Why has polyolefin film become the "new favorite" in the field of food packaging?

In the field of food packaging, polyolefin film is gradually becoming the new favorite of the industry with its performance and environmental advantages. From fresh fruits to baked goods, from liquid drinks to dry snacks, polyolefin film is everywhere, silently guarding the quality and safety of food. So, why can polyolefin film shine in the field of food packaging?

Polyolefin film is mainly composed of olefin polymers such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). These polymers have regular molecular structures and good chemical stability. The intermolecular forces are moderate, giving the film a certain flexibility and strength. At the microscopic level, the molecules of polyolefin film are closely arranged, forming a natural barrier layer that can effectively block the invasion of external substances. This unique molecular structure has laid a solid foundation for the application of polyolefin film in food packaging.

In food packaging, barrier performance is a key indicator to measure the quality of packaging materials. Polyolefin film performs well in this regard, especially in its barrier ability to moisture and oxygen. For moisture, polyolefin film can effectively block external moisture from entering the packaging, preventing food from getting damp and spoiling. Taking biscuits as an example, polyolefin film packaging can keep the biscuits crispy for a long time and prevent them from becoming soft due to moisture absorption. In terms of oxygen barrier, although polyolefin film cannot be compared with some high barrier materials, its oxygen barrier performance can meet the preservation needs of most foods through appropriate modification and composite technology. For example, by using multi-layer co-extrusion technology to composite polyolefin film with materials with high oxygen barrier performance (such as ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer EVOH), the overall oxygen barrier performance of the film can be significantly improved, effectively delaying the oxidation and deterioration process of food, and extending the shelf life of food.

The barrier performance of polyolefin film is of great significance to reducing food waste. According to relevant research, the amount of food waste caused by poor food packaging is staggering every year. Once food deteriorates, it not only causes a waste of resources, but also increases the burden of environmental treatment. The good barrier performance of polyolefin film can effectively prevent food from deteriorating due to contact with external moisture, oxygen, microorganisms and other factors, thereby extending the shelf life of food. In the fresh food area of ​​supermarkets, meat, seafood and other products packaged in polyolefin films can stay fresh longer in a low-temperature environment, reducing the number of products discarded due to spoilage. For some foods with a short shelf life, such as bread, cakes and other baked products, the barrier properties of polyolefin films can prevent them from getting moldy and drying out prematurely, ensuring that consumers can still enjoy delicious and safe food after purchase, greatly reducing the loss rate of food during circulation, and indirectly contributing to environmental protection.

From an environmental protection perspective, the application of polyolefin films in food packaging has obvious advantages. On the one hand, polyolefin materials themselves are non-toxic and tasteless, and will not release harmful substances to contaminate food during use. On the other hand, polyolefin films have good recyclability. When food packaging has completed its mission, the discarded polyolefin film can be reprocessed into recycled materials through a specific recycling process for the production of new films or other plastic products. This recycling model not only reduces the demand for new raw materials and reduces the impact of resource mining on the environment, but also reduces the accumulation of plastic waste in landfills and alleviates the problem of "white pollution". Many polyolefin film manufacturers actively promote the construction of film recycling systems, build a complete closed-loop industrial chain from source to terminal, and further improve the environmental value of polyolefin films in the field of food packaging.

Polyolefin films play an important role in food packaging due to their barrier properties brought by their unique molecular structure, effectively reducing food waste and having good environmental characteristics. With the continuous advancement of science and technology, polyolefin film manufacturers are also continuing to explore innovations, further improving the barrier and environmental performance of films through technological upgrades, such as developing thinner and better-performing films to reduce the amount of materials used; adding degradable additives to enable the film to gradually degrade under specific conditions. It can be foreseen that in the future food packaging field, polyolefin films will continue to play an important role with their many advantages, contributing to ensuring food safety and promoting the development of environmental protection.