New Active Corrugated Board With Retarded Release of Carvacrol through a Multilayer Barrier Liner Approach: A Strategy for Increasing the Shelf Life of Strawberries

Abstract

An active corrugated board packaging was developed using a fluting layer containing carvacrol, a bioactive compound from essential oils, and tested as a prototype to extend the shelf life of strawberries. The system employed a controlled-release mechanism based on a new diffusion-retarding method for carvacrol from an active fluting layer, combining nonbarrier and barrier paper liners. The release behavior from the active fluting layer was evaluated by SPME-GC-MS in a simulated packaging box using three different liner configurations: nonbarrier, barrier, and a combination of both, under controlled conditions (50% RH and 23 °C). The barrier paper acted as a diffusion-retarding layer, reducing carvacrol losses to the external atmosphere over 72 h. Moreover, liner papers, both nonbarrier and barrier, preserved the antifungal activity of the active corrugated board samples against Rhizopus stolonifer even after 14 days of storage at 25 °C and 50% relative humidity. Active corrugated boards with different liner configurations were tested for preserving strawberries. The physicochemical properties of strawberries (color, weight loss, pH, acidity, and soluble content) were evaluated when packed into the corrugated board samples. A hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted, providing an integrated view of the postharvest changes occurring in strawberries over 9 days. Furthermore, corrugated trays containing a combination of nonbarrier and barrier paper (NB/FEO/B) proved effective in prolonging the shelf life of strawberries.