A new study by research and consulting firm Helmut Kaiser reports that global sales of nanotechnology products to the food and beverage packaging industry have increased from US$150 million in 2002 to US$860 million in 2004. The study says that were about 250 nanopackaging products on the market at the time of the study compared to fewer than 40 such products three years earlier. Nanotechnology can enable packaging materials with gas and water permeabilities that can be tailored to meet the requirements for preserving specific fruits, vegetables, beverages, and other foods. Nanoparticles can also be added to packaging materials to improve fire-resistance and mechanical and thermal properties. The study says: “In the long run, nanotechnology is going to change the fabrication of the whole packaging industry. Processing the atoms and molecules will realize zero-emission recycle and save natural resources. Self-assembly will in the end hugely reduce the fabrication costs and infrastructure. More flexible packaging methods will provide the consumers with fresher and customized products.”
