StePacPPC, a company specialising in functional packaging for fresh produce, said that its pallet shrouds work to preserve produce freshness from farm to retail.
The Xtend Pallet Shrouds, which are now working at full-pallet level, preserve the quality of fresh produce items such as berries. These shrouds are especially useful when traditional bulk carton liners are not suitable.
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The company’s sustainable packaging solution ensures that delicate produce can withstand lengthy transportation at temperatures close to 0°C without compromising on freshness.
North American berry producers, who typically pack their produce in the field, have reportedly faced challenges with cooling requirements before using Xtend bulk bags.
StePacPPC’s pallet shrouds offer a practical alternative, incorporating modified atmosphere (MA) and modified humidity (MH) technology to control the environment within the shroud, thus maintaining the quality and freshness of the produce.
The pallet shrouds are made from a polyamide-based film that regulates moisture, a critical factor in preventing microbial decay and carton collapse.
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By GlobalDataThis packaging solution is being used across the Americas, as packers and shippers in Mexico use it to protect berries during extensive shipments, and in Peru, to maintain blueberry quality during cold sterilisation treatments for US export.
StePacPPC CTO Gary Ward said: “We can tailor the pallet shrouds to meet the unique preservation needs of a variety of fruits and vegetables.
“For produce items that do not benefit from modified atmosphere, we provide a variant that relies solely on modified humidity to reduce weight loss. It is also critical to understand for which produce items the use of pallet shrouds represents a risk due to the potential for ethylene accumulation, temperature increase or both.”
The financial benefits of using Xtend pallet shrouds are also significant. In instances where controlled atmosphere containers are too costly or unavailable, these shrouds offer a cost-effective alternative for shipping blueberries from South Africa.
Additionally, the shrouds serve as a valuable tool for inventory management, enabling Polish growers to store blueberries for up to four weeks and Argentinian producers to protect their blueberries during extended cold storage periods.
Ward added: “Our pallet shrouds are proving to be instrumental in optimising inventory management and ensuring consistent market supply of high-quality berries over a prolonged period.
“Not only do they improve the experience of the customers who receive punnets of berries at close-to-harvest freshness, they help reduce waste and plastic use.”
In December 2024, StePacPPC developed its Xtend MA/MH packaging as a sustainable solution for long-haul transportation of fresh broccoli and other vegetables, particularly in the US and Japan.
