Why Plastic Packaging Wholesale USA is best for Food Packaging?

The rise in demand for final goods alternatively known as consumer goods has been tremendous. The growing population heavily influenced by marketing adds to the value by being on the lookout for better and attractive packaging and manufacturers strive to enhance their strategies for added value. Especially in the food and beverage industry, good, eye-catching packaging matters from a sales standpoint.
There are several food packaging materials and alternatives, however, plastic packaging is deemed the most reliable and preferred from retail standards. It is also recommended for small-scale food businesses like hotels, restaurants, cafes, and bakeries, etc. Due to the durability and adaptability of retail plastic bags wholesale has retained its popularity and safely made its way to food packaging.

Debunking misleading Information

In this day and age, one cannot ignore the environment but it is the misinterpreted knowledge that does hamper the minds of people. For instance, the whole debate about sustainability and resourceful materials leads to severe actions against plastic packaging and materials.

• As per American Chemistry Council, plastic bags use 40-70% less energy compared to paper bag production in terms of production.
• It takes seven trucks to deliver paper bags for every single truck to deliver Custom plastic bags for packaging.
• Plastic packaging production requires only 4-5% of the amount of water needed to produce paper packaging.
• One pound of plastic requires a lot less energy to recycle than one pound of paper (more than 90% less energy)
• When it comes to air pollution, retail plastic bags wholesale production emits 70% less air pollution than paper bag production.

Advantages of Plastic Packaging Wholesale USA

1. Hygiene

Ideally, unpackaged foods or packaged using low-quality material is not considered safe for humans. Plastic packaging undergoes necessary and standard tests and controls which makes it ideal for food packaging.

2. Less Wastage

Contrary to the popular opinion, plastic packaging does not promote waste. It, on the other hand, extends the shelf life of food which prevents damage, and therefore, there is a lot less wastage compared to other packaging materials.

3. Efficiency

Plastic packaging is comparatively a lot more energy efficient than other materials. This makes it an efficient packaging material. According to American Chemistry Council, two pounds of plastics can commute 10 gallons of a beverage.

4. Weight

Plastic packaging for food is also a lot lighter. Even with the low weight, it offers high strength and durability. Any material other than plastic would weigh 4 to 5 times more than plastic in terms of food packaging. This means an evident reduction in carbon footprint due to ease in transportation.

5. Environment friendly

Times have changed, and so has technology. In this day and age, plastic packaging can also be re-used as fuel. Along with that it can be fully recycled and used again for new products.

6. Innovation

Plastic packaging has evolved with time and as per usage and environment. The pattern from the past two decades has been such that the weight of plastic per packaging unit has only been decreasing. The trend continues to show that the weight has reduced to more than 30%.

7. Creativity

Packaging ideas and designs know no bounds when it comes to plastic packaging. There are several properties that make this material multi-functional. This means one can create and manufacture Custom plastic bags for packaging in all shapes and sizes. This, in turn, improves brand visibility and image from a retail standpoint.

8. Functionality

Plastic packaging for food comes equipped with smart sensors and indicators that keep the consumers informed and alert about temperature fluctuations or external damages the product might have experienced. Also known as active packaging, it keeps the products fresh and extends their shelf life.

9. Economical

Irrespective of their benefits and potential, plastic packaging is considered highly economical which reflects in the end product. Small-scale manufacturers and business owners prefer plastic bags for food packaging due to its cost-effectiveness.

10. Durability

The high versatility of plastic allows it to be durable which helps it survive extreme temperatures. Therefore, there is no trace of degradation regardless of intense or slight moisture, dust, odors, light, or air quality. This preserves the standard of the beverage or food stored inside it. Its durable quality also makes the packaging shatterproof.

Plastic food packaging ensures that food items last longer and contributes remarkably less in terms of wastage and pollution. Along with that, good permeability and transparency make plastic packaging protect food from all kinds of mechanical influences and germs. This maintains hygiene levels and protection against all kinds of damage during transport. It implies the safety and protection of fresh produce and organic products.

Among all the benefits and advantages, one should learn to comprehend the correct usage of plastic packaging in a way that it harms nothing and no one. This is why it is important to rely on Plastic Packaging Wholesale USA for the best possible solutions in terms of food packaging for it has the world full of benefits to offer.

Plastic Bags for Food Packaging: Food Safety and Recyclability

Did you know?

Plastic is a very versatile material originating from various elements.

