Sealed Air Food Care: Cryovac and the Legacy of Diversey Brands

Sealed Air Food Care: Cryovac and the Legacy of Diversey Brands cars.truckstrend.com

In the vast and intricate world of food production, safety, freshness, and efficiency are paramount. Ensuring that food products reach consumers safely, maintain their quality, and contribute to a sustainable supply chain is a monumental task. At the forefront of this endeavor stands Sealed Air, a global leader renowned for its innovative packaging and protective solutions. Within its extensive portfolio, the Cryovac brand has become synonymous with advanced food packaging, while the historical connection to Diversey Brands highlights Sealed Air’s past comprehensive approach to food care, encompassing both packaging and hygiene.

This article delves into the critical role of Sealed Air’s Food Care division, with a particular focus on the enduring legacy and ongoing innovations of Cryovac, and explores the significant, albeit historical, relationship with Diversey. We will uncover how these brands have collectively shaped the landscape of food preservation, safety, and operational excellence, offering practical insights for businesses navigating the complexities of the modern food industry.

Sealed Air Food Care: Cryovac and the Legacy of Diversey Brands

Understanding Sealed Air Food Care & The Power of Cryovac

Sealed Air’s commitment to the food industry is multifaceted, aiming to reduce food waste, enhance food safety, and improve operational efficiency across the entire supply chain. At the heart of this commitment lies the Cryovac brand. Cryovac is not just a product; it’s a pioneering concept that revolutionized food preservation. Since its inception, Cryovac has been synonymous with high-performance packaging solutions designed to extend shelf life, protect product integrity, and enhance presentation for a wide range of perishable goods.

The brand’s strength lies in its deep understanding of food science, material science, and engineering. Cryovac solutions are engineered to create optimal environments for food products, often involving advanced barrier films that prevent oxygen ingress, moisture loss, and contamination. This scientific approach helps food processors, retailers, and food service providers deliver fresher, safer, and more appealing products to market, ultimately benefiting consumers and reducing the enormous global problem of food waste.

The Indispensable Role of Cryovac in Food Packaging and Preservation

Cryovac’s impact on the food industry cannot be overstated. Its diverse range of packaging solutions addresses critical challenges from farm to fork.

Key Cryovac Technologies and Solutions:

1. Vacuum Packaging: The foundational technology, removing air to inhibit microbial growth and oxidation, significantly extending shelf life for meats, cheeses, and prepared foods.



2. Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP): Involves replacing air with a specific gas mixture (e.g., nitrogen, carbon dioxide) to slow spoilage and maintain freshness, particularly for fresh produce, baked goods, and some meats.
3. Shrink Films: High-barrier films that tightly conform to products when heated, providing a protective layer that minimizes drips, reduces purge, and enhances product appearance.
4. Darfresh® Skin Packaging: A unique technology where a clear film wraps tightly around the product, conforming to its shape like a second skin. This provides exceptional product visibility, extends shelf life, and prevents freezer burn.
5. Ovenable and Microwaveable Packaging: Solutions designed for convenience, allowing consumers to cook or reheat food directly in the package, streamlining preparation and reducing cleanup.
6. Bags, Trays, and Pouches: A vast array of flexible and rigid packaging formats tailored to specific product needs, from large meat cuts to individual servings.



7. Absorbent Pads: Designed to wick away excess moisture from fresh meat, poultry, and seafood, maintaining a clean and appealing presentation.

Benefits of Cryovac Solutions:

• Extended Shelf Life: The primary benefit, reducing spoilage and enabling wider distribution, decreasing food waste.



• Enhanced Food Safety: By creating protective barriers against contaminants and inhibiting bacterial growth, Cryovac solutions play a vital role in preventing foodborne illnesses.
• Improved Product Quality and Appearance: Maintaining freshness, color, texture, and reducing purge, leading to more appealing products on shelves.
• Reduced Food Waste: Directly combats food loss at all stages of the supply chain, from processing to retail and consumer homes.
• Operational Efficiency: Packaging solutions are designed for high-speed automated lines, optimizing throughput and reducing labor costs for processors.
• Brand Protection: Consistent quality and extended freshness build consumer trust and loyalty.

Cryovac solutions are indispensable across various food categories, including fresh red meat, poultry, seafood, processed meats, dairy, baked goods, produce, and prepared meals. They enable global trade of perishable goods, ensuring food security and accessibility.

The Historical Connection: Diversey’s Role in Food Hygiene and Its Evolution

While Cryovac remains a core Sealed Air brand focused on packaging, the mention of "Diversey Brands" points to a significant period in Sealed Air’s history when it offered an even broader suite of food care solutions.

In 2002, Sealed Air acquired DiverseyLever, a global leader in cleaning and hygiene solutions. This acquisition was strategic, aiming to provide customers with an integrated approach to food safety – encompassing both the packaging that protects food after processing and the hygiene solutions critical for maintaining cleanliness and preventing contamination during processing.

