PPWR • Packaging Development • Shelf Life

Changing packaging for PPWR? Make sure product protection still performs.

Packaging changes can affect the atmosphere inside the package. Non-destructive headspace analysis helps you compare packaging alternatives and follow O₂ and CO₂ throughout shelf-life studies. Non-destructive headspace analysis helps you compare packaging alternatives and follow O₂ and CO₂ throughout shelf-life studies.

Food products in different packaging materials for packaging performance and shelf-life evaluation subjectable to PPWR.

The regulatory context

PPWR is changing how packaging is designed and selected

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is driving packaging minimisation, recyclability, reuse and changes in material selection.

For food manufacturers and packaging developers, this creates a practical question:

“Will a new packaging solution still provide the required protection throughout the product’s shelf life?”

Headspace analysis does not determine overall PPWR compliance. It can support the technical evaluation of packaging performance when materials or structures change.

From regulation to validation

A packaging change can become a product protection question

01

New Requirements

Packaging design and material choices evolve.

02

New materials

Films, structures, barriers, or formats change.

03

Performance study

Monitor the internal atmosphere over time.

 

04

Better evidence

Compare packaging alternatives using repeatable data.

Non-destructive headspace analysis

Follow the same package thoughout the shelf life testing study

Gasporox laser-based technology measures gases through intact packaging. This enables repeated measurements without opening the package or consuming the sample, enabeling clear food packaging material comparison.

  • RMeasure O₂ and CO₂ inside sealed packages
  • RFollow individual samples over time
  • RCompare packaging materials and structures
  • RSupport shelf-life and packaging development studies
Packaged mixed salad bags at different stages of shelf life used in stability studies for packaging and product evaluation showcasing product and packaging changes.

Day 0 (Baseline) → Day 30 (Follow-up) → Day 90 (Shelf life)

Packaging development use cases

Where headspace analysis can support your evaluation

Compare packaging materials

Evaluate how alternative packaging structures maintain the intended atmosphere over time.

Support shelf-life studies

Measure the same samples repeatedly during real-time or accelerated studies.

Evaluate packaging optimisation

Study how reduced material, thinner structures or redesigned formats affect the package atmosphere.

Investigate package performance

Identify differences between packaging formats, production conditions or candidate materials.

GPX1500 Film Food

Technology for Packaging R&D

Non-destructive O₂ and CO₂ measurement

The GPX1500 Film Food is designed for non-destructive headspace analysis in flexible modified atmosphere food packaging, supporting quality control, research and packaging evaluation.

A practical study approach

From candidate material to performance data

01

Select alternatives

Current packaging plus candidate materials.

02

Prepare samples

Use comparable filling and storage conditions.

03

Measure over time

Track O₂ and CO₂ non-destructively.

04

Compare results

Evaluate how each packaging solution behaves.

Planning a packaging material study?

Evaluate new packaging without sacrificing every sample.

Discuss your packaging, product and measurement requirements with Gasporox.