The elements of the periodic table, such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur are the bases of a variety of plastics used to make most of the products we use every day. Some plastics are clear and strong while some are lightweight. Plastics can be resistant to bacteria and can be used in food packaging and medical equipment.

Plastics are used in various types of food packaging and containers for a variety of reasons: they help protect food and prevent damage, ensure food safety and extend the freshness of food.

How Safe and Recyclable Plastic Food Packaging Are? Here Comes Identification Codes

You must have seen the number 1 through 7 on the bottom or to the side of the plastic container. This number is the plastic “resin identification code”, also known as the “recycling number.” The number indicates the safety and ability to be recycled of plastic packaging.

Most of the plastic resins used in packaging (# 1 through # 7) are recyclable as well as are safe for food packaging.

TYPES OF FOOD PACKAGING WHICH IS SAFE AND RECYCLABLE

PETE or PET (recycling number 1 / resin ID code 1)

Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE or PET) is a lightweight semi-rigid or rigid plastic much more resistant to impacts that help protect food or liquids inside the container.

PET is commonly used in food packaging such as soft drinks, sports drinks, and water in individual format, ketchup, salad dressings, vitamins, vegetable oil bottles, and peanut butter containers.

HDPE (recycling number 2 / resin ID code 2)

HDPE or High-density polyethylene is a tough, opaque plastic that is lightweight. For example, an HDPE milk container may weigh only half a kilo, but be strong enough to hold about 3.78 liters of milk.

HDPE is commonly used in milk and juice containers, vinegar and squeeze butter bottles, and chocolate syrup containers, in addition to shopping bags.

PVC (recycling number 3 / resin ID code 3)

The element chlorine is the main ingredient used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a common type of biologically and chemically resistant plastic. These two characteristics help PVC containers preserve the integrity of products, including medicines.

Clear vinyl is used as tamper-resistant OTC medicine packaging and in the shrinkage of various products. Vinyl is also used in blister packaging (packaging that has a cavity or gap), such as packages for refreshing mints or chewing gum, for example.

LDPE (recycling number 4 / resin ID code 4)

Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is thinner than other resins and also has higher heat resistance. Due to its strength and flexibility, LDPE is used primarily in plastic film applications that require heat sealing, but it is also used in rigid applications.

LDPE is commonly used in food packaging to make coffee can lids, bread bags, holding rings for six-can soda packs, and fruit and vegetable bags used in grocery stores.

PP (recycling number 5 / resin ID code 5)

Polypropylene (PP) is a somewhat rigid plastic, but less brittle than other plastics. It can be translucent, opaque, or a different color when manufactured. In general, PP has a high melting point, which makes it particularly suitable for packaging products used in the microwave oven or dishwasher. PP is commonly used in food packaging for yogurt, maple syrup, cream cheese, and sour cream containers, as well as prescription drug bottles.

PS (recycling number 6 / resin ID code 6)

Polystyrene (PS) is a hard, colorless plastic without much flexibility. It can be foamed or poured into molds to be molded into plastic spoons or forks, for example.

How to use it? In food packaging, PS is used to make plastic lids, food and bakery trays, fast food containers and lids, hot containers, and egg cartons.

Other or O (recycling number 7 / resin ID code 7)

Other or O on the plastic container indicates that the container was manufactured with a plastic resin other than the six types of resins mentioned above, for example, the container could be polycarbonate or polylactide acid (PLA), or it could be made of more than one plastic resin material.

In food packaging, plastic-type # 7 is generally used to make almost 20-liter containers of water and some citrus juice and ketchup bottles, as well as cups, lids for coffee containers and clam containers.

How Colors Impact Your Food Packaging

Learn here how colors make your products look like to the customers.

Some colors make us feel relaxed and clam. Some colors unleash positivity. And certain colors have been associated with increased metabolism, eyestrain and blood pressure.

The point is here that color impacts our mood and feelings.

No wonder why they are a vital part of marketing for decades. Using them strategically can make your products look appealing to the customers. Given that packaging is the most tangible representation of a product, introducing them in the right colors can make or break the sale.

According to one report, 60-90% of consumers judge the products on the base of the color. This is because color appeals quicker than text and graphics. Over 80% of customers admitted that color is a key factor when buying a product.

Color schemes eventually become a brand identity and are consistently maintained. For example, red with a white swirl makes us think about Coca Cola. The color purple is associated with the Cadbury brand.

Why You Should Be Careful with Careful Scheme of Your Packaging

Colors stand for emotions and feelings.

