The packaging of chocolate, biscuits and confectionary has a rich history that traces back to the beginning of the industrial revolution. Packaging now consists of containers made of cardbox, metal, plastic or plastic bags. Many times additional wrapping, such as aluminum foil, is needed to preserve the product. Here are details on the most suitable types of materials for packaging chocolate, biscuits and confectionery.
Assorted Packaging
One of the most common ways to package sweets is using assorted packaging, made of cardboard cartons with cell trays. It may come with dividers to create multiple levels that protect the product. Today this packaging can be performed by high speed artificial vision guided robots, which can pick up 140 units per minute. A top challenge for using this technology is to avoid making marks on the chocolate or the chocolate sheets that cover the inner layers. Another challenge is for the chocolate to maintain a shiny appearance.
New Millennium Sustainability
In the new millennium the chocolate industry is focused on making manufacturing and packaging as sustainable as possible. Two eco-friendly materials that help the industry achieve this goal are tinplate and aluminum. Both can be recycled over and over and are flexible enough to be useful for a variety of purposes. Demand for these materials is particularly strong in the cosmetics industry.
Tinplate and aluminum both can be customized and shaped to fit endless new ideas for packaging or labeling. They can also both be mass produced quickly at affordable costs in ways that now avoid waste. Both materials are easy to bend and fit into imaginative shapes, regardless of how unconventional they may be. Tinplate comes in various designs such as seamless tins, screw lid aluminum cans and slip cover aluminum cans.
One of the reasons tinplate is so popular is that it's a highly useful material for containers that include a reclosable bag with a plug-in-cap and resealable lid. Tinplate and aluminum also provide utility in terms of durability and protection. They help protect the product better in the shipping process than plastic bags can, which means these metals also help extend shelf life.
How Shapes Relate to Sustainability
Package shapes play a huge role in the overall product's sustainability image. Liquids and powders can be packaged in multiple ways compared with solid materials that must be packaged a certain way to ensure protection of the product. Seamless tins are very useful for packaging fluids. When packages are cut into specific shapes it can create waste, unless the scraps are recycled for other products. Flexible packaging materials such as tins can help cut down on the amount production waste.
Aluminum is often used for cans and other formats, as its lightweight quality contributes to flexible sustainable packaging. Like tin, aluminum can be recycled over and over without any loss of quality to the metal. Aluminum can also be used to make huge thin sheets of tin, which are useful for packaging chocolate, biscuits and confectionary. A key reason why aluminum is favored by environmentalists is that it has the highest recycle rate of any packaging format in the beverage industry.
Consumers are growing increasingly aware of sustainability and want to play a more active role in protecting the environment. They can tell how minimalism is becoming an obvious factor in the green revolution. Plastic is not as sustainable due to the fact it degrades and it's not as air-tight as metal. Packaging that uses multiple layers of foil or plastic simply is not as efficient.
Concerns for Food Safety
Another dimension of food packaging that's a top priority is food safety. Tinplate and aluminum are heavily favored materials because they protect food from spoiling. Desjardin takes extra precautions to make sure their food is safe for consumers. The company coats aluminum and tin plates with an EU-approved transparent "food varnish." While plastic can degrade over time, metals have a more durable quality, which allows for a longer shelf life.
Thin sheets of foil are useful for preserving fresh fruits, vegetables and other foods. Since foil is flexible it can be shaped to protect food from air, moisture and bacteria. Various sheet thicknesses can be used for different purposes.
Another appeal of tin cans is its low toxicity and resistance to corrosion. It's important for food manufacturers to use the most appropriate packaging to make sure the food remains safe for human consumption. A company is risking its reputation by cutting corners on materials that do not fully comply with US and EU regulations. Metals such as tin and aluminum provide maximum protection against microorganisms, temperature and other environmental elements.
Conclusion
The packaging of chocolate, biscuits and confectionary is most effective using limited layers of foil. The reason foil is one of the most sustainable packaging materials is because it can be easily melted down and used over and over again. Tin and aluminum are two of the most favored materials for chocolate packaging due to how flexible they are to meet marketing aspirations and how well they protect food from spoiling. In many ways the packaging of chocolate, biscuits and confectionary leads the way in setting clear examples for cost efficient eco-friendly packaging. Desjardin has been producing packaging for Chocolates , Biscuits and Confectionery packaging for more than 100 years. The company's experts are at your service to help you find the right packaging to support your products' success.
Disclaimer:
The postings in this blog section do not necessarily represent Desjardin's positions, strategies or opinions.
References and Further Reading