Thermoplastic composition comprising a CO

1. A method for releasing CO 2 into a surrounding environment, comprising:

exposing a CO 2 releasing composition to an elevated relative humidity environment; wherein the CO 2 releasing composition comprises: CO 2 releasing material blended with a thermoplastic, wherein the CO 2 releasing material comprises carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and an acid;

reacting the CO 2 releasing composition with moisture from the elevated relative humidity environment; and

releasing a controlled amount of CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into the surrounding environment, wherein the CO 2 releasing material has a sufficient amount and ratio of the carbon and oxygen containing salt of the alkali or alkaline earth metal and the acid so that, in the presence of moisture, the CO 2 releasing composition reacts to release CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into a surrounding environment;

wherein the carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal is a carbonate;

wherein the composition is in the form of a film, sheet, insert or liner; and

wherein the CO 2 releasing composition maintains a package environment for baked goods at a sufficient release rate of CO 2 to slow aerobic respiration of organisms that causes the baked good to become stale.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein an absorbing material is incorporated into The composition to absorb detrimental levels of moisture.

3. A method for releasing CO 2 into a surrounding environment, comprising:

exposing a CO 2 releasing composition to an elevated relative humidity environment; wherein the CO 2 releasing composition comprises: CO 2 releasing material blended with a thermoplastic, wherein the CO 2 releasing material comprises carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and an acid;

reacting the CO 2 releasing composition with moisture from the elevated relative humidity environment; and

releasing a controlled amount of CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into the surrounding environment, wherein the CO 2 releasing material has a sufficient amount and ratio of the carbon and oxygen containing salt of the alkali or alkaline earth metal and the acid so that, in the presence of moisture, the CO 2 releasing composition reacts to release CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into a surrounding environment;

wherein the carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal is a carbonate;

wherein the composition is in the form of a film, sheet, insert or liner; and

wherein the CO 2 releasing composition maintains a package environment for cut flowers at a sufficient release rate of CO 2 to maintain the green color of flower stems for at least 30 days.

4. A method for releasing CO 2 into a surrounding environment, comprising:

exposing a CO 2 releasing composition to an elevated relative humidity environment; wherein the CO 2 releasing composition comprises: CO 2 releasing material blended with a thermoplastic, wherein the CO 2 releasing material comprises carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and an acid;

reacting the CO 2 releasing composition with moisture from the elevated relative humidity environment; and

releasing a controlled amount of CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into the surrounding environment, wherein the CO 2 releasing material has a sufficient amount and ratio of the carbon and oxygen containing salt of the alkali or alkaline earth metal and the acid so that, in the presence of moisture, the CO 2 releasing composition reacts to release CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into a surrounding environment;

wherein the carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal is a carbonate;

wherein the composition is in the form of a film, sheet, insert or liner; and

wherein the CO 2 releasing composition maintains a package environment for fresh or frozen seafood so as to produce sufficient CO 2 to slow aerobic respiration while reducing anaerobic respiration.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the CO 2 releasing composition maintains a package environment for fresh or frozen seafood above about 30% CO 2 with an ambient O 2 concentration of about 20% outside the package environment.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the CO 2 releasing composition maintains a package environment for fresh or frozen seafood at an elevated CO 2 concentration of at least about 20% and the O 2 concentration at about 20%.

7. A method for releasing CO 2 into a surrounding environment, comprising:

exposing a CO 2 releasing composition to an elevated relative humidity environment; wherein the CO 2 releasing composition comprises: CO 2 releasing material blended with a thermoplastic, wherein the CO 2 releasing material comprises carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and an acid;

reacting the CO 2 releasing composition with moisture from the elevated relative humidity environment; and

releasing a controlled amount of CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into the surrounding environment, wherein the CO 2 releasing material has a sufficient amount and ratio of the carbon and oxygen containing salt of the alkali or alkaline earth metal and the acid so that, in the presence of moisture, the CO 2 releasing composition reacts to release CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into a surrounding environment;

wherein the carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal is a carbonate;

wherein the composition is in the form of a film, sheet, insert or liner; and

wherein a biologically active ingredient is incorporated into the composition.

8. A method for releasing CO 2 into a surrounding environment, comprising:

exposing a CO 2 releasing composition to an elevated relative humidity environment; wherein the CO 2 releasing composition comprises: CO 2 releasing material incorporated in a thermoplastic, wherein the CO 2 releasing material comprises carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and an acid;

reacting the CO 2 releasing composition with moisture from the elevated relative humidity environment; and

releasing a controlled amount of CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into the surrounding environment, wherein the CO 2 releasing material has a sufficient amount and ratio of the carbon and oxygen containing salt of the alkali or alkaline earth metal and the acid so that, in the presence of moisture, the CO 2 releasing composition reacts to release CO 2 gas though the thermoplastic into a surrounding environment;

wherein the carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal is a carbonate;

wherein the composition is in the form of a film, sheet, insert or liner;

wherein a biologically active ingredient is incorporated into the composition; and

wherein the biologically active ingredient is chlorine dioxide and added in sufficient amounts with the CO 2 releasing material so as to produce a modified atmosphere of about 30% CO 2 , about 20% O 2 and about 50% N 2 for seafood.

9. A method for releasing CO 2 into a surrounding environment, comprising:

exposing a CO 2 releasing composition to an elevated relative humidity environment; wherein the CO 2 releasing composition comprises: CO 2 releasing material incorporated in a thermoplastic, wherein the CO 2 releasing material comprises carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and an acid;

reacting the CO 2 releasing composition with moisture from the elevated relative humidity environment; and

releasing a controlled amount of CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into the surrounding environment, wherein the CO 2 releasing material has a sufficient amount and ratio of the carbon and oxygen containing salt of the alkali or alkaline earth metal and the acid so that, in the presence of moisture, the CO 2 releasing composition reacts to release CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into a surrounding environment;

wherein the carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal is a carbonate;

wherein the composition is in the form of a film, sheet, insert or liner; and

wherein The CO 2 releasing composition is integrated into a CO 2 releasing film into a package with a barrier film having selective permeation to O 2 and CO 2 .

10. A method for releasing CO 2 into a surrounding environment, comprising:

exposing a CO 2 releasing composition to an elevated relative humidity environment; wherein the CO 2 releasing composition comprises: CO 2 releasing material incorporated in a thermoplastic, wherein the CO 2 releasing material comprises carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and an acid;

reacting the CO 2 releasing composition with moisture from the elevated relative humidity environment; and

releasing a controlled amount of CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into the surrounding environment, wherein the CO 2 releasing material has a sufficient amount and ratio of the carbon and oxygen containing salt of the alkali or alkaline earth metal and The acid so that, in the presence of moisture, the CO 2 releasing composition reacts to release CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into a surrounding environment;

wherein the carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal is a carbonate;

wherein the composition is in the form of a film, sheet, insert or liner; and

wherein the CO 2 releasing composition produces a sufficient amount of CO 2 in a film form so as to maintain a gas environment in the package of about 40% CO 2 , 40% nitrogen and 20% oxygen.