The Instrumental Role of Food PackagingThe Importance of Packaging Design for the Chemistry of Food Products

Packaging are physical ‘media’ which aim to satisfy three main requirements: to contain, preserve and transport human products. Functionality is the real essence of the synergetic food/packaging system. However, there is not functionality without communication. The concept of food packaging concerns a dualistic system: on the one side, every food packaging is expected to preserve packaged foods against thermal leaps, environmental moisture, mechanical damages (functional requirements). The viewpoint of research chemists is important: all above mentioned factors depend also on chemical processes, analytical methods, food examinations and reports when speaking of human health, food safety, logistic matters and environmental sustainability of recycling processes. On the other hand, packaging design enhances the communication. Consequently, the complex relationship between communication (according to a design approach) and functional requirements has to be carefully studied in the pre-production step.