2026 MOREFOOD EXPO: How High-Barrier Films Are Meeting the New Freshness Demands of Food Ingredients
From March 5–7, 2026, the 2026 MOREFOO EXPO · Shanghai will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center. Covering 150,000 square meters, the exhibition stands as a flagship global event for the catering and food ingredients industry. This year’s show features five themed halls, including the 3H Frozen & Prepared Dishes Hall and the 4.1H Aquatic Foods & Premium Ingredients Hall, showcasing integrated solutions across the entire supply chain—from food processing to packaging and freshness preservation.
According to market data, China’s food roll stock film market reached approximately RMB 41.76 billion in 2023. Supported by the rapid growth of prepared dishes (annual demand growth of around 11.2%), instant retail channels, and continued improvements in cold chain logistics, overall demand is expected to maintain medium-to-high growth between 2026 and 2030. Against this backdrop, a key question emerges: how can high-barrier packaging films respond to the evolving preservation requirements of fresh food products?
- Frozen Foods and Prepared Dishes: The Compliance-Driven Value of High-Barrier Films
1.1 Market Expansion and Regulatory Pressure Accelerate Technology Upgrades
China’s prepared dishes market is expected to reach RMB 749 billion by 2026, transitioning from scale-driven expansion to quality-oriented development.
At the same time, regulatory standards are becoming more stringent. The draft National Food Safety Standard for Prepared Dishes, released for public consultation in February 2026, clearly states that preservatives are not permitted and shelf life must not exceed 12 months. This requirement effectively shifts the focus of freshness management from chemical preservation to physical protection.
As a result, freezing systems must operate faster and at lower temperatures, while packaging materials must deliver stronger sealing performance and superior oxygen barrier properties. Packaging is no longer a secondary consideration—it becomes central to compliance.
1.2 High-Barrier Films: Enabling Shelf Life Without Preservatives
Within this regulatory framework, high-barrier films play a decisive role.
For example, PVDC heat shrink film can achieve an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of ≤3 cm³/(m²·24h·0.1MPa) and a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) below 1.7 g/(m²·24h). For prepared dishes, this means original flavor, texture, and appearance can be maintained without the addition of preservatives. Skin packaging films, with their high shrinkage capability, tightly conform to the product surface. This improves visual presentation, minimizes purge leakage, and supports high-speed automated packaging lines—an increasingly important factor in large-scale prepared food production.
1.3 From Material Performance to System Integration
The effectiveness of high-barrier packaging does not rely on material properties alone. True performance is achieved through integration with cold chain logistics and automated packaging systems.
Multilayer co-extrusion technology, for instance, eliminates adhesives and drying stages through single-step forming. Compared with traditional dry lamination, production efficiency can increase by approximately 30%, while unit costs decrease by 15–25%.
In EVOH applications, resin grades with 38% ethylene content are widely used in high-barrier packaging structures. This composition offers a balanced combination of oxygen barrier performance and processing stability, making it one of the most commercially adopted EVOH solutions.
- Cold Chain Logistics and Prepared Dishes: The System-Level Role of Packaging Films
2.1 Stable Barrier Performance at Low Temperatures
Insights from the core exhibition halls at MOREFOOD EXPO show that packaging requirements in fresh food distribution are shifting from single-function performance to system-level coordination.
High-barrier films function as the final safeguard within the cold chain. They must maintain barrier stability and mechanical flexibility at -18°C or lower, while also supporting high-speed automation. Achieving the right balance between heat-seal strength and operational efficiency is essential.
2.2 Processing Compatibility and Line Efficiency
Prepared food cold chain logistics continue to drive packaging innovation. Some composite roll films incorporate anti-freeze coatings to prevent brittleness during low-temperature storage and transport.
In automated production environments, films must maintain uniform thickness and stable tension to ensure smooth filling, sealing, and cutting processes. Even minor variations can lead to line stoppages or alignment issues.
Industry data indicates that automated lines using multilayer co-extruded high-barrier films can improve packaging efficiency by 25–30% compared to conventional solutions, while reducing defect rates to below 1%. These operational gains translate directly into cost control and quality consistency.
- Technology Evolution: Multiple Pathways and Future Trends
3.1 PVDC, EVOH, and MDO-PE: Coexistence and Application Scenarios
The high-barrier film market today is characterized by diversified technological routes:
PVDC remains a mainstream solution in fresh meat packaging due to its balanced barrier performance. Global annual demand for PVDC resin exceeds 400,000 tons.
EVOH delivers exceptional oxygen barrier performance, with OTR values as low as ≤0.5 cm³/(m²·24h·0.1MPa). It is gaining rapid traction in premium prepared food applications.
MDO-PE mono-material recyclable films align with global sustainability policies and brand carbon reduction goals. While barrier performance often requires enhancement through coatings or co-extrusion layers, their recyclability makes them particularly attractive in the European market.
Each material route serves different product categories and regulatory environments. Selection should be based on product positioning, target export markets, and compliance requirements.
3.2 Sustainability Acceleration in Functional Roll Films
Functional roll films—including retort-resistant, high-barrier, and bio-based structures—are expected to account for more than 60% of the market by 2030.
Recyclable material usage is projected to reach 45% by that time. Mono-material PE or PP structures are becoming a central focus of R&D efforts.
Major chemical companies such as BASF have introduced bio-based polyamide materials capable of reducing carbon footprints by more than 30%, supporting the sustainable development of high-barrier packaging systems.
- Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What new requirements does the updated standard for prepared dishes place on packaging films?
The February 2026 draft of the National Food Safety Standard for Prepared Dishes prohibits preservatives and limits shelf life to 12 months. As a result, packaging films must support compliance through physical preservation.
Key requirements include:
High oxygen barrier performance: OTR ≤5 cm³/(m²·24h·0.1MPa) to prevent oxidation.
Low-temperature resistance: Maintain flexibility and barrier integrity at -18°C or below.
Automation compatibility: Heat-seal strength typically ≥30 N/15 mm to ensure stable production efficiency.
Retort resistance (where applicable): Ability to withstand 121°C retort sterilization processes for foodservice reheating applications.
Q2: What special requirements apply to packaging films for exported fresh products?
Export packaging must address three main aspects:
Barrier performance:
Shelf-life expectations vary by region. For example, chilled salmon exported to the EU generally requires a 12–14 day shelf life, often necessitating high-barrier materials such as EVOH. In Southeast Asia, packaging must perform reliably in high-temperature and high-humidity conditions.
Regulatory compliance:
Packaging must meet food contact standards such as (EC) No 1935/2004 in the EU, FDA 21 CFR in the United States, and China’s GB 4806 series. RoHS and REACH regulations restrict hazardous substances, including heavy metals.
Sustainability requirements:
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) mandates that by 2030 all packaging must be recyclable or reusable, with recyclable content targets reaching 45%. Export-oriented packaging structures must therefore consider mono-material design or compatibility with established recycling systems.
The 2026 MOREFOOD EXPO is more than an industry exhibition—it is a lens into the technological transformation of food packaging. Behind the frozen foods and aquatic product displays, high-barrier films serve as the technical foundation safeguarding freshness throughout the cold chain. As “no preservatives” becomes a regulatory baseline and freshness performance evolves into a core competitive factor, packaging films are no longer viewed as simple outer layers. They are a decisive component in ensuring product stability, compliance, and market competitiveness across global supply chains.
