Due to the negative consequences that nondegradable plastic packaging has on both the environment and human health, many people are working to substantially cut plastic production, enhance recycling, and support more environmentally friendly food packaging.
Studies show that eco-friendly custom food boxes are much safer for the environment and people’s health than plastics, despite the fact that they contain chemicals.
This is because the movement of chemicals into food and your body is much lower with eco-friendly packaging than it is with plastics.
Exposure to chemicals in food packaging is inevitable. However, it is crucial for human health to take steps to limit the transfer of these chemicals into food.
Why is it critical to use sustainable food packaging now more than ever?
Food waste is a difficult environmental problem in addition to being an economic and social one. Food waste’s negative effects on the environment, such as its huge carbon footprint and blue water footprint, serve as clear indicators of the dangers it poses.
As of 2021, just in the USA, about 100 million tons of food go to waste annually. About a third of the agri-food supply chain is of this.
With the increase in global food demand, it may possibly quadruple by 2050.
The short shelf-life of food, especially that of fresh produce, as well as the impact of inaccurate or poorly understood expiration date labels, which cause early and needless food disposal, account for a sizable share of food waste.
In terms of quality preservation and safety, custom food boxes have been an essential component of sustainable food consumption.
Although it has two edges, the value of minimizing food waste outweighs the increased environmental and financial costs.
Conventional Types of Food Packaging
Packaging materials come in a variety of shapes with a range of uses based on their individual characteristics.
The packaging material must balance its shape and function in order to be effective. The packaging material can be rigid, flexible, or semi-flexible given that the primary functions of the packaging are to preserve, contain, and protect food.
- Cans, trays, jars, bottles, and caps are examples of rigid custom food boxes.
- Bags, cling wrap, bubble wrap, shrink wrap, squeezable tubes, foam trays, stand-up packets, and vacuum bags are examples of flexible packaging.
- Tetra packs, custom food boxes, caps, and closures are examples of semi-flexible packaging.
Different types of food packaging vary in various aspects, including weight, size, durability, and barrier qualities.
Choosing Food-Safe Packaging: Factors to Take Into Account
It’s crucial to take the product’s intended use and potential customer usage into account when selecting a food-grade packaging material.
- What type of food-safe material will be used to create the packaging?
- Do the custom food boxes act as a barrier to prevent contamination and deterioration of the food?
- What kind of food is going to be in the package? Will the packing become corroded?
- In what manner will the packing be discarded?
- Will the packing be stackable and bear the weight of stacking?
- If hot food is put inside the packaging or the packaging itself is heated, is the food still safe?
- Will the container you choose affect the product’s shelf life?
- To what kind of environmental factors will the food and its packaging be exposed?
- How much will the distribution and custom food boxes packaging cost?
Alternatives to Conventional Food Packaging
Here are some unique materials perfect for custom food boxes:
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Bamboo
Due to its durability and heat resistance, bamboo is biodegradable and has many other desired qualities for food packaging.
Among the food packaging made of bamboo is bread custom food boxes made of bamboo, serving bowls made of bamboo, portable plastic-free lunch boxes with bamboo lids, and countertop glass jars with bamboo covers.
Remember that food container made of bamboo or other plant fibers are less enduring than those made of glass or stainless steel and are more susceptible to wear and tear.
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Rice bran
Rice husk is a low-cost, renewable, and biodegradable byproduct of rice farming.
One study discovered that rice husk has bio-adsorbent capabilities, which implies that it takes in toxins from its surroundings.
This substance is ideal to create products like shatterproof serving bowls and lunch custom food boxes with sealable lids.
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Shrink Film
Transparent plastic film that shrinks uniformly when heated is popular as shrink film. When employing this material, a clear shrink film sleeve is perfect to package the goods. A heating element on a tool known as a sealer is best to heat each side of the sleeve shut.
The product with sleeves then travels on a conveyor belt through a device known as a heat tunnel. The film is in the tunnel by a heating element, which causes it to uniformly contract around the product. This gives the finished product a lovely glossy sheen that brilliantly reflects light in a catchy way while it is sitting on store shelves, waiting for the consumer.
Electronics, board games, DVDs, CDs, video games, and many other consumer goods can all be packaged using shrink film, along with frozen and non-frozen food.
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Gelatin films
Gelatin films are increasingly used for customize food packaging because they are nontoxic, affordable, and have dependable film-forming capabilities.
Gelatin is a food ingredient that is generally accepted as safe (GRAS), according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Antimicrobial cellulose, found in gelatin films, prevents the growth of common pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli, which are responsible for foodborne diseases.
Gelatin films are a safer alternative to traditional plastics thanks to these active fillers.
The two leading fillers for gelatin food packaging are microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and rosin-grafted cellulose nanocrystals (r-CNCs). Visit Multiple Packages, the best wholesale packaging supplier for food products.