Antimicrobial Additives for Packaging

What is Antimicrobial Packaging?

Antimicrobial packaging is packaging in which an antimicrobial technology has been incorporated into, or applied to, a suitable packaging material to inhibit the growth of susceptible microorganisms on the treated surface.

Depending on the packaging format, the antimicrobial additive may be incorporated directly into a polymer during manufacture, introduced into a paper or board material, or included within a suitable coating.

Antibacterial packaging specifically refers to packaging designed to inhibit bacterial growth. Antimicrobial is a broader term that may include activity against bacteria and certain fungi, depending on the formulation selected and the supporting test evidence.

For manufacturers, the important question is not simply whether a package can contain an antimicrobial additive. It is which component should be treated, why microbial growth matters on that surface and how the technology can be incorporated without compromising the existing packaging specification.

Biomaster provides product protection for the treated material. It does not make packaging sterile and does not replace appropriate cleaning, handling, storage or hygiene procedures.

How Biomaster Works in Packaging

Biomaster uses silver-ion technology to interfere with essential functions in susceptible microbial cells.

Silver ions can disrupt cell membranes, affect enzymes and energy production and interfere with replication. Together, these actions inhibit microbial growth on the treated packaging material.

Because the technology is incorporated into the material or an appropriate coating, the antimicrobial function can become an integral feature of the treated packaging component.

The formulation, incorporation method and addition rate must be selected around the particular packaging material and manufacturing process.

Finished-product testing is then used to establish the performance of the actual treated component rather than relying solely on the properties of the additive itself.

Where Can Antimicrobial Technology Be Used in a Packaging System?

Packaging is rarely a single material. A finished package may include a rigid container, flexible film, closure, seal, liner, dispenser, printed label, sleeve or secondary packaging component.

Each component can have a different material composition, manufacturing process and regulatory requirement. That means an effective antimicrobial packaging solution should begin by identifying exactly where antimicrobial functionality is required.

For example, a packaging development project might involve:

Rigid container - A moulded polymer component manufactured by injection moulding or blow moulding.

Closure or lid - A separate polymer grade and production process from the main container.

Flexible film - A single-layer or multilayer film requiring careful consideration of the layer and surface being treated.

Dispenser or applicator - A component manufactured from a different polymer or using a different production process.

Carton or sleeve - A paper or board component that may require a different antimicrobial incorporation method entirely.

Addmaster can assess each part of the packaging system independently rather than assuming that one formulation or incorporation method is appropriate for every component.

Manufacturing Processes

Biomaster formulations can be developed for a range of suitable packaging manufacturing processes. Depending on the material and application, these may include:

• Injection moulding
• Blow moulding
• Extrusion
• Blown film extrusion
• Cast film extrusion
• Thermoforming
• Paper and board manufacture
• Coating processes
• Converting processes

Processing temperature, residence time, material composition, layer structure and downstream finishing operations can all influence additive selection.

Our technical team can work with your manufacturing team to identify the most appropriate route for your process.

Antimicrobial Packaging Testing

Testing should reflect the actual finished material or packaging component wherever possible.

The appropriate method depends on factors including the material, surface, intended function and organisms being assessed.

For suitable non-porous treated materials, methods such as ISO 22196 may be relevant for assessing antibacterial activity.

Other packaging materials, surfaces or intended functions may require a different testing approach.

The development programme should therefore be based on the finished packaging construction rather than applying a single test method automatically to every application.

Addmaster can help establish an appropriate testing programme with independent laboratory support where required.

Packaging Applications

Biomaster can be considered across a wide range of packaging formats and markets where antimicrobial product protection provides a relevant material benefit. Potential applications include:

Food and Beverage Packaging
Suitable rigid, flexible, paper and board packaging components can be assessed where antimicrobial performance is required on the treated packaging material.

Healthcare and Medical Product Packaging
Packaging components used around healthcare and medical products can involve plastics, films, coated materials and paper-based structures with different technical and regulatory requirements.

Personal Care and Cosmetics Packaging
Bottles, closures, dispensers, applicators and other packaging components can be evaluated according to their material and manufacturing process.

Consumer Product Packaging
Reusable containers, dispensers, cases and other handled packaging formats can incorporate additional material functionality where appropriate.

Industrial Packaging
Durable containers, protective packaging, liners and other industrial components can be assessed where microbial growth affects the treated material or its required performance.

Reusable Packaging
Reusable packaging systems present different requirements from single-use packaging because the expected service life, handling, cleaning regime and material durability all become part of the development brief.