Introduction

Aluminum is a widely used material in the food preservation industry due to its excellent barrier properties, strength and recyclability. Technological innovations have allowed aluminum packaging to evolve to improve food preservation and production efficiency.

Innovations in the use of aluminum for food preservation focus on improving the mechanical properties of cans by adding small amounts of magnesium and manganese to pure aluminum. This is done to adapt aluminum, which is harder than pure aluminum, to the manufacture of cans that require certain mechanical characteristics to be effective as food packaging.

The thickness of aluminum used in fish packaging normally ranges from 0.21 to 0.25 mm. In addition, special attention is paid to the manufacturing process of the peel-off caps to avoid going through the entire sheet, which determines the minimum thickness that the cap sheets must have.

The ease of manufacture is also highlighted, as many canned fish producers manufacture the can bodies themselves from already coated rolls, which allows them to save on the costs of transporting empty containers from the factory. In addition, aluminum offers an attractive appearance and good strength, which are important characteristics for the increasing use of this material in the manufacture of canned fish packaging.

Properties of Aluminum in Food Preservation

• Light and oxygen barrier: Aluminum provides a total barrier against light, odors and oxygen, which is essential for maintaining food quality and shelf life.
• Resistance and Lightness: Aluminum is a light and resistant material, which facilitates its transport and handling, while protecting the contents during filling and transport.
• Recyclability: Aluminum is 100% recyclable without loss of quality, making it a sustainable and preferred material for the circular economy.

Technological Innovations

1. Weight Reduction: A significant reduction in the weight of aluminum cans has been achieved, which contributes to less waste generation and a reduced carbon footprint.
2. Production Efficiency: The implementation of advanced technologies has led to increased efficiency in the use of resources and in the production of aluminum containers.
3. Use of Renewable Energy: The metal packaging industry is increasing reliance on renewable energy sources such as wind and solar to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Improvements in Water Use: Progress has been made in the efficiency of water use during aluminum container production operations.

Environmental Impact and Sustainability

• Circular Economy: Aluminum containers are an example of circular economy, as they can be recycled indefinitely, keeping the materials in use and out of landfills.
• CO2 Emissions Reduction: The industry has been able to reduce CO2 emissions through the efficient and reduced use of raw materials.

Challenges and Future Considerations

• Awareness and Recycling: It is important to continue with awareness campaigns to ensure that consumers recycle aluminum containers properly.
• Continuous Innovation: The industry must continue to innovate to find solutions that further improve the sustainability and efficiency of aluminum packaging.

Conclusion

Aluminum remains a key material in food preservation thanks to its ability to adapt to the demands of sustainability and efficiency. Technological innovations in the production and design of aluminum packaging are helping to reduce environmental impact and improve food preservation.