An essential part of the project is quality control. All three partners have an interest in maintaining the highest product standards possible from engineering, food safety and food quality perspectives. To this end, each project partner will engage in certification and quality tests relevant for their respective share of the project:
Several tests and certifications will be performed with regards to the compostability and bio-based properties of the innovative packaging material. These two features lie at the centre of Mars’ packaging demands and are crucial in order to guarantee positive environmental impact. For testing purposes, independent laboratories will be commissioned.
Throughout WP 3, Mars will use internal tests (i.e. with own employees) for interim evaluation of how the new packaging impacts food stuffs. Although food safety legislation requires that packaging may have no influence on the composition of packaged food stuffs, chocolate is a highly susceptible food stuff. Therefore, food safety certification in itself does not guarantee that the packaging material has no influence on the taste of packaged food stuffs. Mars’ employees will “stand in” as consumers until market introduction takes place and “real life” consumer perception studies can be conducted.
Compostability and bio-based certification differ in a number of manners:
Bio-based certification concerns the composition of the material. Depending on the precise percentage of bio-based compound materials, testing institutes such as Vincotte (http://www.okcompost.be) award the bio-based certificate. This certificate, however, has no bearing on the extent of compostability of the given material.
Compostability certification verifies among others that a material is biodegradable (EN 13432), disintegrable and contains low levels of heavy metals. On top of that, the certificate confirms that a certified material – after being composted – contributes positively to plant growth. This certificate, however, does not confirm bio-based properties of the material.
In short, the compostability and bio-based certification schemes are distinct and will both be tested separately.
Tasks:
- Film certification and testing for mechanical properties
- Food safety certification
- Testing for effects on taste of packaged food materials
- Testing for printability and antistatic properties
WP3
An essential part of the project is quality control. All three partners have an interest in maintaining the highest product standards possible from engineering, food safety and food quality perspectives. To this end, each project partner will engage in certification and quality tests relevant for their respective share of the project:
Several tests and certifications will be performed with regards to the compostability and bio-based properties of the innovative packaging material. These two features lie at the centre of Mars’ packaging demands and are crucial in order to guarantee positive environmental impact. For testing purposes, independent laboratories will be commissioned.
Throughout WP 3, Mars will use internal tests (i.e. with own employees) for interim evaluation of how the new packaging impacts food stuffs. Although food safety legislation requires that packaging may have no influence on the composition of packaged food stuffs, chocolate is a highly susceptible food stuff. Therefore, food safety certification in itself does not guarantee that the packaging material has no influence on the taste of packaged food stuffs. Mars’ employees will “stand in” as consumers until market introduction takes place and “real life” consumer perception studies can be conducted.
Compostability and bio-based certification differ in a number of manners:
Bio-based certification concerns the composition of the material. Depending on the precise percentage of bio-based compound materials, testing institutes such as Vincotte (http://www.okcompost.be) award the bio-based certificate. This certificate, however, has no bearing on the extent of compostability of the given material.
Compostability certification verifies among others that a material is biodegradable (EN 13432), disintegrable and contains low levels of heavy metals. On top of that, the certificate confirms that a certified material – after being composted – contributes positively to plant growth. This certificate, however, does not confirm bio-based properties of the material.
In short, the compostability and bio-based certification schemes are distinct and will both be tested separately.
Tasks:
- Film certification and testing for mechanical properties
- Food safety certification
- Testing for effects on taste of packaged food materials
- Testing for printability and antistatic properties