فصلنامه علوم و فنون بسته بندی
پیاپی 41 (بهار 1399)

Consumers now have stronger affinity towards eco-friendly products instead of plastics. Eco-friendly packaging is made of recyclable or renewable materials which are sustainable and safe for not only individuals but also the environment. Mushroom- based packaging is one of the eco-friendly materials that have received considerable attention, recently. Mycelium is a fast growing vegetative part of a fungus which latches onto whatever around it like any low value organic matter to create a super-dense network of threads. Once growing in the mold to reach the desired density and shape, the material is dehydrated and heat treated, to stop further growth. Supplementary processes such as compression and laser cutting may also be used to achieve the required shape and structure. The result is a heat and fire-resistant, biodegradable and low cost material that has similar properties like synthetic foam plastics. There is no spore or allergen concern as the mycelium is not fully grown to produce fertile bodies. This paper reviews the current status of technology for production of mycelium based material and its applications as a sustainable alternative for polystyrene.

Chitin, chitosan and oligosaccharides derived from them, due to their antimicrobial, non-toxic and biodegradable activity have presented themselves as a versatile, flexible and promising compound for the future uses. Among the various applications of these antimicrobial compounds, packaging is one of the most important systems for improving the quality of food and its protection during the process and storage, which is unique in this regard. Antimicrobial packaging is also effective in increasing the shelf life of food. In addition, the functional properties of chitin, chitosan, and oligosaccharide films are enhanced by combining with other film-forming coatings. In this context, understanding the factors affecting antimicrobial activity and the mechanism of action of chitin and chitosan is an important factor in the optimal use of the elements used in the food industry.

Packaging is one of the most important features of a product and is also called the silent marketer. The importance of packaging elements is such that they can affect the purchasing decision. The present research has been conducted to examine the effect of packaging elements on consumers purchase behavior of food and health products. This applied research was conducted with a survey method. The statistical population was composed of food, health and cosmetics products consumers in Sanandaj city stores. The data collection tool was questionnaire that its content validity and reliability (by using Alpha Cronbach test) was validated and confirmed. The questionnaires were distributed by using convenient sampling and and finally 384 questionnaires were collected. Data were analyzed by using SPSS and LISREL software. The findings show that there is a significant relationship between research variables. Visual and informational elements of packaging have a significant effect on consumer purchase behavior. In addition, the effect of informational elements on purchasing behavior is greater than visual elements.

Globalization in the field of health means the development, implementation and harmonization of the rules and technical standards of health-oriented goods, including medicine, medical equipment and cosmetics, which are linked to the obligations of international trade and domestic trade regulations. Packaging is an essential element of any export operation that affects not only the safety, but also the costs, communications and even marketing of a product. The exporter is always responsible for export packaging and must ensure that the packaging of the product is based on “Incoterms” (“International Commercial Terms”: used to separate costs and responsibilities between the seller and the buyer) and will prevent damage to the product. Due to the importance of packaging health-oriented goods to human health, the World Trade Organization, the Food and Drug Administration, and the World Standardization Organization have set specific guidelines, regulations, and standards for the packaging of goods in global trade. Research has been conducted on them. In order to define the position of packaging in the international legal system and determine the legal duties of producers; In this scientific research, first of all, the importance of packaging in international trade and the responsibilities and rights of producers and their adherence to the laws of the US Food and Drug Administration and the World Trade Organization have been discussed and compared with different countries. Improving and expanding the position of packaging in the Iranian legal system, in particular, will create a strong rule in the country's Food and Drug Administration.

Over the recent years, many efforts have been conducted towards replacing the fossil oil-based materials with biomaterials as eco-friendly and renewable alternatives due to the importance of attention to the environment. Regarding this, proteins is of great importance to be utilized in many different fields such as food packaging, pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. However, extensive applications of these bio-based materials are still challenged by one or more of their inherent limitations, such as poor process ability, brittleness, poor moisture and gas barrier and poor thermal and physical properties. The incorporation of additives such as plasticizers into the biopolymers is a common practice to modify these limitations. Generally, plasticizers are added to both synthetic and bio-based polymeric materials to impart flexibility, improve toughness, and lower the glass transition temperature. The free volume-induced plasticizer’s addition into polymer matrix could enhance the permeability property. This review is targeted to introduce different plasticizers used in food packaging for thermoplastic processing of whey protein as an excellent oxygen barrier material that also provides suitable mechanical properties.

In this research, edible film made of carboxymethyl cellulose with different percentages (0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6%) of sesame oil was prepared and its physical and mechanical properties were investigated. Edible coating was prepared from the treatment with optimum percentage and its microbial properties were measured. The data were analyzed by factorial test in a completely randomized design. Analysis of variance was performed using SPSS software and mean comparisons were performed by Duncan's multiple range test. Based on the results, the mechanical and physical factors showed that the tensile strength, elastic modulus in the coating containing 0.2% oil were lower than the control treatment and the Strain at break point increased. Oil concentration did not show a significant difference (P> 0.05) in water vapor permeability of emulsion films.Antimicrobialedible coatings containing 0.2% sesame oil solution with potassium sorbate composition had good inhibitory effect on fresh strawberry fruit.

The packaging and design on the box, depending on the type and nature of the product, can greatly affect the sales of these products such as cakes, cookies, biscuits, crackers, etc.Packaging materials include flexible films with offering moisture-proof properties and heat sealability, paper, trays, cartons and corrugated paper contributing to the moisture barrier properties of the pack, tins, cartons and cases outside the moisture-proof pack, and shrink wrapping. Regenerated cellulose and plastic based (usually polypropylene) films are used as heat sealable and moisture-proof packaging films. Regenerated cellulose films are available in various thicknesses ranging from about 0.06-1.5 mm and the 0.08 mm is most commonly used for biscuit packaging. Polypropylene is a naturally good moisture barrier and its strength is good to achieve similar performance to coated cellulose films; it can be used at much thinner gauge at competitive prices. Aluminum foil is used in packaging as amultilayer coating with waxed paper, polyethylene or polypropylene. The film is a metallized, roll or polymer sheet which is coated with a thin layer of metal (usually aluminum). This metallic and shiny product is in the form of aluminum foil with lower cost and weight. This paper introduces the materials used in the packaging cakes, cookies, biscuits, crackers, etc., their specification, advantages, disadvantages, and labeling criteria.