Easypak

After a long, exhausting morning at work, many of us look forward to a fresh sandwich and a fruit pack for lunch. However, when the packaging is opened, disappointment sets in as moisture pools at the bottom, leaving the sandwich soggy and the fruit sitting in its own juice. Excess moisture accelerates spoilage, impacts taste, heightens food safety risks by promoting microbial growth, and detracts from the fresh appearance. Retailers, food processors, and small independents alike have long been searching for a better way to manage moisture in packaging without adding extra materials or waste.

That’s where Easypak comes in. With their patent-pending technology, Elevate Freshness™, they are transforming how moisture is handled in food packaging with innovative features that elevate the food above any liquid buildup. It extends the freshness of items like fruits and proteins and decreases the need for extra materials like moisture pads. This makes for a cleaner, more environmentally friendly option that is easier to recycle while keeping food fresh and appealing.

Elevating Freshness

It all began when we asked a customer at a major industry trade show a simple question: “What’s causing you grief in your packaging?” The customer, representing a large retailer, mentioned their struggle to manage moisture in fresh-cut fruits like watermelon and pineapple, where juices would pool at the bottom and leave the fruit soggy and unappealing.

This conversation sparked the creation of Easypak’s innovative Elevate Freshness™ solution. It integrates features that elevate the product above any liquid purge. A special hexagonal grid forms a delicate yet sturdy base that traps excess moisture and carefully engineered “islands” elevate fresh-cut fruit or food above any liquid that gathers below. These mini pillars combined with patented Easypak Moisture Trapping Technology, limits moisture from touching the food and helps to maintain a crisp, fresh look. The intricate design helps keep every slice suspended, allowing fruits and vegetables to stay plump, vibrant, and shielded from sogginess. This clever, elevated support system helps to preserve quality and freshness so each bite feels as fresh as the first.

The innovation wasn’t limited to just fresh fruits. Easypak recognized the potential to expand Elevate Freshness™ into other food categories, including ready-to-eat and hot meals, where moisture or oils often affect the food’s appearance and flavour. Its trays manage moisture more effectively across a range of products, improving overall consumer satisfaction by applying the same elevation design.

Easypak has developed a three-level approach to moisture management in packaging solutions as a part of their Moisture Management Continuum™. The first is Delicate Balance™, designed for minimal moisture capture. The second, MoistureLok™, enhances existing technology, with its patented honeycomb technology, which traps moisture in the base of trays. The latest and most advanced innovation is Elevate Freshness™.

“Elevate Freshness™ is our strongest and most powerful part of the continuum,” says Ken Sherry, V.P. of Sales and Marketing at Easypak. “Each level addresses different moisture challenges and offers solutions for various food products.”

Sustainability and the Future of Packaging

Easypak also keeps sustainability in mind with every innovation. Consumers and retailers demand more eco-conscious options—packaging must be both functional and sustainable. Easypak leads this shift by embedding sustainability into every step of its innovation process. It reduces waste from the outset by using post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics, transforming everyday bottle flakes into pristine, FDA-approved PET sheets. This approach uses fewer resources while delivering the quality consumers expect.

Easypak keeps its designs simple, eliminating extra pieces and complex, multi-material components to make each package fully recyclable. This single-material approach limits the need for moisture-absorbent pads, which often complicate recycling. The streamlined design lowers waste and reduces the carbon footprint, making recycling easier without sacrificing performance. Easypak also designs tamper-evident clamshells and film-sealed trays that work seamlessly with manufacturers’ existing processes, adding practicality alongside sustainability.

Today, with all these attributes, Easypak stands at the forefront of the industry, effectively focusing on moisture management. With Elevate Freshness™, the next time you open your box of food, it will be just as fresh and satisfying as you hoped, allowing you to relish each bite with quality and consistency.