Rising Health Consequences Among Consumers Bolstered The Demand For Antimicrobial Packaging Materials

Growth of microorganisms in food products leading to spoilage and health issues raised concern for the food and other product safety and quality. For instance, over 7 million tons of food is thrown away in the U.K annually, majorly due to the spoilage and short shelf life of a product. To overcome these packaging challenges, active packaging or antimicrobial packaging was introduced, where different active anti-microbial substances are diffused into the packaging material to improve its quality and functionality.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, about 30% to 40% of the food that farmers produce in the country goes to waste and according to findings of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 48 million people in America fall ill owing to consumption of contaminated food products.

Scientists have developed a new packaging film with clay nanotubes and antibacterial essential oils that can prevent microbial growth and over-ripening of fruits, keeping them fresh for longer. The researchers loaded these nanotubes with a natural antibacterial essential oil found in thyme and oregano called carvacrol and coated the inner surface of the packaging film with the loaded nanotubes to kill microbes.

In October 2019, BASF launches a new defoamer - Foamaster WO 2360, that complies with principal food contact regulations for adhesives, paper coating applications, and functional packaging, which is compliant with China’s food contact regulation GB 9685-2016 for adhesives and major food contact regulations such as Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Title 21, Food Contact Materials Regulation (EC), Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR) and Swiss Ordinance on Food Contact Materials for packaging.

The coronavirus pandemic continues to rewrite the nature of global society in 2020 and with it the attitudes and behaviors of consumers now and for the foreseeable future.

Researchers from Princeton University and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Montana, US, had assessed aerosol and surface stability of Covid-19 to better understand and estimate virus decay rates. The study, which has yet to be peer-reviewed, found that the virus could be detected in aerosol form for up to three hours, up to 24 hours on cardboard, and up to three days on plastic surfaces.

Impacts of Antimicrobial Packaging on COVID-19 Outbreak

The immediate impact on consumers’ concerns about viral exposure and the ability of the virus to survive on surfaces, fuel a much longer-lasting demand for new packaging and materials that exhibit actively antiviral and antibacterial properties. Novel coronavirus provides a turbocharged boost to consumer anxiety, but also the potential for innovation, associated with the Sterilized Society trend. Certain categories and packaging types stand to benefit from a wider concern; UHT products in heat-treated aseptic packaging can tout their credentials as part of a specialized and sterile production process and final product.

Furthermore, research is ongoing into antibacterial and antiviral polymers and biopolymers for packaging – materials that are enhanced with active drug elements that are efficient and exhibit low toxicity. Demand for such materials in day-to-day consumer products may rise significantly post-COVID-19, as consumers are likely to maintain concerns and habits learned during this difficult period.

Global Antimicrobial Packaging Market Landscape

The global antimicrobial packaging market is anticipated to flourish at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period i.e. 2017-2030. The market of antimicrobial packaging was valued at USD 7.68 billion in 2016 and is projected to garner USD 11.50 billion by the end of 2024. North America accounted for the highest share of antimicrobial packaging material market for more than 30% in 2017 followed by Europe with more than 28% revenue share in the global antimicrobial packaging market. By material, plastic materials accounted for the highest share of around 59% of the global antimicrobial packaging market in 2016. Biopolymers are expected to witness the highest growth of 6.3% over the forecast period owing to its good physical, mechanical and chemical properties. In addition, they are recognized as an asset to waste processing.