Extrusion International USA 2-2019

50 Extrusion International 2/2019 PACKAGING FILMS – FROM THE RESEARCH Safer Food – Less Waste At ICE europe 2019, the Fraunhofer Institutes for Applied Polymer Research IAP, for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB and for Organic Electronics, Electron Beamand Plasma Technology FEP presented innovative technologies for sustainable food packaging. They each have extensive expertise in processing, process development and control, the development of special polymer films and the deposition of ultra-thin layers for the packaging industry The topic of product and food pack- aging is more relevant and more present than ever. Almost everyone already has the image of the im- measurably large plastic vortex in the oceans in mind when shopping and selecting plastic-packed meat or vegetables. At the latest when food is stowed at home, the amount of outer packaging becomes clear. The figures from the Federal Environ- ment Agency speak for themselves – in total, every German produces around 220 kilograms of packaging waste annually. A complete avoidance of packag- ing film, however, is hardly feasible. Hygiene standards, transport routes and ultimately the purchasing be- havior of customers with regard to fresh food at affordable prices re- quire hygienic, functional and safe packaging, because bacteria, viruses 1.25 meter wide film substrate on the roll-to-roll coating line atmoFlex 1250 (© Fraunhofer FEP) Biobased film for sustainable packaging (© Fraunhofer IGB)