A packaging material that prevents leaching from bottled drinks and the contamination of food products has won Nottingham Trent University the Food and Drink INet Innovation Champion 2009 award.
The university's School of Science and Technology, which developed the packaging, also won the Cenfra Award for Most Innovative Research Project.
The problem of leaching, or escaping, gases from bottled drinks has been solved using 'nanofillers' to enhance plastic-packaging materials by no more than a few nanometres (one millionth of a millimetre).
This nanoscopic technique doesn't affect the appearance of the plastic packaging and eliminates the need to use heavier materials such as glass.
It has the potential to save huge amounts of energy required for the processing and transporting of bottled beverages.
The research has also led to the development of materials with antimicrobial properties - which kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms - that can be used in direct contact with food.
Existing methods used to combat microbial contamination of food products aren't suitable for plastic packaging.
The scientists at Nottingham Trent University overcame this problem by developing a special 'antimicrobial nanocomposite' that can be used within these materials.
The improved properties of this packaging are also expected to extend the shelf-life of food.
Nottingham Trent University's School of Science and Technology received The Food and Drink Forum Innovation Champion 2009 accolade at an awards ceremony attended by around 150 representatives from across the East Midlands food-and-drink sector.
