A Guide to Barrier Packaging
News 09 Jun 2022
Consumers’ growing demand for convenience and product integrity is resulting in a heightened demand and growth for high-barrier packaging. So, what do we mean by “barriers”? Barriers in packaging refer to the properties of the packaging material and how these materials respond to the permeability of gases such as oxygen, C02 and other aspects, like water vapour. Packaging materials which provide high performance barrier packaging characteristics are beneficial as it supports the integrity of food stuff and can also support the lifecycle of product(s).
Two key characteristics of barrier packaging are moisture vapour transmission rates (MVTR) and oxygen transmission rates (OTR). When looking at MVTR it is important to consider how foodstuffs are impacted when left in the open air for a long time without packaging. For example:
- Fresh foods dry out
- Dehydrated foods cluster into lumps
- Frozen products can lose their crunch when they absorb water from the environment
This highlights the essential requirement to protect food from loss of water and to prevent it from absorbing water from the environment.
When it comes to oxygen barriers, this degrades the quality of products and can lead to unwanted tainting, discoloration, odour and loss of nutrients. As such, it is crucial packaging offers great oxygen barrier levels and also provides a barrier to protective gases meaning oxygen must not enter the packaging, and it is also necessary for protective gases not to escape.
Additional Considerations of Barrier Packaging
According to Smithers, there are a range of key factors which barrier packaging must take into account to ensure product integrity and customer satisfaction. These include:
- Is it convenient for consumers to use/open?
Usability and functionality of barrier packaging is crucial in ensuring repeat custom and customer satisfaction this is because the packaging must provide optimal strength to be suitable for opening and customer handling.
- Is it right for direct food contact?
If your packaging is for food use, barrier materials used should be food-safe, with no chemicals which could leach into food making it harmful for consumption.
- How does it perform during packing, from converting to transportation?
Contact Us
It is important you liaise with our specialist packaging team as we can advise you on the right packaging material for your business. If you would like to learn more about the OTR & MVTR barrier characteristics presented by our ecoPack recyclable paper packaging material; please speak to our team by calling 01505 707700 or email us.