As you might know, there are many different types of food manufacturing processes. From the average hard candy to a complex yogurt process, each has its own set of requirements that must be met in order for safe consumption.
One thing that they all have in common is that once your food product is ready to ship off to customers, it will most likely be contained within some sort of package, container, or wrapper. These are often referred to as packaging for short.
There are many different types of food packaging, however, it is important to note that the type you choose will be based on numerous factors. We'll discuss those factors below so there's no need to worry. Let's start by answering the most obvious question...
Why is Food Packaging So Important?
Food packaging is important for numerous reasons, but when it comes down to it, the most important reason is safety. Since food is consumable and will be ingested into the body of another person, you want to ensure that whatever container your product is in - whatever wrapper surrounds your food item - does not allow any contaminants to reach the consumer.
Another factor why food packaging can't let anything get out is so that consumers are not tampered with. Imagine you've brought some potato snacks home with you from a store, but after opening them up...some dirt got in there along with tiny rocks! This could prove very dangerous if someone was to eat this without realizing what had happened.
What Types of Food Packaging Are There?
As mentioned earlier, there are numerous different types of food packaging. We will cover the six most common ones here for your reading pleasure!
- Boxes & Cartons - This type of food packaging consists of a paperboard box. The paper used to create these cartons is usually recycled or recyclable because it contains no glue or other adhesive substances that wouldn't be considered environmentally friendly. Cartons are typically made from one to five layers.
- Bags - This type of food packaging can be either transparent, translucent, or opaque and comes in all shapes and sizes depending on what you'll need them for. They can be sealed with everything from metal twist ties, polypropylene twist, zipper-style reclosable, or plastic resealable clamps.
- Caps & Closures - This type of food packaging can be made from metal, plastic, or natural materials like cork. The need for these primarily comes into play when you're selling pasteurized milk because it needs to be pasteurized once again before the consumer drinks it.
- Cans - This type of food packaging is extremely popular and includes sealed containers that are primarily made out of tinplate steel. However, there are some aluminum cans on the market too (such as soup). Some other terms used to describe this type of food packaging include "tin can" and "tin-plate." It's often reusable but not always recyclable. There are also aerosol cans that hold certain types of foods like whipped cream or other aerosol "sprays."
- Bottles & Jars - This type of food packaging is very popular too and includes bottles, jars, pots, tubes, canisters, etc...that are mostly made from glass but sometimes come in hard plastics as well. The benefit here is it's reusable so there's no need to worry about waste.
The Types of Food Packages You'll Need to Choose From
So now that you know the types of food packaging, let's dive in a little further and talk about how you can choose your packaging based on what type of product you will be selling. Here are five areas that are most often considered when choosing the right packages for your food items:
- Size - The size of your product will usually determine which type of food package it falls under. For example, if the product is fairly large then there might not be an issue with using something like a jar or bottle since they can hold larger portions/quantities. However, if you have a small-sized item then there is generally more flexibility when it comes to choosing your package.
- Quantity - When you've decided on a package, the next step is to consider how many of your food items each package will hold. Are you going to be selling something like a jar of peanut butter? Generally speaking, it'll hold around 12-16 fluid ounces which is roughly two cups. If this sounds about right for what your offering then you can proceed with choosing your packaging.
- Recyclability - If your food products are reusable then there is no point in choosing any type of packaging that isn't recyclable in some way or another. This means that it must be possible for customers to bring them back when they've finished using them so they can be cleaned and reused again. If this sounds like your goal, try researching the various types of plastics available on the market today because many of them are recyclable!
- Heritage - Sometimes certain countries will have heritage type packaging (i.e., Tesco milk in the United Kingdom). You may want to consider this when choosing your own food package because if you're selling internationally then it might be best to recreate these types of traditional packages too. That way you can offer your customers one less thing to worry about and they won't have to try and figure out what kind of package is used for each country.
- Labels - This last area doesn't really fall under the "type" category but it should still be considered regardless. Because there are so many labels on food products today, it's absolutely essential that your label includes as much information as possible about the product so the customer has a clear understanding of what they're buying before they buy it. The more information that's included, the better chances you have of selling your product to the right demographic.
Packaging Automation For Your Business
Whether you're selling food items online or at a brick-and-mortar location, the packaging of your products is undoubtedly one area that you can't afford to take lightly. This means that it's important for you to spend time researching which types of food packages are available on the market today) and how they might benefit your business.
Not only will this help ensure sales but it'll also reduce the chances of any future complications like returns & replacements or even product recalls. And once you've done this, the next step is to invest in the right packaging for your products.
Food items today are more popular than ever before which means that companies now have to place even more effort into their packaging strategies. However, if you're up to with what's on the market then it shouldn't be too difficult to choose the right types of food packages for your business.
The Bottom Line on Food Packaging
Choosing your food package can be a lot of work but it doesn't have to be. The key here is simply breaking down the process into smaller steps and taking each step one at a time. If you're clear on what type of product you're selling and how it will be used, then the rest should fall right into place.
If you’re considering this shift, start with simple changes. Contact BluePrint Automation today for more information on user-friendly and cost-effective automation for your factory.