FEFPEB releases details of French and Spanish studies on wood packaging and food

Steered by its PR Committee, FEFPEB’s Packaging from Nature campaign recently released details of an extensive three-year research initiative by French consortium EMABOIS and a study on wooden packaging for fish by the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

These respectively highlighted the superior antimicrobial properties of wood species, including pine and poplar, when compared to smooth synthetic materials including plastics; and that containers made from wood develop less contamination after contact with fish and do not affect the quality or safety of fish products. The story was published in a cross-section of European magazines and websites
FEFPEB is currently working on new downloadable fact sheets for the seven-language Packaging from Nature websites - on the subjects of pallet pools and the circular economy. It will release the latest news in the European campaign to promote wood as a material for packaging and pallets from the Brussels congress during October.

Meanwhile, a number of FEFPEB members have written to European public health officials to request they overtly support the use of wooden packaging in the fish industry. GROW International and national associations including FEDEMCO in Spain, HPE in Germany and Assoimballaggi in Italy are among those who have sent letters.

The letters cite the most recent studies by EMBOIS and the Autonomous University of Barcelona, asking the European Commission to make a clear statement to the fish supply chain about the suitability of wood as a packaging material for fresh fish.

Among the points made in the letters is that wood materials have additional anti-microbial properties to a smooth packaging material such as plastic, which can significantly reduce the natural bacterial load of fish.
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