Tomato residue: the key to safer and more sustainable metal food packaging?

Tomatoes by Tony CC BY ND 2 0
Sustainability

Spanish researchers from two universities have developed a solution to protect metal packaging by using tomato pomace lacquers to coat their inner surfaces.

The Instituto de Hortofruiticultura in Malaga and the Instituto de Ciencia de los Materiales in Seville, Spain have created a biologically and environmentally friendly resin that repels water and has anti-corrosive properties.

The lacquer is derived from the by-products of tomato processing and adheres firmly to coated metal surfaces.

The aim of the research is to provide a safer alternative to Bisphenol A (BPA) coatings, which are used to protect food from corroded metals but can be harmful to human health. Spain banned the use of BPA in food packaging last year. The tomato pomace resin produces less carbon dioxide during its manufacture than BPA resin, and further evaluations will assess its environmental impact.

Tomatoes by Tony CC BY ND 2 0
Tomatoes by Tony (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Researchers are now planning to test the effectiveness of the lacquer on cans and packaging containing real food, and evaluate its industrial application.

This research was originally published by ScienceDirect: Bio-based lacquers from industrially processed tomato pomace for sustainable metal food packaging

Latest Packaging News

Rowlinson Packaging protects high-value AI hardware with timber crate solutions
Supplier News

Rowlinson Packaging protects high-value AI hardware with timber crate solutions

As artificial intelligence (AI) adoption accelerates, the global demand for AI infrastructure...
Viscose Closures: Choosing the right cork – A guide for wine and spirits producers
Supplier News

Viscose Closures: Choosing the right cork – A guide for wine and spirits producers

Selecting the right cork stopper is a crucial decision for both winemakers and spirit producers....
London Packaging Week hosts first major industry discussion since EPR launch
Events

London Packaging Week hosts first major industry discussion since EPR launch

Leading experts from Defra, PackUK, and the Food & Drink Federation will discuss how recent...
JD Wetherspoon reports £2.4m packaging waste costs under EPR scheme
Business

JD Wetherspoon reports £2.4m packaging waste costs under EPR scheme

JD Wetherspoon has disclosed that it expects to incur around £2.4 million in costs this year under...
CalRecycle study finds 8.5m tonnes of packaging sent to landfill in California
Sustainability

CalRecycle study finds 8.5m tonnes of packaging sent to landfill in California

Nearly 8.5 million tonnes of single-use packaging and food-service items were sent to landfill in...