Modified Atmosphere Packaging

Modified Atmosphere Packaging is a packaging technique that can extend the shel life of contents, reducing the impact of one of the biggest sustainability issues that we face – Food Waste

Food waste is a huge issue with over 10 million tonnes of food wasted annually in the UK alone. Whilst one solution to this problem would be to only produce the food that can be used and to redistribute excess, there are ways that packaging can impact
on reducing food waste.

Packaging is an indispensable element for the food industry. The key role for any packaging solution is to protect and preserve the product as well as sell it. Packaging can extend the freshness for days (depending on contents). This extension of shelf life works through reducing the content exposure to oxygen thus preserving product. WRAP research has shown that extending product life by just one day could save 250,000 tonnes of food waste in the UK annually.

Modified Atmosphere Packaging (M.A.P.) is a shelf-life extension technique for food, which is achieved by replacing the oxygen with a protective gas mix within a sealed pack.

The removal of oxygen inhibits the growth of microbes and slows down the process of food decay. Together with lowering the storage temperature and maximising the levels of hygiene during production and packing, the product will stay fresh for significantly longer. The ColMAP™ range of packaging in paperboard consists of sandwich packs trays and boxes. These are manufactured from recyclable paperboard laminated with a high barrier, multi-layer film, suitable for food grade gases.

Our ColMAP™ range of packaging and machinery has been designed and developed over several years by our team of experts. We have installed M.A.P. sealing machinery lines with food manufacturers and processors around the world.

• M.A.P. can increase the expected shelf-life by up to 10+ days* depending on ingredients and supply chain conditions
• A longer shelf-life means that the product can be shipped over longer distances, which can increase the range of distribution and reduce the number of deliveries.
• The achieved extended shelf life means there will be less frequent product replacement requirements which can enable supply chain efficiencies and increased on-shelf availability
• ColMAP™ packaging typically contains only 15% of the plastic (by weight) of the equivalent full plastic packs.