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.
By observation you may note that the most common packaging material being used is plastic of all sorts. Note that even those packaged in boxes made of cardboard or any other containers still utilize plastic inside the boxes such as the sealed bags that hold products like crackers or cereals. There are actually seven basic types of plastic that might be used for packaging and each is identified by a special number code. You've probably seen these numbers on the 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.
What plastics go through for their transformation from a large piece of thin plastic into different products is called thermoforming. Manufacturers use either vacuum forming or injection molding as they heat up the plastic and then forced into molds. The moment it has been cooled down, they trim away any excess plastic from the mold which does not go to waste as is recycled for new thermoformed products. Then you have the final product removed from the mold.
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.
By observation you may note that the most common packaging material being used is plastic of all sorts. Note that even those packaged in boxes made of cardboard or any other containers still utilize plastic inside the boxes such as the sealed bags that hold products like crackers or cereals. There are actually seven basic types of plastic that might be used for packaging and each is identified by a special number code. You've probably seen these numbers on the 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.
What plastics go through for their transformation from a large piece of thin plastic into different products is called thermoforming. Manufacturers use either vacuum forming or injection molding as they heat up the plastic and then forced into molds. The moment it has been cooled down, they trim away any excess plastic from the mold which does not go to waste as is recycled for new thermoformed products. Then you have the final product removed from the mold.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell enjoys writing about how stuff is made. For additional information about custom packaging solutions or to discover more about food packaging design, please go to the Indepak.com website today.
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