IFFA 2019: Meat trade show highlights packaging trends
Held at the Frankfurt am Main venue from 4-9 May 2019, the event invites leading companies from the international packaging sector to present the latest technologies and insights in the meat industry.
The show has highlighted the following trends that meat producers should watch out for:
Less is more and protects the environment
IFFA believes that reducing the amount of packaging materials and the use of recyclable materials has been the subject of attention since the publication of the EU Plastics Strategy in January 2018 and the German Packaging Law, which came into force this month. They added that lighter packaging also saved on raw material, energy and transport costs, as well as easier handling.
Skin packaging
Skin packaging with cardboard backing permits “attractive product presentations” and “lower material consumption”. The thin cardboard backing has a protective polymer coating as barrier against fat, moisture and oxygen, which lends additional stability to the packaging. A transparent film is used to cover the product and backing like a second skin.
Modified atmosphere packaging extends shelf-life
Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is “evolving” into the standard form of packaging for meat and sausage products. The air in the packaging is replaced by a mixture of gas suitable for the product, which can reduce the breathability of the product, resulting in an extended life in terms of freshness, taste and appearance.
This means that the shelf-life of sausage products can be extended from two to four days, when packed in air, to two to five weeks in MAP.
Smart packaging
Multifunctional, active and intelligent packaging opens up completely “new perspectives” for the meat industry. Such packaging can monitor and record the environmental influences to which the product has been subjected along the value chain after the packaging stage.
Integrated time-temperature indicators reveal the current quality status, degree of freshness, any breaches of the cool chain and whether the product is still suitable for consumption.
Brand differentiation at the point-of-sale
When there is hardly any difference in product quality, a better package design can make the “emotional difference”. Investment in innovative, high-grade packaging strengthens the brand image and soon offers a substantial return for manufacturers of branded goods.
IFFA organisers expect to welcome more than 1,000 exhibitors from approximately 50 countries for this year’s show. Visitors and exhibitors will be able to roam around 120,000m2 of space, as well as experience the integration of a new hall.
