7 Necessary Factors That You Should Check in Food Packaging
Choosing the suitable packaging for your latest food product will significantly impact its sales after it reaches supermarket shelves. It has a huge impact on the company's ability to prosper and succeed in the long term. It happens whether you are in the natural food, medicinal, or nutraceutical sectors. Even with its value, finding the best food packaging for your company's needs can be difficult for any producer, even with many available alternatives.
Although the cost may be your primary consideration when you begin your search, you must consider the other important considerations as well. You must choose a food packaging that has a good visual appeal and complements the promotion and branding. Of course, the packaging must also secure the goods during shipping, storage, and distribution across the supply chain. As a result, the final product that buyer takes from the store shelves will look just like it is produced freshly.
Necessary Factors of Food Packaging
1) Quality of the Packaging:
The packaging is done to shield the product from degradation during delivery and processing and reduce decaying if the product is accidentally exposed to foul weather or other adverse causes. Whatever packaging you choose, no matter how special or creative it is, it is only useful if it covers what is inside. Invest in high-quality packaging materials to keep consumers safe as they pass through the supply chain.
For food items, the quality of the packaging matters a lot because it helps to protect the food from damage. Food packaging is designed to protect the food from environmental factors like dust, bacteria, moisture, or humidity. Several food items are stored for a longer period, and the quality of the packaging determines their life. Air-sealed containers and jars are widely used for the preservation of food.
2) Compact Sizes:
You can increase a product's appeal by using a good package design and proper structure. For example, the design of a package may provide advantages by improving the product's operation while the design gives the product a pleasing appearance. Save costs by keeping to regular shapes and sizes that package suppliers will quickly make. Although unusual shapes and sizes may help grab people's attention on the shelves, the amount of attention they can get isn't worth the extra expense and difficulties during packaging manufacturing.
Standard shapes and sizes offer versatility and ease during packaging, handling, and transportation. By eliminating bespoke packaging choices, you can be able to put smaller orders and save money. Instead, bring those savings into wise production decisions that will improve the visual effect and brand awareness.
3) Product Friendly:
Every product has certain requirements for packaging. These requirements vary in food packaging according to the nature and type of the food. Some food products are packed for a little time, like fast food. The fast-food packaging is designed to maintain the freshness and taste of the food. These packagings are made with simpler cardboards and paper materials; the thickness and grade of these materials can be adjusted according to product requirements.
In contrast, there are several food items that are stored for a longer period. Beverages, oils, and junk foods are stored for months. The requirements of these food items are different than the fast-food requirements. For these products, special packaging are used to store them. You need to choose a food packaging that is suitable for your product.
4) Eco-Friendliness:
Sustainability is an important consideration in packaging selection, particularly if you market to the natural food industry. At the very least, look for recyclable packaging: this will make your customers happier and create a greener, more eco-conscious reputation for your company.
These days customers become more environmentally conscious, there is growing worried about the recyclability and biodegradability of food packaging. This nature of the material is normally mentioned on the food packaging, but it also affects the buyer's decision.
As a result, the packaging must be biodegradable, recyclable, or both in the best-case situation. These days, several eco-friendly food packaging are available in the market. Cardboard, paper, and Kraft packaging are prime examples of eco-friendly packaging. These packaging are not only suitable for the environment, but they are also very cost-efficient.
5) Health Friendly & Suitable for Storage:
The elegance of packaging is growing as society emphasizes fitness and more tailored and customized diets. Nutritional developments such as higher unsaturated fat content, no preservatives, and clean labeling are increasing the need for more complex food packaging schemes. When omega-3 fats are applied to foods, for example, the items need packets with oxygen barriers, increasing the need for oxygen scavengers and another active packaging. Food Packaging that minimizes or prevents microbial growth is needed for foods that do not contain preservatives. In the bakery industry, for example, preservative-free goods can necessitate modified active packaging oxygen absorbers and high barrier food packaging to control microbial development. These high-tech food packagings have largely replaced low-density polyethylene bread bags and would not be used if preservative-free products were not in high demand.
Other foods containing critical ingredients necessitate greater safeguards against oxidation, moisture loss or gain, and microbial development. Gluten-free baked goods necessitate advanced packaging and/or freezing. When the world's vegetarian population increases, so will packaging requirements. Any packaged vegetarian items have a one-year shelf life when frozen but just three or four days in the refrigerator after opening. While reducing energy-intensive frozen processing and retail from these items would comply with these customers' environmental issues, more sophisticated food packaging would be necessary to preserve food protection and prolong shelf life. Furthermore, as cities grow more heavily populated, there is a greater need for complex packaging that increases shelf life and eliminates waste from farm to market. This is particularly true for perishable goods like fresh fruit and vegetables. Any packaged vegetarian items have a one-year shelf life when frozen but just three or four days in the refrigerator after opening. While reducing energy-intensive frozen processing and retail from these items would comply with these customers' environmental issues, more sophisticated food packaging would be necessary to preserve food protection and prolong shelf life. Furthermore, as cities grow more heavily populated, there is a greater need for complex packaging that increases shelf life and eliminates waste from farm to market. This is particularly true for perishable goods like fresh fruits and vegetables.
As the product's life varies from one another, food packaging requirements vary with them. One common element which is considered in any kind of food packaging is the customer's health friendliness. Food packaging should be made avoiding the chemicals to guarantee the health of the customers. It will help to grow your business.
6) Suitable for Transportation & Cost Efficient:
Packaging materials are one of the things that you can run out of on occasion. Though sales numbers can help you decide what to buy and how much to spend, there is no way to determine when or whether a surge will occur. As a consequence, packaging experts suggest using the same packaging provider every time. Create a trustworthy partnership so that supply is still assured and you never have to struggle to find a producer who can satisfy your needs. If you're looking for a packaging provider, please visit our contact page and get in touch.
Your product will be routed via your product line, loaded into a truck, and shipped to a delivery center. After that, it would most likely be unpalletized and loaded onto another truck bound for nearby grocery stores. You must choose good food packaging that is durable enough to handle any of these diverse environments. Think how far the goods will ride on a truck and whether it will be secured inside a pallet or actually delivered in a case. The most critical thing is that your product arrives at its final sale location undamaged and just where you expect your target buyers to see it. Overall, this would have a strong impact on how attractive it is and who purchases it.
7) Complements the Advertising Campaign:
The value of "shelf appeal" cannot be ignored. The packaging is always the first thing customers notice when they see your product on the shelves. This factor is important for food packaging because temping appeal through food packaging leads to an increase in revenue.
Invest in excellent package construction, both in terms of materials and graphics. Your brand's identity can be seen in the packaging materials you select. Choose quality material and an overall style that corresponds to your target demographic and can be found reliably through your product lines. Graphic design is central to engaging the target customer with your goods. Invest in a great graphic designer who will produce something that makes your clients feel the way you want them to feel: designs, color schemes, style, and so on. Your package style must be consistent with your branding and product line. He can send the right message by brand packaging design. It is also a medium for product detail, informing the prospective customer of what the product is all about. Today, only one of every five customers are pleased with the packaging. So, it's worthwhile to put in the time and commitment to make this right. Consumers demand usability, ease of opening (but tamper resistance), environmental sensitivity, and appealing but practical packaging. Brand packaging is regarded as a vital measure of consistency, and it must now satisfy customers during the product's lifecycle in order to foster brand loyalty and maximize the probability of repeat buying.
This factor is directly linked with the legal restrictions because every country has a certain set of instructions for food packaging. Violation of these instructions causes severe problems for food suppliers, which can occur as a ban or a heavy fine.