Many food manufacturers and retailers are searching for the next new thing in fresh protein packaging – a quest that is often easier said than done. Any new design competes with the versatile tray overwrap style, which for decades has generally been regarded as the most cost-effective way to package a wide variety of meats. While we’re all comfortable with the reliability of tray overwrap, it traditionally lacked some of the selling points of recyclability and environmental stewardship that many consumers are looking for in their brands today.
In response, the packaging industry is placing added emphasis on research, development, and experimenting with new materials and films that together bring more green attributes to fresh protein packaging applications. These efforts are already yielding promising results and leading to greater cooperation between OEM manufacturers and their customers to develop customized packaging solutions for specific meat-based applications.