The problem of food waste due to spoilage is an issue core topic in food technology due to the large economic and environmental cost it generates. Approximately one third of the food produced, i.e. 1.3 billion MT, is lost or thrown away annually worldwide. Thus, many industrial applications have focused on improving food preservation in certain ways, including the packaging of perishable products. The goal of conventional packaging is to preserve food, maintain product quality and safety. Currently, new packaging systems are being researched and new materials with better performance than the current ones are being developed. This course has two different objectives: on the one hand, the main thermoplastic polymers used in food packaging and the lines of research to obtain new functional materials will be described and, on the other hand, taking into account the impact that the use of plastics has on the environment, the importance of separation at source and recycling processes will be emphasised.

Organised by: Science Museum - University of Navarre

Directors: Dr. Itziar Vélaz Rivas (Dept. of Chemistry UN, SUMBET and BIOMA groups) and Ms. Leire Goñi Ciáurriz (Dept. of Chemistry UN)

Dates: July 19, 20, 21 and 26, 27, 28

schedule: 17:00 - 19:00

Place: Palacio del Condestable

Price: 15 €.

Aimed at: This course is of an informative nature, therefore, it is open to all members of the public interested in the employment of plastics in the home, specifically in food, innovation of new packaging materials and recycling processes.

Programme

1. Introduction

2. Plastics used in food packaging. The most frequently used plastics in the food industry will be described and guidelines will be given to differentiate between them.

3. Active packaging. Some lines of research proposing new materials for food packaging will be discussed.

4. Separation at source. The importance of separating packaging at source will be emphasised.

5. Recycling. Recycling processes will be explained according to the polymeric materials that make up the packaging.