First PH simulation packaging testing lab at par with other countries
“The simulation packaging testing laboratory (SPTL) being established will be at par with other countries,” Daisy E. Tañafranca, chief of the Packaging Technology Division of the Department of Science and Technology Institute, said.
The SPTL will be the first performance testing lab for transport packaging in the Philippines which targeted to assist the different Philippine industry sectors in the areas of packaging design and engineering, performance testing, and development of standards for transport packaging used in the distribution of goods, and even in packaging used in the e-delivery service.
Tañafranca added that the SPTL will help prevent or minimize product damage while in transit, reduce packaging cost by optimizing the design, and comply with regulations both in the local and international markets.
Aside from SPTL which will test for the performance of transport packaging in the supply chain, a green packaging laboratory (GPL) is also being established to serve as venue for R&D and technology innovations in the areas of alternative packaging materials from indigenous and renewable materials, and derived from agricultural wastes; processes that will reduce energy consumption and solid/liquid waste; material reduction without compromising product quality and consumer safety; recycling; and waste utilization.
The two laboratories will serve as venues for joint collaboration and partnership with the different industry sectors, private companies and academic institutions.
“The SPTL is very useful to the different industry sectors to include agricultural products, food, beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, personal care, furniture/handicraft, delivery service, etc. from micro to multi-nationals,” Tañafranca said.
While the construction of the laboratories is still ongoing, the Packaging Technology Division (PTD) of DOST’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) provides performance testing, but to a limited dimension of boxes and International Safe Transit Association (ISTA)-testing protocols. Products from large and multi-national companies
are tested abroad, such as Singapore. The testing fees for performance testing at PTD are in the ITDI website.
The SPTL and GPL are just two of the new state-of-the-art facilities of the Department of Science and Technology that was featured during the Big 21 in 2021 Launch held virtually on 07 September 2021 that was broadcast via the DOST Philippines Facebookl page. (Geraldine Bulaon-Ducusin, DOST-STII)
Daisy E. Tañafranca, chief of the Packaging Technology Division of DOST-ITDI said, “Currently, the establishment of SPTL and GPL was affected by the pandemic which started in March 2020. Major equipment was already purchased and delivered at the site, and the installation and commissioning will be done after the completion of construction.” (Photo credit: photo grabbed from DOST-ITDI website)
