Antimicrobial packaging: a nano solution

14 January 2019



Growing use of reusable shopping bags has sparked worries about hygiene risks due to spilt food. To solve the problem, there has been increased interest in exploring ways to re-design bags to minimise the risk of contamination. One potential solution could involve the use of novel nanocoatings, with antimicrobial properties, which can be incorporated into reusable bags.


Gemma McGeough is a patent attorney specialising in advanced materials science at intellectual property firm, Withers & Rogers.

 

Growing use of reusable shopping bags has sparked worries about hygiene risks due to spilt food. To solve the problem, there has been increased interest in exploring ways to re-design bags to minimise the risk of contamination. One potential solution could involve the use of novel nanocoatings, with antimicrobial properties, which can be incorporated into reusable bags.

 

The UK Government is currently consulting on proposals to double the cost of single-use plastic carrier bag charges to 10p and force smaller businesses to charge for them too.  Since the 5p levy on carrier bags was introduced in October 2015, there has been an 85 per cent reduction in the use of plastic bags and £58 million has been raised for charities in England.

 

Despite growing concern about the impact of plastic on the environment, questions have been raised about the safety of reusable bags and the risk of exposure to food-poisoning bacteria. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is advising consumers to take care when packing their food shopping, using colour-coded bags to separate foods, and machine-washing cotton or material bags regularly if they have been used to carry raw food items.

 

Meanwhile the global nanotech industry, which is expected to be worth US$125 billion by 2024, has been developing technologies suited to wide-ranging applications. Among them, the technology is being developed for use in reusable bags and could present a market opportunity for innovative packaging companies.

 

There is already a precedent for using active packaging in the food industry to prevent food spoilage and reduce waste. For example, ethylene absorbers, oxygen absorbers and antimicrobials, such as oxidising ions, are all currently used in various forms of food packaging. Antibacterial bags are also on the market and act to reduce health risks caused by cross contamination. The ‘Biomaster’ bag, currently available at Marks & Spencer and Morrisons, has an inner lining treated with a patent-pending antibacterial technology, preventing the growth of food poisoning bacteria.

 

However, there is the potential for nanotechnology to be applied to reduce the potential health risks associated with re-usable bags. For instance, nanotubes could be incorporated into the bags, acting as ‘nanocapsules’ for essentials oils or other substances with antimicrobial properties. Once released, these substances could inhibit the growth of bacteria. In other cases, carbon-based nanomaterial structures have themselves been found to have antimicrobial properties. Physical interaction of such nanomaterials with microorganisms is thought to impair the integrity of cellular membranes, affecting their metabolic processes and cell morphology, in order to disrupt bacterial growth. Such technology may have potential for use in the development of more hygienic re-usable bags.

 

For now, the main barrier to wider application of nanomaterials is the fact that much of the technology used to develop them is only being produced on a laboratory scale. In order to advance the use of nanomaterials, research is needed to develop methods of manufacturing on an industrial scale, which can be achieved at a realistic cost. While a recent industry survey has shown that three quarters of UK shoppers would be prepared to pay a premium for an antimicrobial ‘bag for life’, it is not clear whether the average consumer would buy one if it was considerably more expensive than purchasing a standard one.

 

With awareness of the hygiene risks associated with reusable bags increasing, it is likely that consumers will look to invest in a hygienic and environmentally friendly solution. This presents a huge opportunity for businesses to own this space in Europe and beyond.

 

 

 

 



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