With more use of Plastic and its increasing presence in environment, Paper Packaging as an option to avoid use of plastic is evaluated in this article. Historically, papers have been used in flexible packaging for many applications. Wood fiber-based packaging solutions, as compared to 100% plastic based products, have several advantages from an environmental perspective, for instance, more than 90% of plastics can be replaced on average and the environmental footprint is lower than the plastic alternatives.
Polymeric coated fiber and paper products are widely recyclable and fit well in established recycling systems. They can be used as raw materials to produce new renewable products, such as magazine paper, paper bags, secondary packaging or corrugated board packaging. Polymeric coatings can be produced from renewable as well as fossil-based sources.
Aluminium foil is an important material in laminates and has wide application in food packaging. Its barrier function against the migration of moisture, oxygen and other gases, and volatile aroma, as well as against the impact of light is generally higher than any plastic laminate material. Therefore, aluminium foil is used in the laminates when insufficient barrier properties are the limiting factor for shelf-life stability of food.
There are reasons why paper-based packaging, otherwise known as paper containers, is more widely used and accepted than plastic containers. It is due to its benefits to not only the end-user but also the environment. Paper packaging provides convenience as well as visibility for the brands. Besides, its advantages include the ease with which products can showcase their distinctive packaging and graphics to tell a brand’s story, its superior product protection, and the fact that it’s easy to stack.
For Spices, some quantities of the ground and blended spices are packed in consumer packs of capacities ranging from 100 grams to 1kilogram. The protection required by whole spices is from moisture ingress / pick-up and insect infestation. The loss in flavour during storage in whole spices is negligible as the volatile oils are well protected within the cells of the plant material. In powdered spices, the deterioration is very rapid and much more care is required in selecting a suitable package. Powdered spices are also traded in bulk quantities and only a small portion is packed in value added consumer packs. Conventionally spices were exported in bulk packages, however with efforts of Spices Board and the Government of India, exports in branded and value-added consumer packages are gradually on the increase. The packaging material should have good machinability, printability and it should be easily available and disposable.
Spices in India are distributed and traded in a number of forms such as: whole spices (cardamom, black pepper, clove, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cassia), seed spices (celery, fennel, cumin, fenugreek), powdered or ground spices (turmeric, chillies, ginger), spice mixes (curry powders and masalas), paste (curry paste, vindaloo paste, ginger-garlic paste), concentrates (tamarind concentrate) and oils and oleoresins. Whole spices are generally traded in bulk quantities and the processor grinds them and blends them for the finished spice product.
The advantages of foil as a packaging material:
- Good appearance
- Excellent dead-folding properties
- Ability to reflect radiant energy
- Excellent barrier to moisture, gases, and odours
- Nonabsorbent and nontoxic
Foil (> 0.015 mm thick) is totally impermeable to moist gases, light, and microorganisms. It is widely used for wraps (bottle caps [0.05 mm]), and trays for frozen and ready meals (0.06 mm). Foil trays are coated with vinyl epoxy compounds to make them suitable for microwave heating without damage to the magnetron.
The aluminium foil protective liners provide an air-tight, light blocking protective barrier so that your product reaches your customer the way you made it. The liner of multi layered film, which includes aluminium foil layer, has the exceptional barrier properties and provides goods with perfect protection against the ingress of water vapours, light, oxidation, and odours. If you manufacture sensitive products, this is the packing you need.
Some of the best uses that have been found for these high-quality paper bags are for sugar, salt, flour and spices. These food items are notorious for requiring well-sealed containers that can lock in freshness and lock out pests. Spices are an especially volatile when it comes to retaining their flavourful characteristics. Improper packaging can cause spices to lose their intensity and flavour, or worse, to take on the flavour of their container. With paper spice bags that are specially designed to seal and protect your goods, you can store your spice items in confidence. Whether you are selling your own professional-grade fresh spices or simply looking for a better way to reorganize your kitchen, the paper spice bags are the right choice
Additionally, if you are looking for an eco-friendly and efficient packaging for your coffee, tea or other edible product that will lend to its overall value and customer appeal, choose paper bags with special properties that will seal in freshness and lend to the aesthetic look of your brand. When your product is properly packaged, you not only increase the quality of your product, but are also able to market and promote your brand to the targeted market.
Paper as the best option
As there is more use of Plastic in environment so evaluation of paper is the best option to avoid more use of plastic. Historically, papers have been used in flexible packaging for many applications, including confectionery, pet food and dried food. By the early-2000s, however, paper demand as a flexible packaging substrate began to decline due to competition from down-gauging and the rise of plastic alternatives. Wood Mackenzie’s global flexible packaging market analysis puts the market size for converter supplied flexible packaging at roughly $90 billion in 2018 and $93 billion in 2019. Plastic-based value-added flexible packaging, i.e., converter supplied, accounts for roughly 93% of total consumption, compared to paper/board-based flexible packaging which accounts for about 5%