Barrier needs will delay biodegradables

Brands are interested in the potential of biodegradable plastics for food, but see short-term takeoff in demand as being unlikely, largely because of the lack of barrier options, says leading Danish dairy company Arla Foods.

According to Grith Mortensen, a research scientist at Arla's innovation centre in Denmark, the company has been evaluating the suitability of biodegradable packaging for some dairy products. "The results so far indicate that the materials do not have sufficient barrier properties, and hence are unsuitable for long-term storage," she says. "But as the materials move from being based on mono materials to more complex laminates, Arla will be keen on using them."

Materials developed as part of the European Union-funded Biopack project had insufficient barrier for the long-term storage of semi-hard cheese, Arla reports. "But storage for shorter periods of time proved acceptable."