Therefore, be careful while choosing a color scheme for your target audience. For example, bright colors are appealing to children while softer shades are great for older consumers. Colors like green or blue represent eco-friendly and health.

Here we have outlined some colors and their impact on the mind.

Red:

Red is a powerful color that stimulates and excites. It can raise the nerve impulses as well as increase the heart rate. This color enhances the appetite and stimulates a physical response. No wonder why it is a popular choice in food marketing and found on the many food product packaging. Red is associated with the images of ripe or sweet things like candy, tomatoes, and strawberries.

Yellow:

Yellow is quickly processed by the brain, making it a good one for grabbing attention. It is also an appetite stimulant and stands for happiness, optimism, and vibrancy. When you look at the color yellow, the brain releases a feel-good chemical known as Serotonin according to some studies. Using red and yellow together not only makes people feel good about your products but also triggers their appetite. Look at the logos of Burger King, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and KFC and you will understand this thing better.

Orange:

Orange is a combination of red and yellow. It generates similar effects and has established itself as an appetizing color. It promotes senses and emotions which can trigger impulse buying, making it a great choice for takeaway foods and snacks. Orange also represents citrus flavor like in Fanta.

Blue:

Blue is not an appetizing color. However, it stands for honesty and truth. The color is associated with water and freshness; therefore, it can be used for products like bottled water, seafood, and milk.

Green:

Green is also a popular packaging color. It is mainly associated with healthy, natural, organic, vegetarian and fresh. The color is also the symbol of well-being and health. The color is a choice of many organic and herbal products.

White:

White stands for purity and simplicity. People think that the product doesn’t contain many ingredients when used in packaging. It is generally used for white color products such as yogurt, cream, milk, and cheese.

Black:

Black is the least used color in food packaging. However, food experts are experimenting with this color to see some positive outcomes. Black is the color of luxury and can be used to give your products an air of sophistication. Brands who are seeing benefits with black are Jack Daniels and Monster Energy.

So you must have understood how colors can impact your food packaging. What do you think? Please let us know by commenting below.

Food will be used for Food Packaging! Hope and Concerns

Have you ever thought over these things while opening the wrap of a food product?

The packaging will go to the landfills, adding up to the 60 billion pounds of wastage being collected annually.
The leftover of your food will add up to the 40% food waste.
Plastic packaging may contaminate the food inside.

These things are translated into three key concerns—plastic waste, food waste, and plastic packaging which contaminates food.

All of them are mostly associated to the food we eat.

And the solution lies in the food itself.

The excess food will be used in future to make food packaging. This way, it will not only minimize plastic waste, but also turn out to be a safe and chemical free option for food packaging. It is being termed as edible or bio-gradable food packaging.

It is somewhat like killing three birds with one stone!

Many entrepreneurs and researchers have working to create a packaging from foods like milk, tomato peels, kelp, and mushrooms.

How Edible Food Packaging Will Be Like?

This new kind of packaging will be edible and soluble as well, given that it is prepared from food. For example, The United States Department of Agriculture is developing a material from milk protein, which can be used to line pizza boxes which look like extra cheese. Likewise, there may be soluble soup packets that can be simply dipped in hot water. Another striking benefit is that edible food packaging can be used for plants as fertilizer.

Edible Food Packaging is ready to make its Way to Market from Labs!

Evowarel, an Indonesian enterprise, has created an edible packaging from seaweed which can be eaten along with the food products. Termed as edible grade bioplast, these packaging are said to be rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. However, they are tasteless, odorless and can last for years. The enterprise has considered its edible packaging fit for coffee, seasoning sachet, burger/rice wrap and sugar.

Italian researchers, on the other hand, are using tomato skins to create a polish that can protect food packaged in the metal cans.

Ecovative has come with it its packaging materials that are made from mycelium fungus found in mushrooms.

At Harvard, the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering has obtained chitosan, a polysaccharide, from shrimp and lobster shells and blended it with silk fibers to make a substitution for plastic packaging, termed as Shrilk.

Skipping Rocks Lab, a British start-up, has been working over an edible water bottle named as Ohoo. It is being prepared from edible seaweed. The company is looking forward to create edible containers to hold juices, cosmetics and other liquids.

But Clouds of Skepticism are also there…

Unarguably, edible food packaging will be a great step in protecting health and environment from plastic and lowering the food waste. However, it is surrounded by various concerns regarding its usage and market adaptability.

