Bio-based food contact material safety challenges

Although the images of our polluted oceans reveal unacceptable levels of environmental pollution it must be remembered that packaging used for food is beneficial. It provides a barrier function, preventing physical contamination and contamination with spoilage or pathogenic microorganisms, or with chemicals present in the external environment during distribution or storage.

The barrier function also helps regulate the internal environment, growth of microorganisms and product deterioration. Packaging also provides consumer and marketing information and also supports product safety, e.g. tamper-proof packaging.