Which Packaging Solution Is Right For You?
By Isaac Fletcher, contributing writer, Food Online
With so many packaging solutions out there, choosing the right format for your company’s product can be challenging. However, being informed of the available options, and their most-effective applications, can ensure you make the right choice
The food packaging industry is continuously coming up with new innovations and ways to better meet the evolving demands of consumers. With hundreds of packaging materials and solutions to choose from, designers and producers are often faced with a daunting task when it comes to creating new packaging. Regardless of your company’s size or reach, making the right packaging design decisions is an important part of attracting customers, establishing brand loyalty, and remaining competitive.
Sometimes packaging choices are clear right from product development stages, but other times it can be more challenging to make the perfect choice. By using the following guidelines, you can help guarantee that you find the best packaging solution for your product.
Flow Wrapping
Used to package everything from chip bags to chocolate bars, flow wrapping is one of the most-common food packaging formats. With a degree of versatility, flow wrapping can be used with a wide range of products. This packaging format is considered to be the best packaging solution when it comes to fresh items that are not stored in a box.
Vertical Form Fill And Seal
Vertical Form Fill and Seal (VFFS) packaging has secured its place as a growing trend within the food-to-go market. Bags are created out of roll of plastic film and are then filled with the product and sealed. With the only seal located at the top of the package, this format is popular for products such as coffee beans, beef jerky, and grains. One the benefits provided with VFFS packaging is its ability to offer effective presentation options to attract customer attention.
Tray Sealing
This format is most-commonly used to package meat, seafood, and fresh produce. Tray sealing can also work well with food-to-go items and should be considered by manufacturers of sandwiches and microwavable meals as an efficient packing method.
Banding And Strapping
Well-suited for the delivery of fresh produce, this packaging format offers an easy-to-open pack comprised of a tray and plastic lid joined together on one side and then sealed with banders. Although this packaging solution is often overlooked, it can greatly increase productivity and reduce costs by simplifying the handling process.
Vacuum Packaging
As a simple and convenient packaging method, vacuum packaging is used to preserve products like seafood, meat, and cheese. By removing oxygen from the package, the growth potential of fungi and bacteria is significantly lowered. Since vacuum packaging does not require the use of large machinery and is a great choice for a variety of produce, it is an excellent solution for manufacturers of all sizes and product types.
Shrink Wrapping
Shrink wrapping is performed by a product in polymer plastic film and then applying heat to shrink the film tightly over the product. Aside from the removal of oxygen, shrink wrapping is very similar to vacuum packaging and can be an effective solution for packaging fresh pizza, canned drinks, and individual vegetable items.