A company that offers a “unique” visual illustration of shelf life for fresh produce has received its first external investment to help commercialise the project.
Insignia Technologies has received almost £900,000 in investment from the Scottish Investment Bank and the University of Strathclyde, among others.
Its ‘smart label’ is applied to the inside of modified atmosphere lidding and is designed to change colour over time, depending on how long a packet has been open.
Business development manager Jonny Macneal said the technology, which translates carbon dioxide levels into a consumer-friendly label, helps to avoid food wastage.
It uses an embedded timer constructed with a plastic film that responds to carbon dioxide.
Up until now trials have worked on cheese, meat and bread, but Macneal said the investment will help the company’s work with US bagged salads companies.
Insignia has also been working with California food transportation company Transfresh, and Macneal said the technology works well for US shipping companies who export fresh produce to Europe over long distances.
He said the company has been in talks with banana suppliers who are interested in the technology. “The technology works wherever there is carbon dioxide present in a modified atmosphere,” he said.
Macneal said that in the past there have been similar projects using temperature indicators, but measuring carbon dioxide levels is “fairly unique”. “It is price competitive and we have had a good reaction from retailers,” he added.
The technology is applied during packing so the company is working alongside packers and machinery operators.
Macneal said the investment will take the company forward into its next round of trials, and hopes that the technology will be ready for commercial use by Q1 2014.
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