Unit 2: Packaging

• Packaging Materials


  • Glass
  • Plastics
  • Paper & Board
  • Metals
• Glass


  Bottles and jars used for jams or pasta sauces
• Glass


  • Chemically inert, meaning it does not react with food so does not taint it or change its flavour
  • Impervious and non-porous, meaning there is no interaction between the outside environment and the food product
  • Odourless
  • Hygienic and easy to sterilise
  • Suitable packaging material for liquid, semi-liquid and solid foods
  • 100% recyclable
  • Transparent, consumers can see the contents and it may help them to choose a product
  • Glass packaging can be coloured, such as oil bottles, and this can help prevent light from affecting the contents
  • Made into a wide variety of shapes and sizes
  • Easy to open and easy to reseal if the contents have not been used
  • Reused for domestic use; for example, to bottle home-made preserves such as jams, bottled fruits, pickles, sauces and relishes
• Plastics


  • Plastic films to package fresh meat
  • Flexible plastic for bags and pouches used for oats or rice
  • Rigid plastics used for bottles and moulded tubs
• Plastics


  • Lightweight while remaining strong
  • Tough and durable
  • Resistant to breakage if dropped
  • Available in a large variety of colours
  • Moulded into many shapes and sizes- this gives the food manufacturer lots of choice, while providing an aesthetically pleasing product for the consumer
  • Less expensive to produce
  • Lighter to transport, which saves on fuel costs and reduces the environmental impact
• Rigid plastic packaging


  • Rigid plastic bottles are treated the same way as glass bottles and jars
  • Plastic bottles do not shatter when dropped, but can become damaged if exposed to high temperatures or excessive heat, which causes significant problems for the manufacturer
• Rigid Plastics


  • Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
  • High-density Polyethylene (HDPE)
  • Polypropylene (PP)
  • Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
  • Polystyrene (PS)
• PET


  • The plastic most often used for packaging that needs to be transparent such as water bottles
  • Adding a colouring pigment to PET can compromise its strength
  • PET packaging has a better shelf life in terms of its strength and durability and its ability to protect its contents
• HDPE


  • The preferred material for coloured plastic packaging as it remains strong and durable when coloured
  • Suitable for products with a shorter shelf life, such as milk, yoghurt and juice
• Polypropylene (PP)


  • Has the ability to withstand high temperatures and is used to make moulded containers such as for heat-and-serve meals
  • Used as a flexible packaging and is suitable for packing lollies, chips and biscuits
• Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)


  • Commonly used in applications such as liners, overwraps, consumer food storage bags, shrink and collation films for holding products together in cartons and laminating as well as for caps and closures
• Polystyrene (PS)


  • Used to make foam trays, cups and boxes
  • Designed to protect food from physical damage as well as providing insulation
• By law, all plastic packaging must display a recycling symbol and number that corresponds to the type of packaging material used

  
• Types of Paper and cardboard packaging

  • Paper Bags
  • Paper Sacks
  • Moulded cardboard
  • Board-based packages
  • Composite containers

  
• Paper Bags

  • Inexpensive and used for a variety of food products
  • When sealed, it keeps food safe and protected from dust and natural light
  • This type of packaging can be easily damaged
• Paper Sacks


  • Similar to paper bags, but paper sacks are bigger and are made from thicker paper, which allows them to hold heavier contents
  • They may have a plastic lining
• Moulded cardboard


  • Paper is pulped then spread into moulds and allowed to dry
  • This produces a thick end product that has a variety of uses depending upon the mould used

  
• Board-based packages


  • Made from cardboard that is between 0.5 and 1.0 millimetres thick
  • Has a solid structure and is easily stacked on shelves in the marketplace
  • Board-based packages used for frozen items will have a plastic laminate coating for protection

  
• Composite containers


  • Comprise more than one type of packaging material
  • May be a board-based canister with a metal or moulded plastic lid, or a board-based product with a foil laminate
• Dented cans should be discarded
• Some cans are coated with a thin layer of lacquer on the inside
• The lacquer coating on the inside of cans is important to prevent the food from reacting with the metal
• Solid and semi-solid foods such as canned fruits and vegetables are packaged in steel cans, while aluminium is used for soft drinks and other beverages

  
• Metal cans


  • Inexpensive, Readily available, Easy to use, Safe and hygienic, Cost effective, Stackable and strong, which allows for ease of transport and distribution
  • Provide good protection for the products they contain as they are designed to prevent unwanted moisture loss or gain, which can damage the food inside
  • Cans are easy to source, fill, seal, heat, cool and package
  • Cans are usually sourced as a standard shape and size, making them easy to stack and display on shelves in the marketplace

  
• The disadvantages of cans are that they can be heavy and if they are dented or damaged or have bulging tops, the food inside could be damaged and unsafe to consume
• It is not advisable to use the contents of cans that are dented, damaged or have bulging tops as holes may be present that have allowed air to enter, enabling microbes to grow and multiply inside the can
• The protective coating in the lines of the cans may also be damaged, causing food to react with the metal
• Polyethylene is the most widely used type of plastic in food packaging due to its low cost, good barrier properties against moisture and gases, and ease of processing into various shapes and sizes.
• Polystyrene is commonly used as disposable tableware such as cups, plates, and cutlery because it is lightweight, cheap, and easy to mold into different shapes.
• Biodegradable packaging materials are gaining popularity as an eco-friendly alternative, breaking down naturally over time without harming the environment.