Packaging Innovation

Food security through innovative packaging

  • Professor Greg Qiao
    Professor Greg Qiao

    Project Leader, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

    University of Melbourne

  • Dr Paul Gurr
    Dr Paul Gurr

    Project Manager; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

    University of Melbourne

  • Wenlian Qiu
    Wenlian Qiu

    PhD Student, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

    University of Melbourne

  • Bingxin Liu
    Bingxin Liu

    PhD Student; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

    University of Melbourne

The goal of the Packaging Innovation Team is to develop novel materials to be used in various forms of innovative packaging design.

The Polymer Science group (PSG), led by Prof. Greg Qiao specialises in developing materials for the future, through innovative conception, sophisticated macromolecular engineering and strong collaborative enterprises.

As part of the Industrial Transformation Research Hub titled “Unlocking the Food Value Chain”, the PSG is developing a range of new polymeric materials in the areas of anti-counterfeiting, food security and consumer confidence with the aim of broadening the marketing opportunities of Australian branded food products.

The second focus of this research project is to develop unique non-toxic, polymer based thermochromic inks specifically for the food industry. Typically commercial inks are applied to impermeable substrates such as glass, metal and plastic due to the issue of chemical migration, which restricts their use in a broader range of food products. The work carried out within this project is in developing non-toxic thermochromic inks as well as non-leachable fully bound polymeric thermochromic platforms.

To protect markets from the increasingly sophisticated counterfeit industry there is a rapidly growing need for novel anti-counterfeiting technologies. The work carried out in the second part of this project is to develop low-cost and “food safe” polymer-based thermochromic ink technology which can be applied in either overt, consumer focused, or covert, manufacturer and retailer focused, designs.

These outcomes will enable unique brand awareness, maintain the Australian brand and protect the consumer confidence afforded to Australian products through unique product labelling and design.

If you would like to find out more about our packaging innovation research stream please contact us at food-value-chain@unimelb.edu.au.

Chemistry Laboratory