Inside Food Packaging Science: A Guide to Safer, Smarter Packaging

Introduction

Food packaging is everywhere—from the bottle of water you grab on the go, to the wrap that keeps your produce fresh, to the pouch that makes snacks convenient. But behind every package is science. Packaging isn’t just about appearances; it’s about protecting food, maintaining safety, extending shelf life, and increasingly, supporting sustainability.

At Dover Chemical, we believe understanding this science empowers consumers, converters, and brand owners alike. That’s why we created Inside Food Packaging Science, a blog series that explains the key concepts shaping packaging today.

Each post in the series explores one important area of packaging science—breaking it down in clear, approachable language while highlighting the innovations, like Doverphos® LGP-12, that are making packaging safer, smarter, and more sustainable.

Why This Series Matters

• Clarity: Packaging science can feel technical. We explain it in simple, accessible terms.

• Trust: Transparency builds confidence—consumers want to know how packaging protects their food.

• Innovation: Additives, materials, and design choices are evolving fast. This series highlights what’s changing and why it matters.

Explore the Series

Below you’ll find the growing library of topics. We’ll continue adding new posts, so check back often—or follow Dover Chemical on LinkedIn to see the latest additions.

1. What is Migration and Why Does It Matter?
   Understand how substances move from packaging into food, why regulators monitor it, and how low-migration additives like Doverphos® LGP-12 make packaging safer and more sustainable.

2. How Food Packaging Fits into the Circular Economy
   Learn why recycling food packaging is complex, and how the right additives help enable safer reuse and support global sustainability targets.

3. Why Additives Are Essential in Food Packaging
   From safety and shelf life to manufacturing efficiency and recycling, additives aren’t extras—they’re what make packaging work.

4. (Future topics coming soon!)

• How Packaging Protects Food Quality and Shelf Life

• The Role of Regulations in Packaging Safety

• Innovation and the Future of Smarter Packaging

Conclusion

Food packaging is more than a container—it’s a carefully engineered system designed to protect food, meet safety standards, and support sustainability goals.

Through Inside Food Packaging Science, we’ll continue to share the science that makes it all possible, and show how next-generation solutions like Doverphos® LGP-12 are helping build the future of food packaging.