For example, The Agriculture Department has tried to build milk protein based films over a decade ago. But they had to shelve the project as they failed to find customers for this product. Big firms like PepsiCo and Nestlé are also doubtful about the success of such type of packaging.

“Some of the stuff out there is just gimmick. They sound nice but will never be cost-competitive or, in a final analysis, don’t have the impact on waste or the environment that the people making them a promise.”said David Strauss, the head of packaging in Nestlé’s US operations.

Nestlé also raised the issue of food security associated with edible food packaging as they believe that it would lead to widespread hunger. “It’s no good to package our products in a packaging that could instead have been used to feed people,”Mr. Strauss expressed his concern.

Will biodegradable or edible food packaging withstand harsh weather? Can they keep food quality intact? Will their content seep into the packed food?

These are some questions that should be answered in order to convince the suppliers and customers to buy food products with edible packaging. As they said that every cloud has a silver lining.

The organizations and researchers are doing their best to make edible packaging ideal for common use like its plastic counterparts.

Labeling- An important aspect for your products and business

Launching a new product? Or re-branding an older one?

Are your market-ready? Not sure? Then try answering these questions,

Does your product packaging explain what it carries?
Will the packaging add more to your product visibility?
Is it informational?
Will it appeal your new and old customers?

If you aren’t sure about any of these, you need to think over again. You might be missing something really important- LABELING?

Why labeling is important?

To understand the significance of labeling for your product promotion, it is first important to know what it actually means.

Basically, a label is a short and sufficient sales message from the shelf. It helps delivers your sales message directly to your users. And on the other hand, these labels help you brand, creating a trustworthy image for your product and business, altogether. For instance, will you buy a medicine without a label? Or will you purchase one which misses out on the expiry date?

Of course, NO! In a similar way, missing label or use of improper labels, can discourage buyers and hinder your brand accountability. Below are listed some factors explaining the importance of labeling in detail:

Eye-catchy product appearance:

In the cut-throat competition, labeling helps in marketing your product through attractive designing. A perfect label offer a very attractive look to your product and it catches the attention of the consumers too.

Easier product description:

How can you provide the most important information regarding your product? Yes, you guessed it right- a label allows you to highlight the necessary information in one go. Whether it is about the ingredients, its usage, manufacturing, batch number, or the cautions, you can mention everything.

Provides legal information:

Do you know it is necessary to offer statutory warning with some products? Yes, it is required by law. For example, ‘SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: Cigar Smoking Can Cause Lung Cancer and Heart Disease’ on the package of cigarette, or the ‘WARNING: This product can cause mouth cancer’ for smokeless tobacco.

Similarly, there can be various warnings which are must in a case of hazardous or poisonous products.

Helps build product/ brand identity:

You might be new the market, but your product is not. There will be so many competitors already offering similar stuff. How will you differentiate?

Its east with labeling! Your label defines you and your brand, making it easier for the customers to find out your product.

Highlights offer:

Labeling plays a significant role in the promotion game. A well-designed label can easily attract the customers to buy the product. For example, for your new toothpaste, if the label carries all information about the product and also the extra product, say a free brush, it will simply let the users know that it is a profitable deal, right?

Protect the customers:

Yes, it can seriously help consumers from getting into any health problems. While it alerts them about the adulteration factor, it keeps them aware of what to buy and what not. There is a list of factors stated on the label, including ingredients, the date of manufacture and expiry. For example, if a customer is allergic to wheat, he can easily check from the label itself, whether the food item is right for him or not.

So, in a nutshell, labeling turns out to be an important part of your marketing process. But would any kind of label work for your product? Certainly, not! You need to be very careful and particular when choosing a label for your brand.

How to choose the right label for your product?

Explore some of the important factors to consider for a right labeling choice;

Customers are important

Initially, you need to check for who your customers are and how this product will benefit them. The more you are able to find out about your audience, better label design you will be able to select.

Simplicity is the best policy

No one like those labels filled with complex designs and colors. Try to choose a simple labeling to avoid any kind of confusion. You can follow the simple rule; more you are able to tell with fewer words, better your labeling will appear.

Branding can be integrated

The next thing you need to focus on when labeling your product is the branding. Actually, placing your brand in your labeling makes it easier for people to find your product. So, make sure that you put your branding in a way that it helps create a distinctive recognition for your product.

Lastly; incorporating the listed factors in your label, and blending it well with your marketing plan can guarantee a product that stands above the competition. Hence, choose a partner who can assure you custom printed packaging services and best labels.

MInority Business Enterprise (MBE)