Packaging of the Future

Case Study on Pomegranate fruit Under Global Supply Chain Conditions

Aiming at innovative and future ventilated packaging solutions, SARChI Postharvest Technology has developed a new ventilated carton design to help improve the overall performance of packaging in the pomegranate industry.

The project developed a virtual testing method to save the time and cost of new packaging box design using computer models (Fig. 1 and 2). Quantitative and visual data of the airflow, cooling rate, temperature, moisture distributions and mechanical integrity of the package along the cold chain were simulated. Alternative design ideas were characterized and compared, virtually. The approach enables explorative out-of-the-box thinking.

Finally, physical prototypes were manufactured following state-of-the-art carton box manufacturing procedure with the help of APL Cartons (Pty) Ltd and tested (see Fig. 3) against various performance measures, including produce keeping quality. Globally, this is the first time that a packaging carton has been designed by following a wholistic approach that integrate the various postharvest handling requirements: precooling, cold storage and refrigerated transport modalities.

Using the developed method our research group successfully developed a new packaging box that uses comparatively less cardboard material, allows to pack more fruit in a shipping container, cools pomegranates more uniformly and faster, and leads to savings in packaging material. Together, these allow for better utilisation of both storage and shipping container space, save trees, and save energy required to cool and maintain freshness during storage and transit.

Access research paper on pomegranate packaging from SARChI