07 Jan 2022 --- Researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, US, and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) are developing a “smart” food packaging material that is biodegradable and kills harmful microbes. The packaging material – which is made from a type of corn protein called zein, starch and other naturally derived biopolymers, infused with a cocktail of natural antimicrobial compounds – could also extend the shelf life of fresh fruit by two to three days, say the study authors.Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened consumer hygiene concerns, giving rise to touch-free packaging designs and antimicrobial technologies. According to Innova Market Insights, 59% of global consumers believe packaging’s protective function is more important since the virus outbreak.
