With recyclability high on the national agenda, what are the alternatives for pet manufacturers who currently use plastic? There are a number of options available, says Lynneric Potter, food packaging technical lead at Campden BRI
Packaging carries out three main functions: protection, preservation and the promotion of the product. With so many companies having pledged to reduce or eliminate plastic packaging, the challenge is to find a replacement that does all three yet is also cost-effective,safe and looks good.
What are the alternatives to plastic?
There are many packaging alternatives, from paper and plant-based materials to those that look and feel like plastic. But there are many things to consider when making a change to packaging, such as whether you’re substituting plastic with non-plastics, exploring lightweight materials, introducing recycled materials, changing the design or trying to reduce costs.
Choosing the correct packaging is key to ensuring safe delivery of product through the supply chain. Rigorously testing the performance of your packaging materials means you can be assured that your product will remain in top condition throughout its journey from the production line through to consumers’ homes.
Things to consider
When considering changing your packaging, there are a number of tests that can be used during the design and manufacture of packaging to test its ‘fitness for purpose’.
> Compression testing: This determines the vertical load which can be applied. We use this test for distribution packaging to assess its ability to protect its contents and it can also be used to measure stacking height.
This ensures the packs can withstand the compressive force exerted upon them when stacked, but also ensures the material isn’t over specified and therefore unnecessarily expensive.
> Peel testing: This measures the strength of a package seal. It can be used to assess the force required to peel a lid from a container, and the ease with which the lid can be peeled by the consumer. This is particularly important for the ageing consumer and those with dexterity issues.
> Tensile testing: This can measure the strength of a flexible seal to ensure strength and integrity.
> Coefficient of friction, or slip resistance: This is important for packaging and is a fundamental property of all materials that run on high-speed printing and packaging lines. We can test the slip resistance to ensure your film doesn’t scuff or jam.
Effect of temperature
Manufacturers also need to consider the temperature that a product will be exposed to during processing and throughout its shelf life.
Is it being reheated? If so, you will need to carry out cooking validation as the thermal properties of different materials vary and may affect the cooking instructions, for example board cannot be heated to as high temperatures as plastic.
Or maybe you are exporting the product to countries that have different climates from where your packaging testing was carried out.
The permeability of films and containers can be measured at a range of different temperatures and humidities to determine their oxygen and water vapour transmission rates.
We’ve been working with the food and packaging industries for many years to ensure their packaging is fit for purpose, or to reduce cost and environmental impact.
