Wednesday (Group 2) - SERDP-ESTCP - Strategic Environmental ...

Sustainable Infrastructure (SI)
Facilities Management — Facility Waste
Poster Number 73 – Wednesday
T
NANOTECHNOLOGY PACKAGING FOR THE MILITARY
JO ANN RATTO
U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center
Kansas Street
Natick, MA 01760
(508) 233-5315
joann.ratto.ross@us.army.mil
he environmental problem of solid waste generated by the Army is being addressed in this
Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) demonstration/
validation program. The amount of packaging waste generated per Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE)
ration is 0.36 lb (22.9% of total weight of ration). The average procurement for MRE rations is
over 43 million rations per year which contributes to over 14,000 tons of packaging waste. With
the rising costs of transportation and disposal, there is the need to investigate alternative
materials for combat ration packaging applications. The objective of this three year effort is to
demonstrate and validate new nanocomposite packaging for the military which has been
achieved through earlier Environmental Quality Basic Research (EQBR) and Strategic
Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) projects. Industry-based
developments in the area of nanocomposite packaging films that have matured into commercially
available products were leveraged as well. Nanocomposite packaging for the Meal Bag, nonretort
and retort pouches will be demonstrated and evaluated to reduce DoD specific waste
problems through the development of recyclable military ration packaging which also meet
combat ration operational requirements.
The first year of this ESTCP project has focused on producing the nanocomposite Meal Bags and
food pouches. Several nanocomposite technologies are being implemented in this program. A
variety of polymer combinations and nanoparticles are targeted for the different MRE packaging
components. After production of the film and pouches, quality control and characterization work
will be performed. The pouches will then be filled with MRE food products and packed into
solid fiberboard cases and pallet loads. The nanocomposite packaged items will undergo storage
studies, sensory testing, airdrop, transportation and field testing.
Overall, the goal is to transition this mature nanotechnology to material converters and
demonstrate manufacturability, producibility and, ultimately, durability of these nanocomposite
packaging structures within the military logistics system.
This work is funded by SERDP Project SI-0816.
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