Frozen food packaging goes a long way toward building your brand’s reputation, especially if you want to market as a sustainable company. What factors must you consider to create a truly green business in the frozen food industry? Material quality and recyclability are two great places to start.
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Quality Packaging To Preserve Product
Food containers can be great marketing opportunities, but you should always prioritize their primary purpose: keeping food clean and intact. No matter how nice the packaging looks, customers will be irate if the food within spoils or crumbles. To create the container your product deserves, you need high-quality materials and designs.
First and foremost, packages should be able to withstand the shipping process, which can be rough. They should also protect the contents from getting freezer burnt and be watertight.
Depending on the product, your packages may also need resealing capabilities. Typically, consumers only use a portion of the frozen food, saving the rest for later. The seal should be airtight and easy to use.
Green Packaging Options To Consider
When looking for a flexible packaging manufacturer, consider every part of the production process. Where do the materials come from? Is the printing process efficient? What happens to the containers when customers no longer need them?
A sustainable partner will have answers to all these questions. The best companies also offer several types of packaging to ensure they have the perfect fit for your product.
Recyclable Containers
Plastic waste is a huge problem; it clogs the oceans, sits in landfills and harms wildlife. Many environmentally conscious consumers look for products they can reuse or recycle, thereby keeping dangerous materials out of ecosystems.
When considering materials, remember that just because a material is recyclable doesn’t mean it will get recycled. For example, glass is infinitely reusable, but not every recycling center accepts it. It may be better to choose cardboard or paper, as even though they have a limited number of reuses, most centers accept them.
You can also take it a step further and choose compostable materials. That way, customers don’t have to send them to a processing plant — they can compost them right at home for use in personal gardens.
Sustainable Printing
The container surface isn’t the only material that should be sustainable — non-environmentally friendly inks can also do a lot of damage. Petroleum-based inks contain chemicals that can cause harm if they get into the groundwater:
Xylene
Benzene
Toluene
The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives:
Soy ink
Algae ink
Vegetable-based ink
In addition to the ink itself, you should look at the printing process. Digital printing is more efficient and eco-friendly than traditional processes and offers extensive customization.
Packaging significantly impacts purchasing decisions, especially when younger generations make up most of your base. As a result, it’s essential to keep up with new technology and industry trends. For example, as the stick pouches packaging market size grows, consumers will expect them as an option. If you keep up with these expectations and adjust accordingly, you can build a flourishing frozen food business.