In recent years, in order to meet the new demands of consumers, there has been a great commercial development of all kinds of pre-cooked foods, prepared for full and direct consumption, made with sustainable techniques and physical methods, washed, disinfected, preserved in refrigeration and generally packaged in a modified atmosphere (EAM) in plastic film, with the sensory and nutritional properties of the original product, and with a guarantee of quality and safety.

Convenience or convenience foods are experiencing one of the highest growth rates in the global food industry to meet this demand and new shopping habits at a reasonable cost. On the other hand, traditional foods that are stable at room temperature or second range are demanding new packaging solutions that are more environmentally sustainable and that reduce their water and carbon footprint. This work focuses on the study and development of biodegradable plastic films valid for the packaging of processed foods stable at room temperature, focusing on pickles as a very important sector in the Region of Murcia and on ready-to-eat foods stored in refrigeration (V Range), a sector that is growing and becoming very important in the business fabric of the Region.

Reference project 2020.08.CT01.0028, grant awarded €68,908 with co-financing of up to 80% (€55,126), from the FEDER global grant.