18 Sept 2025
StePacPPC has expanded its sustainable packaging portfolio with the introduction of Xtend® pallet shrouds, now proven effective at the full-pallet level for transporting fresh berries and other produce from farm to retail. The innovation not only safeguards quality and freshness during long-haul shipments but also contributes to a significant reduction in plastic use.
With over three decades of expertise in climate-positive packaging, StePac designed pallet shrouds to address scenarios where bulk carton liners are impractical—particularly for delicate, low-respiration fruits such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. The shrouds are engineered to maintain produce quality even at near-freezing temperatures (32°F), making them especially suitable for North American field-packed berries, where pre-cooling constraints limit bulk-bag applications.
The solution incorporates modified atmosphere and humidity control to create optimal transport conditions, while also being designed for easy removal at the destination. For produce that does not benefit from modified atmosphere technology, StePac offers a humidity-control-only variant to minimize weight loss.
“We tailor the pallet shrouds to meet the unique preservation needs of fruits and vegetables,” said Gary Ward, CTO of StePac. “Our expertise in fresh produce and cold-chain logistics enables us to help customers mitigate risks such as ethylene accumulation and temperature fluctuations, ensuring maximum efficiency.”
Manufactured from polyamide-based films with moderate to high water vapor transmission rates, the pallet shrouds provide an additional safeguard by controlling moisture. This helps reduce microbial decay and prevents carton collapse during fluctuating transport and storage conditions.
Beyond transport, the pallet shrouds enhance inventory management, allowing growers to store produce for up to four weeks—balancing supply peaks and extending seasonal availability. In international markets, they have demonstrated effectiveness in minimizing weight loss and microbial decay during three weeks of cold storage following airfreight shipments to the Middle East.
“Our pallet shrouds are proving instrumental in optimizing inventory management and ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality berries,” Ward added. “They deliver fruit to consumers at near-harvest freshness, while helping reduce waste and lowering plastic use.”
With this innovation, StePacPPC continues to set benchmarks in sustainable fresh produce packaging, aligning grower profitability with environmental responsibility.