, and electronics, has launched new eco-friendly packaging that promises to better retain the quality of meat, processed seafood, and other primary products kept in frozen storage for long periods of time.

Primary products, such as meat and processed seafood, are held in frozen storage warehouses because of the need for long-term storage. The quality of products deteriorates slowly under such storage conditions. For this reason, little attention has been paid to developing specialty barrier film packaging to better preserve frozen foods.

Toppan’s new packaging uses a barrier film developed by leveraging original vapor-deposition and coating technologies. The design helps to reduce oxidation and, therefore, prevent discolouration, loss of flavour, and changes in food texture for a longer period than is possible with conventional packaging. These features reduce food loss and waste and facilitate expansion of distribution, by preserving food quality in regions without suitable infrastructure for frozen distribution.

The new packaging has improved environmental performance and is available in a mono-material structure that has reduced CO2 emissions and superior recyclability. The package also allows some food products conventionally subject to ultra-low-temperature frozen storage at -50°C or lower (F4) to be stored at higher temperatures of -18°C. This change could cut storage costs by around 60%, also helping to lower CO2 emissions associated with power consumption for freezing.

“This new packaging has the potential to bring economic and environmental benefits for the food industry and wider society by maintaining food quality for longer,” said Masa Tatewaki, executive officer of global business in Toppan’s Living & Environment Division. “We will be expanding sales to food manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers of frozen foods and will take advantage of the technology to develop more eco-friendly products that enhance freshness retention to contribute to a safer and more sustainable society.”