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| Comparison of meat stored at -23°C for 5 months in non-barrier packaging (left) and packaging based on GL BARRIER (right) |
Toppan Printing (Toppan) has launched new eco-friendly packaging that better retains 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 GL BARRIER, a barrier film developed by leveraging original vapor-deposition and coating technologies, to reduce oxidation and therefore prevent discoloration, loss of flavor, 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.
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 cuts storage costs by around 60%, also helping to lower CO2 emissions associated with power consumption for freezing.
Testing conducted by Toppan in collaboration with universities since 2016 has shown that, compared with conventional materials, packaging incorporating Toppan’s proprietary GL BARRIER film and developed specifically for primary products, such as meat and processed seafood, extends the period for which quality is maintained under frozen storage. On the basis of know-how gained through this testing, Toppan is now able to select and offer frozen food packaging tailored for a wide range of contents.
