This document summarizes TNO's expertise in developing smart packaging solutions to reduce food waste. TNO is a Dutch research organization that can help address food waste issues through a value chain approach. They have technology for non-invasive detection of oxygen and freshness indicators for meat and fish using fluorescence and colorimetric sensors. TNO also has expertise in 3D printing, microencapsulation, and printed electronics that can produce low-cost smart sensors and labels for monitoring food conditions throughout the supply chain. By applying their multi-disciplinary technology solutions, TNO aims to create market pull at the retail level and technology push with packaging manufacturers to help reduce the estimated 33% of global food production that is wasted each year.

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Smart packaging for connected food links
Packaging Innovations, November 27th 2013
Ir Jan Willem Slijkoord
Sr. Business Development Manager Chemicals

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27-11-2013
Content
Backgrounds of TNO
Food waste: overview of (global) issues
Smart packaging solutions: a value chain approach
TNO expertise’s and technology show cases
Conclusions

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TNO: an independent, competent & reliable partner
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Dutch national laboratory for applied scientific research
Founded in 1932 by law in The Netherlands
7 theme’s, 20 innovation areas
> 4100 scientists & highly skilled employees
Sales 2012: 606 mEUR
1 HEALTHY LIVING
> 100 patents annually
2 INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION
> 1000 publications annually
3 INTEGRAL SAFETY
> 1200 customers annually
4 ENERGY
5 TRANSPORT & INFRASTRUCTURE
6 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRUCTION
7 ICT IN SOCIETY

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March 19, 2013
Toon Ansems
Sustainability in fibres
The power of TNO: from idea to innovation
Develop
fundamental
knowledge
Knowledge
development
Knowledge
application
Knowledge
exploitation
With
universities
With
partners
With
customers
Embedded in the
market
What’s your sustainability challenge?

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Food waste: a big global issue!1
33% of total global food production = 1.3 billion ton waste annually
Planet issue: Food waste makes huge environmental impact, i.e.
Land use and soil depletion
Scarce water resources
Over-use of fertilizers and pesticides
People issue: ca. 925 million people face severe food shortages
Profit issue: Global opportunity for food efficiency in chain = $ 252
billion (2030)!2
Sources
1. Global Food Losses and Food Waste - FAO, 2011
2. McKinsey & Company

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Most food wasted in production & consumption phase

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Solutions for food waste: a value chain approach
Food waste in Dutch retail sector estimated €100 million annually
Food waste reduction is complex: THE solution does not exist!
Solutions are dependent on drivers & capabilities players in chain
Market pull drivers for retailers:
Reducing food waste = reducing costs
Reduce environmental impact = improve corporate (sustainability) image
Increased consumer awareness
Technology push drivers for packaging manufacturers
Offering more added value
Increase competitive edge

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Some potential food waste solutions in the food chain
Technology push
Market demand
F
Packagers
Distributors & Retailers
Consumers
Materials
sciences
Sensor
technology
Food
markers
Package
Integrity
Data to
Information
Visibility
stickers
Food condition
monitoring
Leakage
monitoring
Indicator after
perishable date
Food
safety
&
Reduction
costs

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TNO’s contribution in the food value chain
TNO offers an unique combination technology expertise's
Marker & food safety technology for leakage & freshness indicators
Coating & sensor technology
3D printing & encapsulation technology
Converting data into information in complex value chains
TNO’s business approach
Value chain & driver assessments by independent technology partner
Shared Innovation approach

10. Non-invasive O2 leakage detection for packed food
Detection of packaging integrity during distribution and storage
Principle:
fluorescence lifetime detection by O2 sensitive fluorescent material
in gas permeable hydrophobic polymer via blue LED reader pen
Benefits:
Non invasive detection of oxygen in oil, water, air
Low-cost, fast sensors (< €0.5 cents/sensor)
Sterilisation resistant
Patented technology: WO 0163264
Licensed to Oxysense for food & non-food applications

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Early new markers for monitoring food freshness
Development of early markers & sensors to monitor freshness of relatively
valuable perishable foods in packaging such as meat & fish

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Identifying new markers for meat freshness
Make successive GC-MS pictures of meat condition in time
Assess product freshness
apolar → polar
Select most sensitive early markers
volatile → less volatile

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Difference early & slow meat freshness marker
Cyclic compound: early response, steep concentration rise in time
Colony Forming Unit (CFU) is significantly less sensitive
6.0
1.0
5.0
0.8
4.0
0.6
3.0
0.4
2.0
Cyclic compound
2-pentylfuran
0.2
1.0
log CFU
0.0
0.0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
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tijd (uur)
14
15
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log CFU
7.0
1.2
concentratie 2-pentylfuran
8.0
1.4
Conc. cyclic compound
1.6

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Fluorescence freshness indicator for fish products
During decay of fish volatile amines are released (TMA, DMA):
Non-invasive fluorescence lifetime detection in time, suitable for amines, NH3
Easy & quick monitoring fish condition in warehouse/store by LED reader pen

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Colorimetric freshness indicator for fish products
Principle:
Array of sensors which visibly change color after interaction
with dedicated chemical compounds (markers)
Sensors consist of changing composition of porous nano
particles with specific interaction for the relevant markers
Colorimeteric (visual): LOD < 1 ppm

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Colorimetric freshness indicator for fish products
Benefits
Low-cost and applicable by means of 3D printing technology
Non invasive & acceptable shelf life (months)
Low detection limits possible (< 1ppm)
Very limited humidity & temperature influence
Potential applications
In stores: show 35% bargain sticker automatically?
At home: show green sticker after persihable date?
Safe
Food
35%
KORTING

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Examples of other non-invasive fluorescent detection
sensor technologies of freshness indicators
CO2:
Micro-organisms:
SH, aldehydes, humidity, etc:
pH:
Temperature

18. 3D printing technology for smart sensor production
Extensive track record since 1997!
Advanced high viscous jetting 3D
printer & picture viscous drops
Complex and
hybrid products
Printed circuits
& sensors on foil

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TNO: Printed RFID sensor for smart packaging
“Smart Label”, incl.
printed circuit, IC,
resistive sensor with
sensing polymers on foil
Aging of cod fish corresponds with higher
trimethylamine concentrations. Smart Label measures
higher resistivity, corresponding with significantly
increased TMA levels. This can be used as indicator
for perishable dates of cod fish. RFID chip (13.56
MHz) suitable for easy read-out for commercial
readers & smartphones

20. Micro-encapsulation printed materials enhances
functionality. The principle….
(Micro)encapsulation is widely used in the various industries
shell material with different functionality
core-shell encapsulate
core material with base functionality
(microcapsule)
TNO encapsulation printer
core
liquid film
core-shell

21. Printed microcapsules offers increased functionality
An example in beverages…
molten
stearic acid
mint
syrup
cold
well defined, 200 µm encapsulates
hot
“flavor burst” in hot water

22. Challenges for FDA approved printed microcapsules
Sensitivity for released gasses in smart packaging?
Semi-conduction polymers, controlled release?
functional
polymer
Base polymer or ink
7 µm shell
thickness
85 v% core
material
well defined
200 µm encapsulates

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Conclusions
Smart packaging offers opportunities to reduce food waste & costs
throughout the value chain.
The “solution” can be achieved via a typical value chain approach:
Get commitment at partners about most realistic food waste issue to solve
Create market pull demand at retailers and…
… a technology push demand at packaging/sensor/label chain partners
Then: assess & apply TNO’s unique set of complementary expertise’s

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Thank you for your attention!
jan_willem.slijkoord@tno.nl