In recent years, more food producers and consumers have started to seek out recyclable snack food packaging. A recent survey found that over 40% of participants consider the sustainability of packaging materials when making day-to-day purchases. Flexible pouches made of recyclable materials are a durable and environmentally-friendly solution for processing, distributing, using and storing food. Discover several reasons why producers prefer recyclable packaging materials.
Efficient Production
Eye-catching recyclable packaging can be efficiently produced by pairing premium-grade recyclable films with digital printing. Reusable materials such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, biaxially-oriented polypropylene film and metalized layers are durable packaging options for protecting contents that can later be repurposed into new packaging or other recycled materials.
Digital printing makes it possible to reduce the amount of time and waste involved in the packaging design and production process. No plates are necessary for this printing method, making it cost-effective to print shorter runs, runs with multiple stockkeeping units or variable packages.
Reliable Use
Several styles of flexible packaging are available for optimal snack food product presentation and storage. There is a wide choice of websites for flexible packaging purchasing, so you can choose what is the perfect fit for your business. Whether a lay-flat or stand-up pouch offers the right balance of ease-of-use and food quality, flexible packaging can be a cost-effective and sustainable way to bring any snack food to market. The weight of a product and other packaging demands can be met with the right combination of materials and design.
Specialized liners or films may be necessary to control air exposure and moisture levels for some types of snack food, such as beef jerky packaging. Recyclable liners maintain the quality of contents and ensure that every part of a package can be recycled. It is possible to customize the design features, size and structure of packaging to prioritize food quality and sustainability.
Recycling and Sustainability
Environmentally-conscious consumers appreciate the ability to recycle packaging after enjoying snack food. Most flexible packaging materials are repurposed to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. PE and PET plastics are used to produce more packaging as well as building materials and fabrics. BOPP can also be recycled without emitting hazardous gases. No matter which of these materials is the best choice for packaging a particular snack food, all of these popular flexible films are recyclable.
Flexible packaging materials (which, by the way, can be found at Packaging Chimp) can also be more efficient throughout the production, distribution, and use cycle. This type of packaging takes up considerably less space and is lighter to ship than conventional materials such as aluminum, glass, or rigid PET. Flexible packages also require fewer resources in terms of the amount of material necessary to contain each unit. Snack food producers can also benefit their bottom line by using cost-effective and efficient materials and packaging production methods.
Some of the most environmentally-friendly snack food packaging is made out of recyclable films. These materials have a lighter production and shipping footprint than conventional packages and excel at preserving food quality. After use, recyclable materials can be disposed of and re-purposed to reduce waste. The right choice of packaging materials maximizes value for producers and consumers and satisfies changing expectations with regard to sustainability.
