There are different packaging materials available in the market, but not every packaging material is suitable for a certain type of good item. Food brands need high-quality and food-safe packaging to boost their sales and keep their food away from contamination. Read this blog to find out 6 factors you must keep in mind when picking the right food packaging for your products.
1. Quality of the Packaging
The most important factor when it comes to choosing the packaging is quality. Spending money on high-quality food packaging is one of the best ways to attract and retain customers. By choosing the durable and reliable material, you can keep your food items safe throughout the supply chain. High-quality packaging must have the following qualities:
● Temperature Resistant
Your packaging material must be able to keep the food items safe from changes in temperature. Choose the packaging that can maintain the temperature inside the packaging as well as serve as an excellent barrier between the external temperature and food.
● Chemical Compatibility
The packaging mustn’t come into contact with the food or beverage chemically for however long the products are packed inside. To avoid contamination or spoilage, you must check the chemical compatibility of the products and materials before finalizing the right material.
● Tamper Evident
As a food brand, you must know the importance of tamper-evident packaging. To retain more customers and gain their trust, you must provide them with tamper-evident seals and labels. The evidence protects the authenticity of your food products.
2. Cost-Effective Customization
Customized packaging is one of the best ways to create a robust brand identity in the market. Businesses of all kinds use custom packaging boxes with their brand’s logo to enhance the shelf visibility in the market. While customization can be costly, you can find ways to make your packaging look high-end within a limited budget.
When it comes to customized food boxes wholesale rates can help your business save money. With bulk purchases, you can also avoid potential supply chain issues. You can also choose minimal designs with a limited number of inks to be used on your packaging to keep the costs to a minimum level.
3. Product Friendly
The packaging you choose for your food products should be able to keep the food safe during shipping and storage. Most fast-food chains use aluminum foil when packing certain items such as lasagna, sandwiches, burgers, and more. Bakery products like cakes, cookies, muffins, and even macarons are packed in durable cardboard or Kraft boxes.
Canned and wet food is usually packed in plastic or metal packaging. Make sure the material you are choosing keeps your food protected from external factors and does not cause any spoilage during transportation. Use oxygen absorbers where necessary to keep your products fresh and safe throughout the supply chain. Products such as ground coffee or coffee beans need packaging with a degassing valve to release carbon dioxide and inhibit oxygen from entering.
4. Suitable for Transportation
Every material offers protection to the products from external factors to some extent. When choosing the packaging for food products, you must keep the means of transportation in mind. Ask yourself important questions like:
- How will the food be transported?
- What’s the size of the vehicle for food transport?
- How long will it take for the food to reach its destination?
The answers will give you clarity on deciding which material you need to pick. Most of the time, the packaging boxes are stacked on top of each other during transit. It is safe to choose the material that will not break or get tampered with during the stacking. You must also ensure the packaging keeps your products safe from external factors such as dust, temperature, and water at the very least during shipping.
5. Sustainable Packaging Material
Sustainability is becoming a necessity rather than a fashion statement as we observe disastrous changes in our ecosystem. Customers are always looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, and this is why your business needs to replace hazardous packaging and go for eco-friendly packaging. Plastic does offer a lot of benefits, but it is also very harmful to the environment.
You can choose safe alternatives, such as bioplastics and aluminum packaging. Sustainable packaging can also offer a luxury and premium look. You can pack your best cakes in high-end rigid packaging boxes to boost shelf appeal. Kraft, cardboard, and corrugated cardboard are also good sustainable packaging materials you can use for your food packaging.
6. Storage-Friendly Packaging
The packaging you are choosing for your products must withstand certain storage conditions to keep your food safe. Whether you are packing food that needs to be refrigerated, kept at room temperature, or frozen, the packaging material should be able to protect the food inside.
Frozen food needs packaging that is flexible and puncture-resistant. Similarly, products such as coffee or other dried spices need packaging that can provide UV protection and enhance the shelf life of these products.
Enhance Shelf Life of Food Packaging
You can increase the shelf life of your products by choosing different methods and techniques. From temperature control to barrier properties, different methods are used to ensure the protection of food items. Let’s have a look at two options to keep your food protected during shipping and prolong the shelf life:
1. Modified Atmosphere Packaging
Several food and beverages, and even fruits such as mangoes, require Modified Atmosphere Packaging to ensure the safety and freshness of the products. When shipping products to distant places, manufacturers use MAP. This method chemically alters the gases inside the packaging to keep the food fresh, and in case of mangoes, unripe, so customers can enjoy ripe mangoes.
2. Vacuum Packaging
Vacuum packaging uses oxygen absorbers to keep the food items safe from oxidation. Certain food items, such as coffee, need vacuum packaging to ensure freshness. Coffee brands use Mylar packaging to keep the coffee safe from oxygen, light, and water when it is shelved. When choosing volatile food items, it is best to use vacuum packaging.
Keep Your Food Safe with Quality Assured Packaging
Choose the right packaging material to attract sales and retain more customers. You must also offer branded packaging with your logo so customers can identify your products on the shelves. Use the suitable methods to keep your food safe during the transportation and shelving.