IN Brief:
- Envalior and PerfoTec have launched a humidity-control film for fresh produce packaging.
- Laser micro-perforation and breathable Arnitel TPC film tune O2 and CO2 exchange to product respiration.
- Early deployments include harvest container liners and pallet covers for transport and storage.
Envalior and PerfoTec have launched a new packaging film for fresh produce that targets shelf-life extension through respiration control and moisture management, rather than gas addition. The companies say the solution eliminates the need for modified-atmosphere packaging gas mixes by creating a self-regulating internal atmosphere within the pack.
The film uses Envalior’s Arnitel thermoplastic copolyester (TPC) as a breathable substrate, combined with ultra-precise laser perforation to tune gas exchange to specific crops. The companies say it has already been implemented in PerfoTec BinLiners for lining and sealing large harvest containers, and in pallet covers designed to protect produce during storage and transport.
“Our new packaging solution extends the natural shelf life of bell peppers fourfold,” said Bas Groeneweg, founder of PerfoTec, citing trials that maintained product quality after two weeks at 8°C. The same approach is positioned for cut flowers, with the companies also pointing to storage performance claims for peony roses.
Technically, the proposition is a balance problem. Produce continues to respire after harvest, and packaging needs to prevent both oxygen starvation and CO2 build-up, while also avoiding condensation that accelerates mould. The film’s permeability and micro-perforation are intended to create a low-oxygen environment without tipping into anaerobic conditions, with high water vapour permeability helping moisture escape while retaining enough humidity to prevent dehydration.
Envalior said the film is roughly 40 micrometres thick and can be laser-perforated with holes in the 50–60 micrometre range, with toughness and puncture resistance aimed at harvest handling realities — sharp stems and rough logistics. As a thermoplastic material, the companies are positioning it as easier to recycle than cross-linked alternatives, an angle that will matter more as EU packaging rules tighten from August 2026.
Beyond waste reduction, the logistics claim is that longer shelf life widens transport options. PerfoTec’s position is that extending freshness can allow slower routes in certain lanes, cutting both freight cost and emissions where air freight can be avoided. For packers, the commercial case will be built crop-by-crop, where shelf-life gains translate into fewer rejects, longer selling windows, and less reliance on premium-speed transport.
