CORNET Project SmartFlowerPack

B2B flower sector: development and implementation of smart bio-based packaging systems

Before cut flowers reach consumers there is a 15-20 % loss of produce due to damaging and degradation of the flowers. Causes among others are ethylene emissions of internal and external sources, fungi, bacteria, shock and especially wrong temperatures combined with long transport distances. The CORNET Project SmartFlowerPack analysed all the causes and came up with a concept of active packaging using innovative bio-based technologies to limit or even completely avert the negative effects.

The packaging and cut flower industry – merging their needs

The goal of SmartFlowerPack is to extend the vase life of flowers, maintain or improve quality standards, simplify supply chains and reduce the loss of produce in the flower supply chain.

In strong cooperation with all project partners, new materials, technologies and active components which would be beneficial to the life and quality of flowers have been screened and tested.

Business potential in transport packaging, retail packaging and consumer packaging

The potential for smart bio-based technologies lies in the whole flower distribution chain. For example, a business to business box used to transport flowers from the grower to flower auction to final reseller. Furthermore, it could be used to retail packaging to sell flowers via the internet or to gift wrap a bouquet for the consumer.

Download the SmartFlowerPack SmartFlowerPack Info-Flyer (PDF, 697KB, File does not meet accessibility standards)

Download the SmartFlowerPack SmartFlowerPack presentation (PDF, 8MB, File does not meet accessibility standards), including lessons learned, given at the CORNET Monitoring Meeting on 18 November 2014.

Contact

• Patrycja Suminska, psuminska@zut.edu.pl, Tel: +48
.91
449
6132
• Sanne Tiekstra, s.tiekstra@kcpk.nl, Tel: +31.6
1358
8739

Participants from Netherlands

• WvP – Wereld van Papier – Coordinating association
• KCPK – Kenniscentrum Papier en Karton – Research organisation

Participants from Poland

• GCC – The Association West Pomeranian Chemical Cluster “Green Chemistry” – Association
• ZUT – The West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin / CBIMO – Center of Bioimmobilisation and Innovative Packaging Materials – Research organisation

©pictures: SmartFlowerPack