Packaging Technology and Science

The focus of this research project was the question of whether an explosive atmosphere could be created in a freight container by permeation of flammable liquids during the transport of dangerous goods under normal conditions of carriage. All aspects that had an influence on this issue had to be investigated. The results of the measurements and calculations have shown that there is a risk of creating an explosive atmosphere by permeation, but it can be reduced, for example, by using safety layers in the packaging wall.

Defects in the sealing layer of films are critical for the shelf life of oxygen sensitive food. The additional of an oxygen scavenger (OS) layer in barrier film structures could therefore provide extended protection against O₂ penetration through such defects. In this study O₂ absorption of different multilayer film structures including an iron-based OS were investigated. The results indicated that the OS film structures applied could compensate for a defect size of up to 10 µm in the sealing layer.

Natural antioxidant sesamol was incorporated into polymeric packaging films and released from film into packaging headspace to retard lipid oxidation of linoleic acid and oat cereal. By releasing sesamol from film, induction period of linoleic acid oxidation was extended five and eight times at 40°C and 23°C, respectively, of the control film (without antioxidant). After 12 months at 23°C, cereal packed with sesamol film had 59% less hexanal (responsible for rancid odour) than cereal packed with control film.

LDPE packages containing submicrometre-sized silver particles have significant effect on the shelf life extension of barberry in comparison with polystyrene packages.

The paper addresses the packaging supplier and how it is integrated with the Supply and Demand Chain. By conducting case studies, the Scandinavian packaging industry has been analysed and to present the development of the packaging industry the companies studied have been positioned in an Integration Model.

The paper provides important knowledge about the business relations and explores the packaging, logistics, and an original conceptual framework that could serve as a theoretical framework for future researchers.