of Sealed Air Corp., Dri-Loc pads are used by supermarkets and meat and poultry processors to absorb liquid exudate that would otherwise collect in a tray of meat or poultry or fish.
The Compression Pack was developed for Cryovac by Cryovac (www.cryovac.com). As a replacement for corrugated cases, this new pack format is said to reduce solid waste by weight by about 80%. Also, because the absorbent pads are compressed instead of merely held loose in a container, storage and shipping efficiency throughout the supply chain is greatly improved. Cryovac cites a 40% reduction in cube volume.
End users benefit, too. The packaging material is prescored to provide an easy-open feature. Also, sanitation measures are enhanced in two ways. First, the amount of corrugated that comes into the food prep or meat-cutting area is reduced. Second, the Compression Pack is covered by a clear film overwrap that can be removed by the end user, thus ensuring optimal cleanliness of the Compression Pack itself.
Cryovac indicates the materials used are PE, but precise specs are not available. Nor is there much information available about the machinery used to create this package. —Pat Reynolds
