For every product, no matter what type or kind it is, packaging is an integral part although it's wise to use a minimal amount of packaging to cut down on costs and waste. When it comes to this particular need, the materials available for use include cardboard, plastic, paper and even some of the metal-type materials. Follow on for the basics on packaging and its common types.
While you hear people say that they purchase soup or chili in a tin can, canned goods are not actually packaged in cans produced using tin. For many decades, tinplate steel was used to produce the cans that hold our vegetables, soups, sauces and other canned items. Aluminum has been the most common source used to make canned goods since the late 1950s.
Aluminum has many advantages over tinplate steel as it is cheaper and easier to make yet it still resists corrosion. It is the most abundant type of metal found on the planet. Aluminum can be recycled again and again, in fact about two-thirds of all the aluminum that has been produced is still be used and reused today. Sadly, only about 50% of our aluminum makes it to a recycling center.
Take a look around and surely you'll find plastic to be the most commonly used material for packaging. Even when you look inside those products you see with cardboard boxes you will find the foods are wrapped in waxy plastic bags, such as cereal, cookies and crackers. A resin code, typically identified by a number in a triangle, will tell you which type of plastic was used for your plastic packaging.
Since plastic materials of all types are the most commonly used material in food packaging you might as well be familiar with the one responsible for holding liquid products like water and soda and that called polyethylene terephthalate. Another type, the high-density polyethylene is what makes other types of plastic bottles, milk jugs, plastic bags and containers for storing food. As for other plastic packaging products like that handy plastic wrap, plastic grocery bags and those rings that hold a six-pack of soda together, these items were made using low-density polyethylene.
Thermoforming is the process by which these plastics are transformed into different products. Via vacuum forming or injection molding a large thin sheet of plastic goes through heat of a specific temperature and then they are forced into molds. This then goes through cooling and any excess plastic being trimmed away but only to be recycled for new thermoformed products. After removing it from the mold, you now have your finished product.
While you hear people say that they purchase soup or chili in a tin can, canned goods are not actually packaged in cans produced using tin. For many decades, tinplate steel was used to produce the cans that hold our vegetables, soups, sauces and other canned items. Aluminum has been the most common source used to make canned goods since the late 1950s.
Aluminum has many advantages over tinplate steel as it is cheaper and easier to make yet it still resists corrosion. It is the most abundant type of metal found on the planet. Aluminum can be recycled again and again, in fact about two-thirds of all the aluminum that has been produced is still be used and reused today. Sadly, only about 50% of our aluminum makes it to a recycling center.
Take a look around and surely you'll find plastic to be the most commonly used material for packaging. Even when you look inside those products you see with cardboard boxes you will find the foods are wrapped in waxy plastic bags, such as cereal, cookies and crackers. A resin code, typically identified by a number in a triangle, will tell you which type of plastic was used for your plastic packaging.
Since plastic materials of all types are the most commonly used material in food packaging you might as well be familiar with the one responsible for holding liquid products like water and soda and that called polyethylene terephthalate. Another type, the high-density polyethylene is what makes other types of plastic bottles, milk jugs, plastic bags and containers for storing food. As for other plastic packaging products like that handy plastic wrap, plastic grocery bags and those rings that hold a six-pack of soda together, these items were made using low-density polyethylene.
Thermoforming is the process by which these plastics are transformed into different products. Via vacuum forming or injection molding a large thin sheet of plastic goes through heat of a specific temperature and then they are forced into molds. This then goes through cooling and any excess plastic being trimmed away but only to be recycled for new thermoformed products. After removing it from the mold, you now have your finished product.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell enjoys writing about how stuff is made. For further details about custom packaging solutions or to find out more about food packaging design, please go to the Indepak site now.
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