India's flexible packaging company, Uflex has developed a new special patented film, Flexfresh, to extend the shelf life of flowers for flower companies across the globe.
Image: The Uflex’s new special patented film. Photo: courtesy of Uflex Limited.
The new bio-degradable Flexfresh film, which is designed for packing fresh produce, works on the principle of Active Modified Atmospheric Packaging (AMAP).
Capable of being industrially composted within 180 days, the film meets all international regulations for overall migration (EC 1935/2004), reach compliance (EC 1907/2006) and qualifies for biodegradation under DIN EN 13432 (2000-12).
The Flexfresh film works in conjunction with Fast Respiration Meter and Laser Perforation system which is supplied by Perfotec.
The respiration meter determines the respiration rate of the flowers. The information will then be used by the laser system to adapt the permeability of the polymeric film.
Uflex Flexfresh vice-president Siva Shankaran said: “The special proprietary polymeric substrate is the first biodegradable (by composting) film that maintains the hydration of flowers during transpiration (evaporation causing loss of moisture during respiration) thus creating a closed loop system.
“Flowers are put to slow respiration mode by reducing the oxygen availability preventing excess oxidation and dehydration.
“The film keeps the flowers breathing in hydrated oxygen and releases excess humidity keeping them touch dry. The flowers thus can go without water for a significant number of days as the humidity is fed back in to them as they continue to breathe in the modified atmosphere.”
As per the supply chain requirements, the new solution is capable of holding the flowers intact for 10 to 15 days against the normal shelf-life of 4-5 days provided by conventional packaging, Uflex said.
Additionally, the solution allows visibility to the florists’ brands as the liner bags are made of translucent film of special patented polymeric composition.
Shankaran added: “Besides, flowers, Flexfresh as a packaging solution is getting increasingly popular globally for extending the shelf-life of various fruits and vegetables.
“This packaging is much sought after by the exporters from across the world for exporting their fresh produce by economic sea freight instead of exorbitant air dispatch.”