Monthly Archives: August 2023

Balancing stability with Trends in Packaging 

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Stability is the main focus of many brands and converters.  In fact, it’s actually one of the biggest priorities today.  Trends that do conflict with these, especially when you’re dealing with customers who pay attention to this. Building sustainability is the future, and here, we’ll talk about why this is at the front of everything. 

The Landscape of Trends 

As we start to move forward into later 2023, even 2024, we have to look at the current trends, including what’s becoming more easily accessible to people.

One of those things is sustainability, as this is starting to become more important. Lots of customers want more effective resources, and don’t want food to be wasted or spoiled. Customers are also more in tune with the environment than they were before. 

Regulations are starting to be implemented in order to commit to the goals of sustainability, which have since become more aggressive. 

All of this is happening near the packaging levels and spheres, which is why a lot are paying attention. 

Did you know that packaging waste accounts for about 10% of the carbon footprint in total?

The one catch 22 that a lot of people struggle with however, is that despite their efforts to prevent waste from being made, they end up creating more and more waste.

One example of this is in the realm of ecommerce.  With more and more people getting boxes, and more packaging used for these items, and more liners in place, especially for safety concerns, this can actually create more excess. This is something that customers have to struggle with too, since they want to support their favorite companies as they try to scramble and navigate this problem. 

There are a few trends to consider, which we’ll mention below. 

First, is health along with wellness. A lot of people are now more focused on general wellness and health, and on their habits, especially dietary, social, and even financial. They spend money on self-care items to help. 

Another trend is urbanization and convenience. People want things that fit into the lifestyles that they have. Many are busy, so they want packaging that’s easy, so they’re not sitting there fighting with wrap rage just to get their coffee started in the morning.

More as well are becoming aware of the type of hygiene and care they have, which means that they want packaging that’s safe and traceable. They want to know exactly where the product originates from, and also where it’s being protected and secured. 

Finally, many customers crave individualization. This means more and more SKUS in their business, and also more ways to make it personalized for the customers. 

How Digitalization has Helped a

 A lot of new and better technologies that boost the interactions of customers have helped with engagement, and also increase the data along with connectivity.

Some have moved towards digital solutions for their packaging in order to reduce waste.

But how? Well, let’s look at ecommerce. With the sales rising, and more and more wanting goods to come to them faster, people want to make sure that they have tools which are sustainable. A lot of digital items also are great for collecting waste, and also are good as well to sort out different recyclables, thereby closing out the loops. 

This allows for the resources used within the past to be put back, and also utilized in further production activities. 

These trends in packaging have offered more ways to be efficient, to minimize waste, and also to focus on the reusing and recycling of materials, benefiting everyone, especially the customer, in the process. 

Why Choose Eco Friendly Packaging 

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Eco friendly types of packaging are those that can be recycled or reused easily, and generally are better for the world around you. It utilized renewable energy, and in many cases, they use recycled or renewable materials as much as they can. Also known by many as “green” packaging, or even sustainable packaging, they have a few names, all of which are important to the environment.

As more brands and businesses start to look at being sustainable, the one area they turn to, tis their packaging. It’s important to look at eco-friendly packaging, and here, we’ll go over exactly what that is. 

More biodegradable 

Greener types of packaging are also better for biodegradable options. It’s also better for shipping. The materials that are there are recyclable, and biodegradable, so they have a better impact on the environment compared to others. 

Easier to Transfer 

Another cool thing is that they’re usually easier to transfer. The eco-friendly types of packaging, and their derivatives, tend to be better on meeting the labels.  You’ll be able to find more packaging items than ever before and will suit these needs, which is why a lot of people are choosing to go with it. 

Better Brand Image 

Another reason why a lot of people are also choosing eco friendly packaging, is that it’s better on your brand image. A lot of companies want to be seen as environmentally friendly. however, in order to get that way of regard, they need to work for it.

Make sure that you let customers know about your sustainable packaging, in the way that not only do you pay attention to the planet, but also are responsible when it comes to making decisions to boost the company’s needs, and to provide a better, more sustainable type of direction. This might involve changing the supply chain in a few cases, however the overall impact of this can be much better.

One thing that a lot of companies do is that they will communicate on their branding that they are sustainable, and from there, you’ll be able to be viewed as sustainable, and better for the environment in the long run, so it’s good to do.

In a world where this is becoming more important than ever before, for a lot for companies, sustainability can make or break you, so make sure that you make it, and don’t let it ruin you.

