Packs of own-brand large vine tomatoes (400g) will be the first product to use the new market-leading packaging technology, which will be rolled out to Co-operative stores from next month.
The tomato packaging features smaller perforation holes that have been scientifically proven to extend the life of the product by controlling the amount of moisture in the packs, according to the Co-op.
The Co-operative Food’s packaging supplier, Paragon, has worked on creating and strategically placing the perfect number and size of holes to promote maximum shelf life.
Two days
The new packaging will extend the life of the produce by up to two days.
According to the Co-op, tomato packaging has included punched-out holes for some time, but the new computer-guided laser-cut Modified Moisture Packaging (MMP) small hole perforation technology allows controlled modification of the moisture in the packs.
Not enough moisture can result in the fruit drying out, while too much can promote the growth of mould which ruins the produce and leads to more waste.
During the extensive study, the scientists at Paragon examined how hole size affects air velocity, diffusion, and moisture transfer.
The Co-op said that sophisticated mathematical formulae were used to determine the optimum size of each hole and to identify where each hole should be placed according to the size of each pack. Complex hole theory models were then used to match hole distribution to the pattern of moisture loss.
Iain Ferguson, environment manager for The Co-operative Food, said: “We know how important it is to our shoppers to make the most of their family budgets and to reduce the amount of wasted food at home, so anything that can extend the shelf life of a product can only be a good thing.
“This simple solution enables customers to keep tomatoes at home for up to two days longer than before, which is a great achievement by Paragon’s scientists.”
According to Wrap, around 60% of UK household food waste is from food not used in time, mainly perishable or having a short shelf-life, with a value of 6.7 billion.
Richard Swannell, director of design and waste prevention at Wrap said: “Wrap welcomes this innovation by The Co-operative Food. Food waste is a serious issue, and as our research shows packaging can have a significant role to play in helping reduce unnecessary food waste.”
