The Nanotechnology Opportunity in Food and Drinks Packaging

Nanotechnology has many potential applications in food and drinks packaging, particularly in beverages, meat, poultry, vegetables, and fruit. Nanotechnology adds extra barrier properties to help prevent spoilage for longer. New developments are also increasing the functionality of nanotechnology, helping to create packaging that can detect when food has been spoiled or contaminated.Identify the leading players in the nanotechnology packaging market.Analyze the leading technological developments in the sector.Analyze the core opportunities and challenges within the sector.Help to identify the current state of the market and make predictions on where the market is going.Which packaging sectors stand to benefit most from nanotechnologyThe development of plastics incorporating nanocomposites, which act as a barrier for gases, has meant that manufacturers can start to use plastic instead of other expensive and heavyweight packaging types. Nanoclays work with standard materials to enhance packaging quality, making it stiffer, tougher, more flexible, or enhancing barrier properties.Cost is an issue. The limited number of companies involved in the nanotechnology packaging industry means that there is little competition and less incentive to lower product prices. Equally, the products are currently produced on a much smaller scale than traditional packaging materials, and therefore they do not benefit from economies of scale.With much discussion surrounding nanotechnology, particularly concerning its potential effect on human health, some form of legislation may be enacted in the near future, particularly for nanomaterials that come into contact with consumer products such as food, or food packaging, potentially causing delays in getting products to market.What are the major new nanotechnology developments impacting the packaging sector?How will the packaging sector be impacted by nanotechnology?Which companies are set to gain most from developments in this sector?What are the major obstacles to be overcome for better commercialization rates?What technology areas offer the most promise for packaging companies?

Table of contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
•Introduction to nanotechnology
•Drivers and inhibitors for nanotechnology in packaging
•Current uses in food and drinks packaging
•Emerging uses in food and drinks packaging
•The future of nanotech in food and drinks packaging
Introduction to nanotechnology
•Summary
•Introduction
•History of the technology involved
•Major market players
•Main nanotechnology applications in packaging
•Regulatory and legal overview
•Size of the nanotechnology sector
Drivers and inhibitors for nanotech in packaging
•Summary
•Introduction
•Potential market drivers
Enhanced functionality
Greatly enhanced barrier properties to oxygen, CO2, moisture
'Smart' packaging can enhance food safety
Close monitoring can reduce product spoilage
TTIs and RFID allow 'track and trace' across product and retail cycles
More functional packaging can be used in smaller quantities
Lighter packs and longer shelf lives can lower costs
•Current market inhibitors
Technology still considered unproven
Consumers distrust nano-ingredients
egulation has lagged behind innovation
Long-term effects on human health are as yet unlogged
Bringing nano-enhanced packaging to market is expensive
Lead times from R&D to shelf are long
New legislation could restrict potential
Current uses in food and drinks packaging
•Summary
•Introduction
•Types of nanopackaging technology
•Applications in oxygen scavenging
NanoBioMatters
ColorMatrix
Honeywell
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical
Tokyo Seikan
•Applications in other absorbers
•Applications in antimicrobials
•Applications in coatings
•Applications for nanocellulose
Emerging uses in food and drinks packaging
•Summary
•Introduction
•Key issues in emerging food and drinks nanotech research
Delays in development
Consumer backlash
Shift in R&D spend to the public sector
•Leading emerging food and drinks packaging nanotech areas
Sensor/indicator technology
Paperboard and coatings
Plastics and biocomposites
Lightweighting
Other emerging areas
The future of nanotech in food and drinks packaging
•Summary
•Introduction
•Government funding will shift to developing economies
•Commercialization will be the key challenge
•Food safety is a key focus for medium-term development
•Cost-efficiency will slowly improve
•Emerging products will provide more compelling benefits
Appendix
•Bibliography and references
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
•Key abbreviations
TABLES
•Table: Main types of nanotechnology
•Table: Leading companies using nanotech packaging materials
•Table: Total R&D expenditure for key companies active in nanotech, 2010
•Table: Estimated time-to-market for nanotechnology technology in the agrifood sector
•Table: Recent nanotechnology developments in China
•Table: Focus areas of government investment in nanotechnology for selected countries
•Table: Traditional and nanocomposite lifecycle costing for polypropylene packaging film
FIGURES
•Figure: Timeline of major nanotechnology products
•Figure: Potential applications for nanotechnology in packaging
•Figure: Diagram of tortuous path in nanocomposite packaging
•Figure: Example of PET bottles using nanocomposites (nanoclays)
•Figure: Example of intelligent inks used in fresh food packaging
•Figure: Example of time temperature indicator
•Figure: ObservatoryNANO's TRL Scheme
•Figure: Hite’s plastic beer bottle using Honeywell’s oxygen scavenging range
•Figure: Tokyo Seikan’s SiBARD oxygen-scavenger PET bottle
•Figure: Kinetic Go Green Premium Nano Silver food containers
•Figure: Main areas of research in packaging nanotechnology
•Figure: Key applications for sensor nanotechnology in packaging
•Figure: Freshpoint’s OnVu system uses nanotech to provide TTI solutions
•Figure: ColorMatrix’s Joule RHB reduces yellowing associated with PET recycling
•Figure: RFID tag example using nanotechnology
•Figure: Total US nanotechnology funding ($ bn), 2001-2010
•Figure: Total patent applications for nanotechnology packaging 2001-2011

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