The world of food packaging is diverse and varied. There are many different types of food packaging, and each type has different uses. Understanding these differences and finding ways to properly utilize them helps food manufacturers make the right choices for their products.
Importance of Food Packaging in Preserving Freshness and Safety
Consumers want products that are fresh and safe. When properly packaged, this is possible. However, improper or no packaging makes preserving this level of freshness and safety in food items more difficult.
Packaging accomplishes this by preserving, securing, and protecting the product. Some packaging seals in freshness and shields the product from contaminants. Other types of food packaging prevent physical damage and keep the product safe during transport.
In any case, it is easy to see the importance of food packaging. Understanding and acting on this knowledge becomes important to all food producers.
Primary Packaging
Primary packaging is the packaging that directly surrounds food products. It touches the food and remains in contact with it until the consumer opens the packaging.
Types of Primary Packaging Materials
Many types of food packaging fall under the umbrella of primary packaging. These include:
- Plastics: Plastic packaging materials are some of the most diverse materials available. There is a lot of variety within plastic packaging, meaning this material ends up serving many different needs.
- Cellulose: Cellulose performs many of the same functions as plastic. However, it is biodegradable and, thus, a more environmentally friendly option.
- Glass: Glass packaging includes everything from jars for preserves to glass coffee bottles.
- Metal: Metal packaging includes canned food items, canned drinks, and more.
- Paper and paperboard: Many products, particularly dry products, simply use a regular layer of paper or paperboard.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Primary Packaging Materials
A wide variety of different types of food packaging materials exist because each has its own advantages and disadvantages. These make different materials better for different jobs.
Plastics:
- Advantages
- Inexpensive
- Durable
- Resistant to moisture
- Disadvantages
- More reactive with food materials
- More harmful to the environment and harder to recycle
Cellulose:
- Advantages
- Sustainable and biodegradable
- Less reactive than other materials
- Disadvantages
- Fragile
- Lower shelf-life
Glass:
- Advantages
- Corrosion-resistant
- Food-safe and chemically inert with most products
- Transparent and aesthetically pleasing
- Disadvantages
- Fragile
- Heavy
- Expensive
Metal:
- Advantages
- Durable and rigid
- Resistant to moisture, pests, and contamination
- Highly recyclable
- Disadvantages
- Expensive
- Prone to corrosion
- Reactive with some foods
Paper and paperboard:
- Advantages
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Easy to work with
- Disadvantages
- Only usable for wet materials with treatment
- Fragile
Secondary Packaging
Secondary packaging surrounds the primary packaging. It is often what binds together the primary packaging or what keeps it safe. In addition, secondary packaging often serves an aesthetic purpose and can be a way to display the product itself.
Common Materials Used for Secondary Packaging
There are more limits to the materials used for secondary packaging. For example, wrapping a batch of glass jars and metal cans with glass and metal would be inefficient and wasteful.
Because of this, the types of food packaging commonly used for secondary packaging are:
- Paper and paperboard
- Plastics
Importance of Secondary Packaging for Transportation and Display
In many cases, secondary packaging provides stability. It surrounds the primary packaging and ensures there are no disruptions as it moves from one place to another.
In addition, secondary packaging is often what the consumer views when they purchase the product. Because of this, it plays a critical role in selling the product.
For example, many consumers associate breakfast cereal with bright colors and flashy displays. These colorful packaging materials let the consumer know that the product will be sweet and tasty.
However, the secondary packaging must convey all of this. Cereal typically uses plastic for its primary packaging. So, the secondary packaging does the marketing work that the primary packaging is incapable of doing.
Tertiary Packaging
Tertiary packaging is the packaging that surrounds secondary packaging. It provides another layer of protection that preserves the packaging during transport.
Tertiary packaging is especially important when secondary packaging primarily focuses on marketing or when it is what consumers see. In these cases, tertiary packaging will absorb problems during transport, leaving the secondary packaging pristine.