Less of a carbon footprint 

Finally, let’s talk about your carbon footprint. The carbon footprint is basically the relationship of your actions and the protection of the world around you. The footprint does have some implications, especially in food production and manufacturing. 

Even the tiniest of changes make the world a difference and do make things better for you. Not to mention, it’s a lot more sustainable to manufacture these goods, and in a lot of cases, you’re actually profiting by changing our process and being more sustainable.  This can be a great way for a lot of people to really improve the ability that they have to make a difference. Many also mention that the profit margins grow as a result of this, and it’s something that can be used. 

In general, being sustainable isn’t just a suggestion these days, but something that you have to do in order to save your grand image.

If you haven’t taken the time to work on trying to be sustainable, then it’s time to do so! Start today, and see for yourself the impact of being sustainable, and the actions you take along with their results. 

Common Packaging Materials Companies Use

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There are some packaging materials that are more common than others, and here, we’ll go over the most common ones that are out there, so you know what to use, and when to use it. 

Paper Products and Fiberboard 

Fiberboard along with paperboard are commonly used in secondary and paper packaging. Paper is great for other thinner types of packaging, such as labeling, paper bags, some kraft paper, and even butcher paper and food paper.

Paperboard is a bit thicker and is better when compared to normal kinds of paper.  This is used in a lot of primary forms of packaging. For juice and milk cartons, cereal and boxes, and even frozen food, candy, and other types of boxes, this is a great one, as it provides product protection that’s better than paper and fiberboard options.

Fiberboard, otherwise known as fluted fiberboard, is used in a lot of creations for corrugated packaging, including boxes. The fluting fiberboard options offer ridged edges between the two flatter boards, and it creates a higher strength and crush resistance options. The American forest and paper association is definitely something that offers more packaging than anything else, and fluted fiberboard creates this. 

PET and HDPE Packaging 

This is high density polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate packaging. These are more rigid and harder types of plastics. Both of these are great for moisture resistance, and also offer a protective structure that’s more rigid than others.  These are used in jugs and bottles. 

A lot of soda and water bottles get made for this. Oil bottles, cartons of milk, and even bottle caps are made from the HDPE, and this is very rigid in terms of materials. 

Flexible Packaging 

Otherwise known as low density polyethylene or linear low-density polyethylene, flexible packaging is basically what’s used in a lot of secondary, and primary products out there. they’re soft, and usually offer the best puncture resistance out there. 

LDPE is used for a lot of films, bags, and also tubing for the packaging.  They’re usually called tubing, or poly bags, and they come in a variety of different types of thickness, and are used for packaging some foods, treats for dogs, even parts for carts and a whole lot more. LDPE is also used to make what’s called bundling film, and is used for water bottles, or canned food bundling. 

Stretch wrapping is also a type of LDPE, and is commonly used to wrap a bunch of products, and is stretchable, and flexible too

Aluminum 

This is used for a lot of different applications out there and is recognized for containers and cans made from this. It’s also good for a lot of cans and containers.

Foil packaging is also a type of aluminum packaging, and is used for foods, medical items, cosmetics, and beverages, along with other types of industries, commonly considered a barrier protector. It protects your products from sunlight, moisture, and other elements, and it’s used with adhesives to preserve these products while they sit on these shelves. 

Jars and Glass 

Finally, jars and glass, a form of glass packaging, happens.  This is something that’s used for drinks both non-alcoholic and alcoholic, and this makes up the brunt of the market.  Cosmetics, personal care items, condiments, and also candles and home décor use this.

It’s totally recyclable, and will be used again and again, and this can be used without losing its value.  it’s one that’s preferred due to the value of this product.  A lot of people also like this because the products offer a more quality look compared to the other plastic products.

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Custom Poly Bags 

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Poly bags are ideal for securing your products, the shipments, and are good for branding. Plus, they’re totally recyclable. 

Most guidelines form amazon state specifically that ply bags are good for packaging different products with a large scent, any liquids, or other products that might destroy or spill onto these shipped types of packaging.

Here, we have a screenshot of the different types of poly bag packaging that’s used. 

