MEDIA INVITATION - DEVELOPING HIGHER-PERFORMANCE FOOD PACKAGING

Inauguration of the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Materials and films for safe, smart and sustainable (3S) packaging, Monday, November 1, 2010

MONTREAL, Oct. 28 /CNW Telbec/ - Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of food safety. As concerned as they are with what they eat, they are also paying closer attention to packaging. This is especially true following recent contamination crises in Canada and the United States involving meat and cheese. Market trends and better-informed consumers have led to various improvements in packaging technology to obtain higher-quality and fresher products with a longer shelf life. The worldwide market for flexible packaging is estimated to be worth $60 billion.

This is the background for the creation by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), together with Saputo and Excel Pac and in partnership with Polytechnique Montréal, of this Research Chair aimed at developing innovative multi-layer packaging that uses materials and films with functional properties for greater safety, possible detection of bacteria and the use of biodegradable materials. What will the packaging of the future look like? What indicators will be available to consumers? Is it really safe to cook food in its container without dangerous substances migrating into the content?

Polytechnique Montréal Chief Executive Officer Christophe Guy and Professor Abdellah Ajji are pleased to invite media representatives to the official inauguration ceremony for the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Materials and films for safe, smart and sustainable (3S) packaging.

DATEBOOK

What:	Inauguration of the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Materials and films for safe, smart and sustainable (3S) packaging
When:	Monday, November 1, 2010, 10:30 a.m.
Who:	Abdellah Ajji, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, holder of the NSERC-Saputo-Excel Pac Industrial Research Chair Christophe Guy, CEO, Polytechnique Montréal Michel Perrier, Director, Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal André Isabelle, Director of Research Partnership Programs, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Vincent Musacchio, President, Excel Pac Claude Pinard, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Communications and Social Responsibility, Saputo
Where:	Amphitheatre J-1035, 1^st floor J.-Armand-Bombardier Building Polytechnique Montréal Université de Montréal campus 2900 Édouard-Montpetit Blvd.
	J.-A.-Bombardier indoor parking area Métro: Université de Montréal station (blue line) Campus map: www.polymtl.ca/rensgen/coordonnees/campus.php

A cocktail buffet will be served.

For further information:

Professor Ajji will be available as of 11:15 a.m. to answer questions from the media and to provide interviews.

Information:
Nathalie Rochette
Communications Advisor
Polytechnique Montréal
Telephone: [phone], ext. 2339
Cell: 514 941-5660
[email protected]