Shelf Life for Packaging Materials

Good morning everyone,

Please could you assist with determining the shelf life of  LDPE, LLDPE range of decorative flexible film product for the Bakery, Beverage and Retail Food Industry?

Many thanks.

Sandy

You cannot really accurately determine the shelf life for plastics because the deterioration will depend on the conditions at the customers warehouse. Mostly sun light (affects printing), humidity (i.e PA films) and heat will determine the shelf life. 

Back in the days when I used to work in flexible packaging production and I used to declare the following as a disclaimer:

I concur with Caglar, I too work in flexography and we have addressed this in similar fashion. You REALLY don't know the environment of some of your customers. I have seen returns come back after being on site with a customer for years and then you get an idea of the varying environments your product is being stored in. Some of them have looked like they were practically stored in a barn or something. We have chosen a date of 12 months as anything beyond that, issues with COF on PE films becomes unpredictable.

Hi SandyH,

Some more plastic thoughts here -

http://www.ifsqn.com...lastic-bottles/

Hello,

When we ask from our primary packaging (cans) for a packaging shelf-life, they were surprise because we are the first customer to ask from them, when our BRC auditor asked it on our last audit (June 2017). Eventually they give us the certification of one year from production date, provided the temperature and humidity on our warehouse is controlled. If not used after one year, test must be done to verify/check if the packaging material is fit to be used.

regards,

redfox

Some thoughts I felt like sharing: 

First of all it is better to plan the production and ordering of the packaging material depending on the production quantities;  taking into consideration, the seasonal requirements and off seasonal requirements.

Next, to plan out a staggered delivery of the packaging material according to the monthly production requirements.

Next, to ensure good protective boxes for the packaging material

Next, strictly adopt the FIFO principle in the stores department

Next, to obtain the ideal storage conditions like : temperature in the warehouse, humidity in the warehouse from the manufacturer , such that , the best possible storage conditions are provided at the production facility.

In case of bottles, extra care should be taken to avoid any contamination from humidity, condensation, dust and dirt getting into the bottles, pest activity in the warehouse etc.,

After having stored the packing material over a period of several months; it is advisable to draw representative samples for swab / rinse  and should be  studied for SPC (standard Plate Counts) before using the packing material.

Hope this info is of some help.

Some thoughts I felt like sharing: 

 

First of all it is better to plan the production and ordering of the packaging material depending on the production quantities;  taking into consideration, the seasonal requirements and off seasonal requirements.

 

Next, to plan out a staggered delivery of the packaging material according to the monthly production requirements.

 

Next, to ensure good protective boxes for the packaging material

 

Next, strictly adopt the FIFO principle in the stores department

 

Next, to obtain the ideal storage conditions like : temperature in the warehouse, humidity in the warehouse from the manufacturer , such that , the best possible storage conditions are provided at the production facility.

 

In case of bottles, extra care should be taken to avoid any contamination from humidity, condensation, dust and dirt getting into the bottles, pest activity in the warehouse etc.,

 

After having stored the packing material over a period of several months; it is advisable to draw representative samples for swab / rinse  and should be  studied for SPC (standard Plate Counts) before using the packing material.

 

Hope this info is of some help.

Hi dulipete,

Thks for thoughts but there is no mention of shelf life.

 

Thanks Mr Charles, for your response.  I do understand your comment.  Shelf life of packaging materials is a very highly variable issue  specifically because of the following factors.

 

a. the type of food product packed - liquid, powder, semi liquid etc.,

b. the type of heat treatment the product has been subjected to before/after packaging

c. the intended shelf life of the product under specific storage and handling conditions

d. the type of packaging material used.

 

Thus, the conditions needed being complex and variable to specific needs , all the variable aspects have to be carefully considered to arrive at the best packaging option for every food item.

I therefore suggest / recommend  to refer the following publication that deals in details this subject.       

 

FOOD PACKAGING AND SHELF LIFE - A PRACTICAL GUIDE

Edited By:  Gordon L Robertson,Published By: CRC Press.

 

Regards.

D.N.Ravindra

 

Hi dulipeta,

Thks for the reference which I have previously seen. Unfortunately I was not further enlightened on the topic of validating shelf life of packaging materials. Probably due to the above limitations as already discussed on this forum.

Perhaps you could suggest some specific procedures from yr own  thoughts.