Cheese packaging helps fight food waste

When consumers buy food in bulk, the ability to confidently reseal the package to keep food fresh is critical to preventing food waste.

US cheese manufacturer BelGioioso sought a packaging solution that was suitable for its Mild Provolone bulk sizes sold at club stores. Bemis Co developed a packaging solution using DuPont Selar PA and DuPont Bynel in a resealable package.

The package is made up of two individually sealed compartments with reseal technology that enables the user to easily peel and reseal the package 20 times or more with fingertip pressure. The package is also perforated, allowing consumers to separate the two compartments without using a knife or scissors.

Bemis’ SmartTack EZ Peel Reseal technology allows the individual cheese compartments to be sealed separately, preserving the freshness of the unused portion until opening and reducing food waste - all while creating differentiation at the club store level for BelGioioso Cheese.

“High-performance materials add value to packaging in many ways, but especially in protecting food and keeping food fresher and more appealing longer,” said Yasmin Siddiqi, global packaging relationship manager, DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers. “As the packaging industry converges on this global issue, more and more solutions like this resealable system will be required.”

DuPont Selar PA was selected for improved formability and puncture resistance and Bynel was selected for its performance as a ‘tie layer’ to help bond dissimilar materials.

The packaging was recognised with a Silver Award at the 2015 DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation, demonstrating excellence in the Enhanced User Experience criteria. Judges said the entry delivered on its promise to provide convenience, value and freshness.

“These club-sized, dual packages can be easily separated for storage and use. And, due to the resealable technology, the cheese stays fresh after multiple openings, avoiding food waste,” said Jane Skelton, head of print and packaging, Sainsbury, UK, speaking as a representative of the 2015 DuPont Awards judging panel.