When people buy food products, they don’t always think about the packaging that their food comes in. But packaging is an important thing to think about. Food packaging serves many purposes, including preserving the food and protecting it from external elements. However, among the people who do pay attention to food packaging, more people are trying to buy eco-friendly packaging options. In fact, a 2016 West Rock Consumer Survey found that 45% of consumers bought a product due to the environmentally friendly packaging. Because there is so much packaging wasted, it’s important to have green packaging options. This article is going to take a look at some of the benefits of common food packaging materials.Paper packaging: Paper is a very versatile packaging product. Thicker products like paperboard and fiberboard are commonly used. But paper can also be used to make thinner packaging products like box labels, paper bags, and more. Although it has a variety of applications, paper is not often considered an environmentally-friendly option among the retail packaging options.Plastic packaging: Plastic is typically found in the form of bags or containers. This packaging material is used to hold frozen foods, snacks, dry goods, and dairy products. It can also be found in bottle form and used for drinks and condiments. Because plastic is recyclable, it’s considered green packaging. In today’s society, green packaging options are becoming a more important consideration for consumers when choosing food products.Glass packaging: Another green packaging material is glass. Glass packaging is often used for beverages or food products that may be stored for a long period of time. When recycled, it can be used to make additional glass packaging products. However, it’s not as easy to work with as some other packaging materials.Aluminum packaging: As a common metal, aluminum is inexpensive, easily made, and can be environmentally friendly. Aluminum food packaging can be used to store food safely for a long period of time. Meats, vegetables, and beans are commonly stored as canned goods in aluminum. Aluminum is a common choice because it helps protects food products from moisture, sunlight, and other external elements.While all of these packaging materials offer multiple benefits, plastic is still one of the most popular packaging choices. It’s easy to use and can be made in any shape or color, making it a popular choice for customizable packaging solutions. Reusable clamshell packaging is one of the most common choices in plastic packaging.If you’re looking to buy food products, or implement new packaging into your company, consider going plastic. It’s an inexpensive, versatile option that many consumers will choose because of the multiple benefits it can offer.
