Packaging New Paths to Global Food Security

• 1.5 million people are added each week.
• Demand for food will be more than double by 2050!
• Due to disruptions and inefficiencies in the food supply chain there is significant food spoilage.
• Climate, social policies and urbanisation heavily impact the food industry.

What can we do?
Introducing the power of high performance polymers

High performance polymers are used in packaging materials and can offer many benefits, such as extending shelf life. Which results in less food waste.

The prudent use of the right packaging is critical to supporting food security. Packaging can greatly cut down food waste and loss, which accounts for one-third of all food produced worldwide, and over 8 percent of global carbon emissions.

But not just packaging has an influence on food waste. It is also prevalent across other parts of the food value chain. Using high performance polymers throughout the entire value chain will protect food from farm to fork.

—Trevor Robinson, Marketing Manager Polymers

Our high-performance polymers are used in numerous products that support better agricultural practices to boost food supply.

For example improvement of crop yields, by as much as 72% in some cases while reducing water consumption, thanks to improved thermal and humidity control. These savings can be reached by using agriculture films such as greenhouse covers and mulch films.

At OQ, we believe in the power of small things to make a big impact. In the same way that polymers are made of small molecules linked into long chains, the path to food security can be strung together through countless positive actions taken by individuals and industry players alike to reduce food waste and improve food access – one package at a time.

Substantial food losses can occur during transportation without the right packaging that ensures food is kept intact for longer periods.

A study in Sri Lanka found that up to 28 percent of fresh produce packaged in the traditional burlap (jute) bags were crushed on their way to the market. Using crates to stack the produce cut food loss to even 5 percent.

For caps and closures, clear bottles, houseware, toys and leisure, appliance parts, thin-walled injection moulded and thermoformed packaging

Luban Polypropylene (PP) solutions for durables have the versatility necessary to ensure longevity, reliability and safety of household appliances. Our Polypropylene (PP) range is used in a variety of thin-walled packaging applications in both food and non-food sectors, which require solutions with high fluidity and balanced mechanical properties.

Luban PP Impact and Random Copolymer solutions for houseware, toys and leisure products have the balanced physical properties of excellent stiffness and impact resistance, combined with easy processing and aesthetics.

For crates and pallets, household and chemical (hc) containers, personal care bottles, dairy bottles, caps, lids, closures and industrial containers

Luban HDPE solutions for crates and pallets have high durability and load stability, offering reliable support to transport and logistics chains.

Our Luban HDPE and Luban Polypropylene (PP) resins are designed for producing a wide range of blow moulded bottles.

For masterbatch base resins, duratile lids, water tanks, leisure (e.g. kayaks), freezer bags, artificial grass

Our LLDPE resins are designed for a wide range of flexible film applications using both blown and cast film extrusion processes offering an optimal balance of toughness and stiffness.