A selection tool of polymeric material films for food packaging based on product and material properties

Selecting appropriate packaging materials is one of the crucial steps in product quality, safety, and sustainability. A decision-making framework, implemented in Microsoft Excel, has been developed to assist the selection based on the user's questions and the characteristics of available materials. The framework is based on 13 key useful to guide users in materials selection. Responses were mapped against three key material attributes-oxygen barrier (O₂TR), water vapor barrier (WVTR), and mechanical strength with five levels (from very high to very low). This involved the development of three database respectively; (i) material dataset which include a set of polymeric materials; (ii) materials characteristics and the responses database which server as back end interface of the developed tool (iii) level definition dataset, in which is define the level of each materials from very high to very low depending on the attributes values for O₂TR, WVTR and mechanical strength. It gives points to the material for the match of user requirement-material attribute and sums them up to reach the most appropriate option. The system logic uses Excel functions, conditional statements, and dynamic tables to ensure ease of access and use. Validation was conducted through practical scenarios with a realistic dataset of polymeric materials, demonstrating the tool's accuracy and utility. The approach offers scalability and can be extended for integration with automated systems or expanded databases, making it a versatile solution for various packaging selection needs.