BASF, StePac Partnter to Develop Sustainable Packaging that Extends Produce Shelf Life
BASF SE and StePac Ltd. have joined forces to create the next generation of sustainable packaging specifically for the fresh produce sector. Supplying StePac with its Ultramid® CcycledTM, a chemically recycled polyamide 6, BASF will provide its partner greater flexibility to advance the sustainability of food contact materials within a circular economy.
StePac is pioneering the use of chemically recycled plastics for the packaging of fresh perishables. The company was recently REDcert2 certified to incorporate chemically recycled polyamide 6 into its flexible, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) products. StePac’s two brands XgoTM and Xtend® are based on MAP technology with built-in humidity control which effectively slows respiration inside the packaging, delays the aging process, inhibits microbial decay, and preserves the quality and nutritional value of produce during prolonged storage and long-haul shipments. Ultramid Ccycled will make up 30 percent of the packaging material, with options for integration at a higher percentage.