Chairholders

Profile

Abdellah Ajji

Department of Chemical Engineering
École Polytechnique de Montréal

Chair title

NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Materials and Films for Safe, Smart and Sustainable (3S) Packaging

Chair program

Industrial Research Chairs program

Role

Senior Chairholder since 2010

Summary

Flexible plastic packaging is a $5 billion industry in Canada. Packaging technology is changing continually to meet the needs of consumers and the market in terms of quality, freshness and shelf life of foods. That has resulted in strong, easy-to-use packaging made with lightweight, economical, recyclable materials. In addition, consumers have ever-higher expectations regarding the safety and security of packaged foods. Technological solutions that can prevent contamination and alert consumers about the condition of a package’s contents make it possible to protect the public. The objective of the research program for the Chair’s second funding period is to provide solutions that meet these needs and to design materials and films to create sustainable packaging whose functional properties ensure food safety by means of embedded pathogen detectors. Specifically, the program is organized around the following three themes: designing safe, effective, economical packaging by using better-quality, sustainable, testable seals; designing packaging that offers a better barrier against noxious gases and has active (anti-bacterial) properties; and designing intelligent packaging with embedded sensors and sustainable packaging that requires small amounts of materials and uses recyclable or biodegradable materials. The results and innovations produced by the Chair program will benefit Canadian businesses by improving their competitive advantage, and will benefit consumers by improving food safety. Lastly, a centre of excellence in packaging equipped with specialized facilities will bring together the necessary expertise.

Partner

• Prolamina Inc.

Contact information

Department of Chemical Engineering
École Polytechnique de Montréal

Email: Abdellah.ajji@polymtl.ca

Website:
http://www.groupes.polymtl.ca/3spack