Uflex’s Flexfresh to be showcased at Anuga Foodtec 2018

Flexfresh works in conjunction with fast respiration meter and laser perforation system supplied by Perfotec BV of The Netherlands. While the respiration meter ascertains the respiration rate of the fresh produce, the laser system uses this information to adapt the permeability of the film with the help of perforation matrix.

In Flexfresh, equilibrium of oxygen and carbon dioxide is maintained at all times while restricting the humidity between 90-95% to avoid condensation. The effect of ethylene emitted by the produce is greatly reduced during ripening amidst high humidity. The bag exhibits good carbon dioxide release characteristics.

Neither gas flushing nor compressed vacuum technique is used here. The amount of oxygen required by the product is the key point of the packaging. This is controlled by the perforation. The micro-perforation required is decided on the basis of oxygen and carbon Dioxide required inside the bag.

Flexfresh is the first ever film for packing fresh produce that is bio-degradable by composting and complies with all international regulations for overall migration (EC 1935/2004), reach compliance (EC 1907/2006) and qualifies for biodegradation under DIN EN 13432 (2000-12).

N Siva Shankaran, vice-president, Flexfresh at Uflex, said, “Flexfresh as a packaging solution is being increasingly used by exporters from across the world for exporting their fresh produce by economic sea freight instead of exorbitant air dispatch.”

He gave the example of a leading Dutch bell pepper exporter who started shipping his produce to USA by sea containers in 2015. The exporter was happy with the arrival quality and exported over 300 containers from Holland to USA in 2017 after conducting successful trials by sea container earlier in 2015.

Meanwhile, an Indian pomegranate grower has been supplying its produce to Europe using Flexifresh. Extensive trials were conducted during 2015 and in 2017 over 300 containers of pomegranates were exported to Europe and other countries, to leading super markets with excellent quality upon arrival.

A prominent European retail chain conducted a trial with Flexfresh bags by shipping blueberries from South America to Europe. This journey usually takes more than 5 weeks by sea. The results have been more than astounding. While the loose blueberries resulted in an average weight loss of 19.96%, those packed in Flexfresh had shed merely 0.76% weight after a period of seven weeks, thus registering a phenomenal 96% reduction in weight loss upon arrival.

One of the recent successes with a major banana exporter has borne significant benefits in extending the shelf life of the fruit in its green-phase; reduction in weight loss and ability to carry out ethylene treatment without opening the bag as is the convention thereby saving significant labour cost and ensuring better product delivery for the consumer. The solution provides total reduction of the supply chain costs as banana is available for longer periods thereby ensuring both situations of being able to absorb sudden market demands and also reduce wastage as the holding period is now extended by two-three weeks before ethylene treatment.

The Flexfresh liner bag has recently been accredited by Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Research Centre on Pomegranate (ICAR-NRCP), Solapur Maharashtra.

Ashok Chaturvedi, chairman and managing director, Uflex, said, “Research has proven beyond reasonable doubt that flexible packaging with features like reclosability, optimum barrier properties, etc aid in protecting food from being wasted. Flexfresh has been successful in achieving this. By its very design, Flexfresh is the first ever film for packing fresh produce that is bio-degradable by composting. Studies have also proven that the energy required for manufacturing flexible packaging is just about 10% of the total energy required in producing the food and getting it from the farm to table. Thus, there is all merit in embracing flexible packaging for protecting food from being wasted.”