Stay fresh with Süd-Chemie

Süd-Chemie Performance Packaging, a business unit of Süd-Chemie Group, now offers a full line of solutions to protect produce and flowers from the harmful effects of ethylene gas.

The company, an established name in moisture control solutions, has added a full line of Ethylene Control packets, filters and filtration systems to its portfolio, which allow users to extend the shelf-life and quality of their produce and floral products. UK managing director Dr Matthias Brommer said: “With Ethylene Control products, users can not only increase their bottom line, they can also increase satisfaction and loyalty among their customers.”

Ethylene gas, a naturally occurring ripening agent, causes fruits and vegetables to ripen and decay, and flowers to wilt. By oxidising and neutralising ethylene gas from the air, Ethylene Control products slow down the natural decay process of fruits, vegetables and flowers. They also kill moulds, rots and odours that threaten the quality of post-harvest goods.

Brommer added: “While ethylene gas is sometimes used under controlled conditions as a ripening agent, such as in grocery store distribution centres to cause green bananas to turn yellow or tomatoes to turn red for display on store shelves, even small amounts of exposure during storage and transport can cause most products to deteriorate at an increased rate. Decay, russet spotting, yellowing, odour, scalding and wilting are just a few of the common effects of ethylene gas.

“Many fruits and vegetables produce various levels of ethylene themselves during their natural ripening process. Further, the presence of automotive emissions, plastics, smoke and fluorescent lights all increase levels of ethylene gas in the air. The increased ethylene threatens the life cycle of produce and flowers.”

Süd-Chemie’s Ethylene Control products are available in three application-specific configurations to help users protect their products from the inevitable risk of ethylene exposure:

Packets: Filled with patented Power Pellets, packets are ideal for protecting individual boxes, cartons, crates, clamshells or other packages of produce and flowers. Large packets are also ideal for protecting reach-ins. “One packet per box protects products continuously, from the packing line to the retail backroom,” said Brommer.

Filters: Ethylene Control Filters are ideal for use in areas like walk-in coolers, refrigerated trucks and sea containers, where they can be mounted anywhere in the airflow system. “Filters neutralise ethylene gas and kill moulds and rots as air passes through the filter,” said Brommer.

Filtration Systems: The Ethylene Control EC-3+ Air Filtration System is a self-contained unit holding 100 pounds of Power Pellets. The system effectively lowers ethylene gas readings in storage areas between 75,000 and 150,000 cubic feet, depending on commodities being stored. “The system reduces ethylene levels by up to 98.9 percent and also kills moulds and rots,” Brommer claimed.