Food is a product that requires careful packaging. This is due to the strict regulations and standards imposed due to health problems resulting from improper packaging. Consequently, food packaging materials should be able to provide consumers with better health protection and convenience, as well as low environmental impact. To meet your packaging needs, you can choose from a variety of food and beverage materials:
Glass
It is a kind of material that can be molded into different shapes and recycled without significantly changing its mechanical properties. Although it requires high temperatures to form. Glass packaging material has very good barrier properties and impermeability to gases and water vapor. It is mainly used for the production of bottles and jars that can be pasteurized at high temperatures. The disadvantage of glass as a packaging material for food products is its brittleness. They break easily when subjected to rough handling.
Metal
It has been a long basis for packaging. Metal is mainly used for the production of cans, metal trays, sheets, and bags for food products, and glasses, metals have very good barrier properties, but they must be sterilized before packaging food and beverages. It can also be used with frozen and heated meals. Disadvantages of metals as food packaging include high cost, corrosion of some types, and opacity that consumers can’t see what’s inside.
Paper and paperboard
Cardboard, which was created over two thousand years ago, was an essential part of the shipping and packaging industry. It is a strong, lightweight material consisting of paper that is formed into flat sheets and then cut to size. Cardboard is easily recyclable, which can be beneficial for both businesses and consumers.
The benefits of cardboard are enormous; its recyclable quality helps reduce environmental waste while being cost-effective compared to other forms of packaging. Such as polystyrene or bubble wrap. In addition, the internally lined boxes with buffers (eccentricity) prevent the movement of products, during transport and provide greater protection against damage. In addition, the easy-open folds on the body allow customers to quickly access the purchased product, without having to struggle with scissors/knives, like when opening sealed seams on a box. Unlike electronic devices, which are often delivered in fancy packaging that requires special handling equipment at recycling facilities, meaning additional processing costs, most corrugated cardboard can go directly to regular recycling facilities.
Cardboard recycling companies, large and small, as they not only save money on raw materials but also offer the opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint.
The plastic
Plastic containers for food products are becoming more and more popular, even when working in a microwave oven. Plastic can be synthetic and biodegradable. The synthetic material is characterized by low production cost, and good mechanical barrier properties, it is light, flexible, and recyclable, but not biodegradable. Biodegradable plastics are specially processed so that the materials break down in a certain way.
Mixed materials (laminates)
This type of packaging consists of several thin layers of different materials, such as metallic plastic and paper films. They also have very good barrier properties, and the laminated packaging is hermetic, which extends the life of the products.