More than 180 people connected on Wednesday 27th of May to follow live the session organized by the Packaging Cluster, IRTA, FECIC and INNOVACC. In it, it was explored how the meat industry is committed to a sustainable future in its packaging, "from the farm to the table", working together to activate the changes that the sector asks for.

In a first introduction, the co-organizing entities explained how they concluded that the sector required a seminar in which not only food safety through packaging or current legislation was discussed, but also sustainability in the entire process of meat packaging, waste management and the impact generated on the environment. A series of changes in the current production system that require joint work by all the actors involved, in seminars like this one.

Elsa Lloret (IRTA), Sergi Saballs (Enplater) and Jordi Garriga (Klöckner Pentaplast) presented in the session the MATSOS project, on innovations of more sustainable plastic materials in the meat industry. The project, as Elsa Lloret affirms, has the objective of "reducing the complexity of the materials and that these structures are ready to be recycled", in an industry as important for the Spanish and Catalan market as meat, which in Spain moves more than 24,000 million euros, where Catalonia represents 35.1%. For his part, Sergi Saballs explained Enplater's commitment to the sustainable development of packaging for fresh products, in its three lines of action: "ready to recycle", compostable and "bio-based" packaging; and Jordi Garriga presented the solutions that KP Films proposes in its different European projects to be able to recycle its PET food tray, on the way to the circular economy.

Then, Norman Masià explained to those present how Hinojosa Packaging Solutions works the innovation with their clients ranging from Mercadona, Lidl or Marks & Spencer. As Norman Masià affirms, the retail chains mainly focus on three problems to be solved in their cardboard packaging: “although it is a cardboard support, there is an ABC that must be maintained: food safety, the reduction of food waste and the reduction of plastic." Its Halopack and Hiliner trays are real solutions that are currently on the market, due to the demands that have been gathering, especially for take-away food, which produces a significant amount of waste.

For his part, Francisco Monente explained how from Multivac they offer personalized solutions to their clients, adapting their machines and technologies to priorities of performance and sustainable efficiency. For very high work volumes, it is difficult to be environmentally and economically sustainable, but Francisco Monente bets on monomaterial products, for co-creation work with the client and electrified, reliable and intelligent machines.

To finish, Albert Casalprim presented AGR modified atmosphere packaging, for which it is necessary to control: the product/gas ratio, the appropriate food mix, choosing the materials used as a barrier, the machinery and the quality control. In their own laboratories they work the necessary gases to ensure the quality of the product in the long term, without losing the freshness of the food.

The Packaging Cluster tries to focus its activities on intersectoral themes such as the one we have just seen, in line with future trends in the packaging sector. You can check our agenda here. If you want to see the session again, visit our Youtube profile where you will find the entire recording (see here).