LifeSpan Technology

Purpose

The fundamental purpose of LifeSpan packaging is to extend the post harvest storage life of the fresh produce.

Technology Principle

After harvest, fresh produce is cut off from its supply of nutrients. However the produce continues to respire, absorbing in oxygen O₂ and releasing carbon dioxide CO₂ plus some water vapour H₂O and other volatile organic compounds. The respiratory process involves conversion of stored nutrients to produce energy that keeps the fresh produce alive and able to resist disease. However at the time of harvest, the produce is cut off from its supply of nutrients and can only continue its respiratory process until the stored nutrients are exhausted.

Thus to extend the post harvest storage life of fresh produce, the rate at which the nutrients are converted to energy must be slowed. In turn, this means the respiration rate of the produce must be slowed. LifeSpan achieves this by creating a modified atmosphere inside the LifeSpan package that slows the respiration rate. In most cases, LifeSpan uses the produce respiration to actually modify the atmosphere. Thus the LifeSpan product does not require gas flushing or any other special processes to work satisfactorily.
In all applications, LifeSpan products allow the creation of a reduced O₂ and elevated CO₂ atmosphere that slows respiration of the packaged produce.

Additional Technology Factors

Several additional factors must be considered when utilising LifeSpan technology:
LifeSpan products are always designed to be used within a specific temperature range. This temperature range is printed on the LifeSpan product. The temperature refers to the pulp temperature of the packaged produce. At times, this can be very different from the surrounding air temperature.

Ethylene is a ripening hormone for some varieties of fresh produce. For those varieties that are sensitive to ethylene, it is critical that the actions of ethylene are suppressed. Whilst some MAP products absorb ethylene as a method of controlling its impact, LifeSpan technology suppresses the effect of ethylene within the cells of the fresh produce.

Whilst the primary action of LifeSpan is to suppress respiration rates and thus increase storage life for fresh produce, our products are also designed to take account of the full range of quality factors that can cause quality deterioration in fresh produce.