StePac’s modified atmosphere standing pouches slash waste in agri-food produce

19 Jan 2021 --- StePac’s activities in the retail sector are being boosted by its functional standing pouches for extending fresh produce shelf-life.

The resealable “grab-n-go” pouch format offers a lean functional solution for the bulk packaging of fresh produce, which can support long haul shipments and storage conditions. 

Branded Xgo, the standing pouch is engineered to moderate humidity, actively slowing the aging and ripening process of food. This ultimately helps to reduce waste along the supply chain as well as in the consumer’s homes.

Divine Flavor – a US-based, grower-owned distributor of fruits and vegetables and part of agri-food giant Grupo Alta – is among the latest adopters of StePac’s new standing pouches.

“The Xgo standing pouch is a high-performing product, with an ability to retain freshness and meaningfully extend product shelf life,” says Michael DuPuis, quality assurance and public relations coordinator for Divine Flavors.

“The feedback from our customers has been excellent; they’re really happy with the quality and attractive appearance and the fact that it has that sustainability edge consumers are seeking.”

Since 2010, Divine Flavor has been a user of StePac’s Xtend line of bulk packaging for transporting its squash, Persian cucumbers and bell peppers from growing regions in Mexico to the US.

A lean functional solution for bulk packaging
Xgo resealable bags are crafted with StePac’s proprietary advanced modified atmosphere technology. Their inbuilt condensation control ensures high visibility of the packed products even under challenging supply chain conditions.Divine Flavor is among the latest adopters of StePac’s new standing pouches.

“Our packaging designs have traditionally focused on the wholesale sector,” details Dr. Gary Ward, business development manager at StePac. “It already demonstrated abilities to extend shelf life by 50 to 100 percent, bringing promising support to food-waste reduction.”

The standing pouch’s life extension capabilities are due to unique properties inbuilt into the packaging matrix, which lowers oxygen while increasing carbon dioxide.

This creates optimal conditions for slowing respiration and senescence (aging) in plant tissues, inhibiting the growth of mold and other microorganisms, thereby preserving freshness, weight and valuable nutrients. 

The pouch’s life extension capabilities are due to unique properties inbuilt into the packaging matrix.Moreover, the pouches can be decoratively printed for personal brands to evoke instant product recognition on-shelf and come with a convenient grab handle. This taps into the prevalent convenience trend that has been pushed up amid the pandemic.

Circular packaging
StePac’s breakthrough pouches are resealable and are also available in fully recyclable formats, contributing to a circular economy. 

In light of detrimental COVID-19 impacts on food supply chains, the European Organization for Packaging and the Environment (EUROPEN) for the European Commission has called industry to recognize packaging as critical to the uninterrupted flow of perishable goods.

“In the midst of the current COVID-19 climate, concerns for food safety are driving demand for more retail packaging,” stresses Ward.

“We are increasingly venturing into the retail sector to bring this sustainable resource saving solution into consumers’ homes.”

Stepac supplies “climate positive” shelf-life extending packaging for an extensive range of fresh produce, including pomegranate, broccoli, blueberries and cherries. 

Edited by Benjamin Ferrer