Diversey’s portfolio, under Sealed Air’s ownership, included:

• Cleaning and Disinfection Chemicals: For surfaces, equipment, and facilities in food and beverage processing plants.
• Hygiene Management Systems: Solutions for hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and overall plant sanitation.
• Water Treatment Solutions: For various industrial applications, including food processing.
• Training and Consulting Services: To ensure proper application of hygiene protocols and compliance with food safety regulations.

The synergy was clear: Cryovac ensured products were safely packaged, while Diversey ensured the environments where those products were handled and processed were impeccably clean and safe. This holistic approach provided a powerful value proposition to food industry clients, addressing food safety from multiple angles.

However, in 2017, Sealed Air strategically spun off its Diversey Care division (which included the Diversey brand) and its Food Hygiene and Cleaning business into a separate, independent company, Diversey, Inc. This move allowed Sealed Air to sharpen its focus on its core packaging solutions, particularly those under the Cryovac brand, and for Diversey to pursue its own growth strategy as a dedicated hygiene and cleaning enterprise.

Therefore, while Diversey is no longer a Sealed Air brand, its historical integration underscored Sealed Air’s comprehensive vision for food care and the recognition that food safety is a continuum from processing to consumption. Sealed Air continues to collaborate with hygiene providers, ensuring that its packaging solutions complement best practices in food plant sanitation.

Integrated Solutions and Synergies in Modern Food Care

Even post-Diversey spin-off, Sealed Air’s approach to food care remains holistic. While no longer directly providing hygiene chemicals, Sealed Air’s Cryovac packaging solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing food processing lines and food safety protocols.

• Consultative Approach: Sealed Air works closely with customers to understand their entire production process, from raw material handling to final distribution. This allows them to recommend Cryovac solutions that enhance overall food safety and efficiency.
• Equipment Integration: Cryovac packaging materials are often used with Sealed Air’s own packaging equipment (e.g., vacuum chamber machines, tray sealers, shrink tunnels), which are designed for high performance, reliability, and easy integration into existing lines.
• Sustainable Practices: Sealed Air continuously innovates to make its Cryovac packaging more sustainable, reducing material usage, increasing recyclability, and promoting the circular economy. This aligns with broader food industry goals to minimize environmental impact.
• Food Waste Reduction: This remains a central pillar. By extending shelf life, Cryovac directly contributes to reducing the estimated one-third of all food produced globally that is lost or wasted each year.

Important Considerations for Utilizing Sealed Air Food Care Solutions

For businesses in the food industry looking to leverage the power of Cryovac and other Sealed Air solutions, several key considerations are vital:

1. Product Specifics: Understand the unique needs of your food product – its moisture content, fat content, respiratory rate (for produce), desired shelf life, and target market presentation.
2. Supply Chain Dynamics: Analyze your distribution network, storage conditions, and transportation methods. These factors will influence the type of packaging required.
3. Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that chosen packaging materials and processes comply with all relevant food safety regulations (e.g., FDA, USDA, EU regulations) in your target markets.
4. Sustainability Goals: Evaluate the environmental footprint of packaging options. Sealed Air offers increasingly sustainable Cryovac solutions, including those with higher recycled content, designed for recyclability, or lighter weight.
5. Operational Efficiency: Consider how packaging solutions integrate with your existing machinery and labor force. Automated solutions can significantly boost throughput and reduce costs.
6. Cost-Benefit Analysis: While advanced packaging may have a higher initial cost, the benefits of extended shelf life, reduced spoilage, improved brand image, and potential for market expansion often provide a significant return on investment.
7. Collaboration with Experts: Engage with Sealed Air’s technical and sales teams. Their expertise can help tailor the most effective and efficient solutions for your specific challenges.

Practical Advice and Actionable Insights

• Conduct a thorough food waste audit: Identify where food loss occurs in your operations and how improved packaging could mitigate it.
• Prioritize shelf life extension: This is a direct path to reducing waste and expanding market reach. Cryovac technologies are purpose-built for this.
• Invest in the right equipment: High-quality packaging materials perform best with compatible, well-maintained equipment. Sealed Air offers integrated systems.
• Embrace sustainable packaging options: As consumer and regulatory pressures grow, transitioning to more eco-friendly materials is crucial.
• Train your team: Proper handling and application of packaging materials are essential to maximize their benefits and ensure food safety.
• Look beyond the package: Consider how packaging enhances branding, consumer convenience, and overall product value.

Conceptual Pricing for Sealed Air Food Care Cryovac Solutions

Providing a definitive "price table" for Sealed Air’s Cryovac solutions is not feasible in a general article, as pricing is highly customized based on numerous factors unique to each customer’s needs. Sealed Air operates on a business-to-business (B2B) model, where solutions are tailored, not off-the-shelf products with fixed prices.

However, we can illustrate the categories of solutions and the factors influencing their pricing:

| Solution Category | Description | Key Pricing Factors |
| Cryovac Packaging |