Poly Units 

Poly units that protect the requirements for most packaging need to have the following: 

  • A five inch opening or greater, especially measured when it’s flat.  If this is there, you need to make sure that there is a label on this to tell people about suffocation. A failure to have this there will cause the items to be pre bagged 
  • The warning needs to be placed in a location that’s easy to see, and a size font that’s legible on the bag 
  • The thickness needs to be at least 1.5 mil for most bags 
  • It must be seen through 
  • The bag needs a barcode that’s scannable in the bag, or have an ASIN or X00 on the outer part of the bag 
  • It must be totally sealed 
  • It must not stick out more than three inches past the product dimensions 

Scented items such as incense, candles, or even bully sticks that dogs can chew on, must be bagged and sealed to prevent that scent from being absorbed into different products 

All of the poly bags that are greater than five inches wide need to be used for different packaging and must have a suffocation warning on them. This is because it provides sellers with everything that they must do. 

Custom printing does need to have this warning, unless the person supplying this wants to have a generic warning about suffocation 

Also bear in mind that there are different font sizes to be used.  Some bags have even been sent to the business back from the FBA places as they didn’t follow the guidelines for the packaging. 

We also recommend that you add branding or logo to this. Printing one’s info for contacting is a good way to give customers every chance they can get to find out where their products are coming from. 

Many other kinds of prints are usually recommended for printing these packaging products directly from amazon. For electronics and other sensitive products, you might want to have a printed static shield bag to keep the statistic from getting to the product, and the bag printing tells the customers about said product. 

These minimums are important, as without them, they can cause you to waste money, especially after sending it back.  For best results, always make sure that the product follows these guidelines before you send it out, in order to get the best results from the product that you can.

With that said, talk to the supplier to find out about all of the right types of poly bags to do, along with fast turn times, minimums that are low, and also some of the other cool aspects that printed poly types of bags are used with retail and amazon packaging.

To get this, you just need to talk to a supplier to discuss the size of the bag, and the thickness that comes with it, along with desired artwork.  You get the minimums, the lead times, and the like, with most of these being shipped within 3 weeks or less.  Plus, you can also get some of these orders with free shipping if you buy in bulk. 

Food Packaging Options for Startups 

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A lot of food startups are great to begin with, but they do come with some challenges. Most of this happens in the logistics, shipping, and the packaging sectors, as this can be a major part of the struggles one deals with to get success with their packaging.

Subscription boxes, different kits for cooking, even snacks and cookies are a great way to impress people, provided they are intact and fresh. You need good packaging to help with this.

The right food packaging helps with food displays, stands out, and also slows down the spoilage. You should make sure that the packaging options that are chosen are compliant with both the local and the state regulations. 

Good Options for startups that are FDA Approved 

You want to make sure that the options that you use for your food packaging are approved by the FDA in order to slow down the spoilage of food and make it fresh.

Most are rated in a way to allow for direct contact of food. 

There are some however that might need food separation, and other guidelines for contact packaging, and here, we’ll go over each of those. 

Vacuum Packaging 

This is the most popular, and it creates a vacuum seal. 

One of the biggest sources of the degradation of food is the oxygen that happens when it’s shipped, and this enhances the spoilage of items. Vacuum sealing is the best way to ensure product safety by lowering the amount of oxygen within the package.

How this works is pretty simple. You put the food in a barrier bag, and then, with the use of a machine, it encloses this within the product. It’s then sealed with an atmosphere modified in order to keep the food safe in the packaging.

The atmosphere there is a lot different from our natural atmosphere, most of the time without oxygen in order to preserve the shelf life and extend it without the use of a preservative. 

Some of them also have specific bags that create a barrier against oxygen.  Some barrier bags may also feature other means to increase the properties of the barriers.  You may however want to get a co-extruded bag, which is made from different materials.  All of these are FDA approved, and it keeps the oxygen out. 

Overwrapping 

Another one that’s done by a lot of butchers, confectioners, and even grocers and those in the food industries is overwrapping. It extends the shelf life use and is lightweight with a variety of advantages that come with this.

It’s basically those meats and veggies that you see on the grocery trays.  This is basically a machine that uses a wire that’s electrically heated, cutting the film to wrap this around the products. The bottom portions of these trays are placed on heated plates of fabric, in order to mend and shrink the wrapping that’s around the bottom portion of the tray.  This look, when finished, is a conformed packaging that’s placed in the tray of the product. 

They come in different levels of thickness too, and some are even tinted, in order to reduce the exports of light to the products that are there. Some also work with heavier meat cuts too. 

There are other types of shrink wrapping that are used too, in order to bundle the products together, the PVC can shrink wrap this, but it’s not used for direct types of food contact, but instead for bottles and other types of food packaging.

Whatever you use, know that it must be approved by the FDA to help with the packaging.