Examples of Tertiary Packaging
There are more limits to the types of food packaging manufacturers use at the tertiary level.
- Cardboard boxes: Cardboard is one of the most commonly used types of tertiary packaging. It provides another layer of durability while also holding the secondary packaging together.
- Plastic packaging: When durability isn’t a concern, manufacturers may wrap products in plastic. Doing so provides little to no protection but keeps the products together. Packaging like this ranges from simple shrink film to multiple layers of plastic wrap.
Role of Tertiary Packaging in Supply Chain Management
With correct use, consumers never come into contact with tertiary packaging. Manufacturers apply it at a production facility, use it during transit, and remove it before the product hits shelves.
Therefore, tertiary packaging primarily serves as an element of supply chain management. Those in charge of the supply chain need to carefully consider what level of protection the tertiary packaging must provide and weigh this against the cost of the packaging itself. They also must consider the handling of tertiary packaging as an element of the supply chain.
Labeling in Food Packaging
A key element of any food package is the label. Manufacturers often add the food label at the same time as the packaging.
Mandatory Labeling
There are a number of mandatory food packaging standards that a food manufacturer must follow. One of these is labeling.
Labels must include a variety of basic information. The product name, manufacturer address, and either an expiration or “best by” date form part of this information.
Labels must also include nutritional information. Nutritional information includes a breakdown of the nutritional content, the product weight, the ingredients, and any additives used.
Finally, the label must also include allergy information. Allergy information includes specifying the inclusion of any allergy-inducing ingredients and specifying if the product came from a building that also processes those ingredients.
Voluntary Labeling
While the government requires many types of labels, some are voluntary. Manufacturers often include these as an additional point of transparency for their customers or as a way to highlight product features.
For example, some products contain labels that indicate whether they include genetically engineered ingredients. Others include whether the product is organic or if it includes certain production techniques.
Labeling Methods
Nowadays, most food producers use automated systems for food labeling. The process involves using automated label machines that specialize in placing these labels.
For products that use paper or paperboard as a packaging material, manufacturers often print the labels directly onto the packaging. Doing so eliminates the need for a separate labeling step.
Safety and Regulations in Food Packaging
Labels aren’t the only regulated element of food packaging. The packaging process has a variety of safety and regulatory considerations.
Regulatory Overview
The FDA regulates the food packaging process. The regulatory body provides helpful information about how to properly conduct the food packaging process while also monitoring it.
Companies must follow the rules enforced by the FDA and should follow optional guidelines and best practices as well. Otherwise, they may face legal consequences.
Material Safety
For many producers, material safety is a big element of food safety in food packaging. If hazardous materials find their way into the packaging process, they can create a dangerous product.
Problems crop up in a number of different ways. Hazards may enter a product at the manufacturing facility, improper packaging leads to food spoilage, and defects occur without warning.
Compliance Challenges
Complying with material safety is particularly troublesome, considering how many food packaging machines food manufacturers utilize. If left unmonitored or unchecked, the problems these machines cause may go completely undetected.
For example, if a piece of metal from a machine chips off and finds its way into the food, it is a serious concern. If someone eats the food with the metal in it, they may end up seriously hurt. As a result, the company may face both legal action and bad publicity.
Luckily, proper checks and monitoring will overcome many compliance challenges. For example, metal detectors are an effective method of catching metal contaminants before the product ships to consumers.
Understand the Importance of Different Types of Food Packaging
Primary, secondary, and tertiary food packaging each serve a different purpose and utilize different materials. Meanwhile, labeling and regulation add another layer of variation to the food packaging process. All of this means that there is a lot of complexity when it comes to types of food packaging.
While this presents a challenge to manufacturers, it is also an opportunity. Producers who are able to master food packaging can make a superior product and rise above their competitors.
Looking for assistance in choosing the correct food packaging for your product? Contact the experts at TDI Packsys in Vernon Hills, IL, for information about our customized solutions. Call us at 877-834-6750 today.
