The research objective was to evaluate the performance of biobased plastics for modified atmosphere packaging
(MAP) both on laboratory and industrial scales. Therefore the shelf-life (4 °C) of rumpsteak, hamsausage, filet de
saxe, grated cheese and pre-fried fries that wereMAP-packed in poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and cellulose-basedmultilayer
packages was evaluated and compared with their shelf-life when packed in conventional materials. Furthermore,
tests were performed on industrial packaging lines.
The biobased packages showed sufficient gas-barrier to guarantee the shelf-life of MAP-packed food products,
even when materials with lower barrier properties were used, but for rumpsteak and ham sausage, different
light permeabilities of the packaging materials led to more discoloration. Furthermore, the biobased materials
performed well on the industrial packaging machines, but seemed too brittle to hold larger contents.
This study shows promising results toward the application of biobased packaging materials for different food
products.
Industrial relevance: Environmental concerns regarding food packaging have led to the development of more
sustainable alternatives. One of these alternatives are biobased materials. This research shows that several
biobased plastics can contain and protect the food as well as maintaining its sensory quality. The biobased
packages showed sufficient gas barrier to guarantee the shelf-life of the MAP packed food products, even
when materials with lower barrier properties were used. Furthermore, case studies at different companies
(on industrial packaging lines) show that a successful entrance in the market will not be hindered by technical
problems.
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