Plastic Films in Food Packaging
Materials, Technology and Applications
Plastics Design Library Series

The value of the groceries purchases in the USA is over $500 billion annually, most of which is accounted for by packaged foods. Plastic packaging of foods is not only ubiquitous in developed economies, but increasingly commonplace in the developing world, where plastic packaging is instrumental in decreasing the proportion of the food supply lost to spoilage.

This new handbook is a combination of new material and updated chapters, chosen by Dr. Sina Ebnesajjad, from recently published books on this subject. Plastic Films in Food Packaging offers a practical handbook for engineers, scientists and managers working in the food packaging industry, providing a tailor-made package of science and engineering fundamentals, best practice techniques and guidance on new and emerging technologies.

By covering materials, design, packaging processes, machinery and waste management together in one book, the authors enable the reader to take a lifecycle approach to food packaging.

The Handbook addresses questions related to film grades, types of packages for different types of foods, packaging technologies, machinery and waste management. Additionally the book provides a review of new and emerging technologies. Two chapters cover the development of barrier films for food packaging and the regulatory and safety aspects of food packaging.

1 Introduction to Use of Plastics in Food Packaging

2 Polypropylene Films

3 PE based multilayer film structures

4 Multilayer oriented films

5 Development of Barrier Film for Food Packaging

6 Applications of Polypropylene Films

7 New technologies in food packaging: Overview

8 Introduction to active food packaging technologies

9 Introduction to modified atmosphere packaging

10 Modified atmosphere packaging of ready-to-eat foods

11 Preservative packaging for fresh meats, poultry, and fin fish

12 Oxygen-scavenging packaging

13 Antimicrobial packaging systems

14 Damage Reduction to Food Products during Transportation and Handling

15 Food Packaging Machinery

16 Compostable Polymer Properties and Packaging Applications

17 Waste Management in Food Packaging Industries

18 A Survey of Regulatory Aspects of Food Packaging

Sectors: Food Producers (fresh and processed), food packaging industries, plastic resin manufacturers (such as polyolefin suppliers), plastic and plastic film manufacturers, multilayer film convertors (laminators) and package fabricators.

Roles: Packaging R&D personnel, packaging design engineer, manufacturing engineer, process engineer, plastic film R&D engineer, polymer R&D personnel, plastic additive R&D personnel, package and label designers, researchers, logistics, purchasing and regulatory specialists.

He retired as a Senior Technology Associate in 2005 from the DuPont fluoropolymers after nearly 24 years of service. Sina founded of FluoroConsultants Group, LLC in 2006 where he continues to work. Sina earned his Bachelor of Science from the School of Engineering of the University of Tehran in 1976, Master of Science and PhD from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, all in Chemical Engineering.

He is author, editor and co-author of fifteen technical and data books including five handbooks on fluoropolymers technology and applications. He is author and co-author of three books in surface preparation and adhesion of materials, two of which are in their second editions. Sina has been involved with technical writing and publishing since 1974.

His experiences include fluoropolymer technologies (polytetrafluoroethylene and its copolymers) including polymerization, finishing, fabrication, product development, failure analysis, market development and technical service. Sina holds six patents.

• Essential information and practical guidance for engineers and scientists working at all stages of the food packaging lifecycle: from design through manufacture to recycling
• Includes key published material on plastic films in food packaging, updated specifically for this Handbook, and new material on the regulatory framework and safety aspects
• Coverage of materials and applications together in one handbook enables engineers and scientists to make informed design and manufacturing decisions