Supplying the highly-regulated food processing industry with a wide range of Peroxides solutions
When it comes to the food we eat, feed our families and share with our friends, our standards are sky high ౼ and rightfully so. But a lot goes on behind the scenes to ensure the safety of the products we love. At Solvay, we work closely with our clients to implement exacting practices in Aseptic Packaging, Cleaning in Place (CIP) and Food Contact Sanitisation to ensure products are produced and packaged in a safe, sterile and sustainable environment.
Market snapshot
The massive machines that package and bottle food products aseptically can produce up to 48,000 packs an hour, representing a huge capital investment. We understand that every minute a machine stops running ౼ whether due to residue buildup, scheduled cleaning or maintenance ౼ is a minute that it stops generating value. For our clients, keeping machines clean and running efficiently is a top concern.
We are also keenly in tune with the importance of maintaining product integrity. For example, media reports of an E. Coli breakout or Salmonella can be incredibly damaging to our clients’ reputations and businesses. On top of that, integrity lapses can also affect the taste, appearance or nutritional quality of food products. And lastly, in our globalized society, we recognize the need to extend product shelf life through safe packaging options, which allows for a longer food chain and considerably reduces overall food waste.
Our customers also face the responsibility of reducing their environmental impact as well as mounting pressure to find and employ sustainable solutions. This is particularly true for our clients in vulnerable zones where water management is critical.
Our promise
As one of the suppliers of choice for major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Solvay designs and produces products that sterilize packaging and function with every packaging machine. Our solutions can extend product shelf life by 6-12 months and allow the ability to ship and store food without refrigeration. This gives manufacturers more time to safely ship and sell quality nutritional food and reduces food waste and energy consumption along the distribution chain. Not only does this sterile environment work to prevent outbreaks and meet every specification, but it also increases intervals between cleaning, which reduces cost, boosts productivity and allows clients to fill more packaging with the same quantity of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).
Our clients in the highly-regulated food industry turn to us for our environmentally friendly and chlorine-free solutions. On top of our extensive knowledge of the regulatory environment in every country, we are responsive to localized client needs (such as Halal certification).
Solvay follows a range of international standards recognized by food industry practitioners; the most widely adopted across our plant network are given below. We can provide details of local certifications on request.
ISO 9001:2015
ISO 14001:2015
OHSAS 18001:2007
ISO 22000/HACCP
GMP
HALAL
KOSHER
Green Factory (Thailand)
Our food packaging solutions
Aseptic packaging
Before cartons can be folded, filled and sealed, sheets of carton are run through a hydrogen peroxide bath. The proprietary stabilizing technology in Solvay’s INTEROXⓇ AG Bath series minimizes residue buildup caused by the sterilization process on roller equipment and surfaces, reducing costly machine maintenance or even breakdowns. It is also efficient and eco friendly as it can sterilise effectively at moderate temperatures and does not require rinsing. INTEROXⓇ AG Spray series sterilizes the interior of finished packaging. Similarly, residue on heater surfaces and spray nozzles is minimized, yielding the same great benefits.
Food processing factories can also use peracetic acid (PAA) to sterilize finished packaging. Touted as a powerful sterilant, Solvay’s proprietary PROXITANEⓇ brand is highly effective at low temperatures, which is ideal for beverages packaged in plastic PET bottles. The low temperature not only avoids shrunken or misshaped bottles, it also requires less energy. Instead of the so called ‘dry’ disinfection method used with hydrogen peroxide, PET bottles are rinsed with a solution containing PAA as its active chemical.
Cleaning in Place (CIP)
Cleaning in Place refers to the process of cleaning and sterilizing every nook and cranny of the machinery itself ౼ including tanks, piping and workspaces ౼ between batches without dismantling complex setups. When done successfully, every surface is free of visible and invisible soil and microorganisms that can potentially lead to illness or food spoilage.
Between batches, factories run several cleaning rounds of water, caustic solutions (engineered to soften deposits to facilitate removal) and finally a biocide solution through the machines. Solvay’s PROXITANEⓇ ensures a very efficient and consistent cleaning process. The highly effective product also saves resources as it disinfects at a low temperature, and is effective with a lower unit concentration compared to other commonly used biocides.
Direct Food Contact Sanitizer
Some food products require direct protection, such as meat, poultry, fruit, vegetables and eggs can, as they can carry harmful microbes and be prone to spoilage. Solvay specifically designed its PROXITANEⓇ 15:10 to meet the stringent requirements of this market. This product has been recognized by leading regulators such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food contact surface sanitation and the Food Safety Commission of Japan. In addition to the microbial protection, PROXITANEⓇ 15:10 enhances product quality throughout the useful shelf life and, in some cases, extends the shelf life itself. Fast acting and powerful, PROXITANEⓇ 15:10 quickly breaks down into harmless products: water, oxygen and very dilute vinegar. It is designed to perform across a wide range of temperatures to match our clients dispersed geographical locations. The specific formulation allows for reuse, meaning real cost savings and more sustainable operations.
