Packaging Perception and Functions

Despite its crucial role in ensuring the delivery of goods in optimal condition, packaging is often viewed as an unavoidable inconvenience or an unnecessary expense. Many consumers perceive it as somewhat superfluous or, at its worst, a significant burden on resources and a threat to the environment.

These perspectives stem from a lack of awareness or a failure to fully consider the various functions that packaging serves. When consumers encounter a package, its primary tasks are often already completed, making concerns about excessive packaging somewhat understandable.

Packaging, defined as a socio-scientific discipline operating in society, ensures the delivery of goods to end consumers in the best condition for their intended use. The Packaging Institute International characterizes packaging as the enclosure of products in various forms (pouches, bags, boxes, cups, trays, cans, tubes, bottles) to fulfill functions such as containment, protection, preservation, communication, utility, and performance.

A device or container qualifies as a package if it fulfills one or more of these functions. Other definitions of packaging encompass a coordinated system for preparing goods for transport, distribution, storage, and retailing—a means of ensuring safe and cost-effective delivery to the end consumer. It is a techno-commercial function aimed at optimizing delivery costs while maximizing sales.

It is crucial to differentiate between the terms "package," "packaging," and "packing." The package refers to the physical entity containing the product, while packaging involves both the enclosure of products and a discipline. The verb "packing" is the action of enclosing an individual item or several items in a package or container.
Packaging Perception and Functions

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Ethylene vinyl alcohol - high barrier polymers for food packaging

One of the two most important high barrier polymers used for food packaging applications is ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH). EVOH is a flexible, crystal clear, and glossy thermoplastic copolymer with excellent flex-crack resistance, and very high resistance to hydrocarbons, oils and organic solvents.

EVOH semi-crystalline is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol known to be an excellent barrier against oxygen, dioxide and aroma permeability, which makes it particularly suited for packaging food, drugs, cosmetics, and other perishable products.

It is especially important for refrigerated and shelf-stable foods where oxygen deteriorates the quality of packaged products and reduces their shelf life. The increased oxygen barrier property helps food items remain fresh and prevent premature decomposition.

The copolymer composition (i.e., relative amounts of ethylene and vinyl alcohol) affects properties of EVOH copolymers such as gas barrier, mechanical properties, water vapor transmission, etc., and hence influences EVOH processing and end use applications.

EVOH has a far better oxygen barrier than PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride) when dry, that is, at 0% relative humidity (RH).

However, EVOH loses its good gas barrier properties when exposed to moisture. In this case, EVOH is often used in a multilayer co-extruded film structure with materials such as HDPE, PP and PET, all of which have superior moisture barrier properties. As a result, EVOH is often referred to as a multilayer barrier technology.
Ethylene vinyl alcohol - high barrier polymers for food packaging

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Two-piece can

There are in essence distinct types of cans and ends (or lids). The lids are always attached after filling the can with foodstuffs; thus, the packers and fillers purchase empty cans and lids and seam the lids onto the cans.

Two basic styles of cans: three-piece cans, which consist of a body and two ends, and two-piece cans, which consist of an integral bottom-and-body, with only one end. Three-piece cans are nearly all made of tinplate.

Two-piece cans are usually made of aluminum or of tin-free steel, though they can be made of tinplate. In terms of can body height, there are shallow drawn cans and deep drawn cans; in terms of raw materials, there are two-piece aluminum cans and two-piece steel cans (tinplate cans).

Most of the drawn cans find usage in the beverage as well as the food industry. Drawn cans are also widely used for packing sweets, and these are usually closed with a slip lid. Both steel and aluminum substrates can be used.

There are two main methods used commercially to make two-piece cans:

*Drawn and ironed (D&I) process which can be adapted to produce a can for pressure packs (including carbonated beverages) and for food containers. This is a variation on beer and beverage cans.

*Drawn and redrawn (DRD) process which is a multistage operation and produces a can mainly suitable for food products. For taller cans, such as large salmon cans, two or three operations – draw and redraw (DRD) or multiple redraw are used.
Two-piece can

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Three-Piece Can

A three piece can consist of three parts:
•Cylindrical shell (body)
•Top end
•Bottom end

Three-piece cans are mainly used for food, but may be used for some non-carbonated beverages, particularly fruit juices. Three-piece cans to be filled with dry food, e.g., milk powder, instant baby food, sweets or roasted nuts.

Three-piece welded food cans are only constructed from steel, as aluminum is not suitable for welding by this particular process. Tin-free steel is electrocoated with a layer of metallic chromium covered by a layer of chromium oxide.

Before the bodies are formed, coatings are usually applied to the interior and exterior surfaces with a roller onto the flat sheet.

Exterior coatings are applied for decoration, to protect the can from corrosion, to protect the printed designs from marring or abrasion, or to reduce friction on the bottom of the can to facilitate handling.

The wall of the can is rolled to form a cylinder and the seam (joint) is welded. In some types of three-piece cans, the side seam is crimped rather than welded or soldered.

For both food and drink cans, one end is then mechanically seamed on to the bottom of the can body. This end is commonly referred to as the maker’s end (ME). Where easy-open ends are fitted to three-piece cans, it is common practice for this end to be fitted at this point, leaving the plain end (non-easy-open) to be fitted after filling.

After the can is filled with the product mix the can is sealed with a tight mechanical structure - the so-called double seam. The double seam, in its final form and shape, consists of three layers of lid and two layers of body material.
Three-Piece Can

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The meaning of convenience food

People are eating more and more ready-prepared convenience foods at all times of the day. In 1993, convenience foods accounted for 35 per cent of the average food bill.

Convenience food, or tertiary processed food, is commercially prepared food designed for ease of consumption.

The foods are ready prepared foods, including cans of food, bottles, cartons, frozen food, dried food, chilled food.

While convenience foods, such as canned soup, existed in nineteenth century, their real growth occurred in the twentieth century.

During this time, improvements in canning, bottling, freezing and packaging permitted the price of convenience foods to decline.

Research has shown that convenience foods are not necessarily more expensive that the unserviced products. However, the time needed to prepare convenience foods is less.

The advantages of convenience foods include: less expensive, eliminate leftover, fewer skills for staff, easier of inventory, purchasing, receiving and cleaning.
The meaning of convenience food

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Barrier protection of packaging

Packaging provide with barrier protection from oxygen, water vapor, dust, light. air, grease. and permeation is critical factor in design. Food industry must know what level of barrier performance is sufficient for goods they are packaging.

Protection can mean different things in different situations. Another area of protection receiving increased attention in food packaging is the flavor aroma barrier.

The packaging must protect the food from both mechanical damage during handling and deterioration by the climate.

Some packages contain desiccants or oxygen absorbers to help extend shelf life. Polyethylene is the most common and it is water vapor barrier and prevents dehydration and freezer burn.

The extent to which packaging fulfills its preservation role is greatly depend on the ability of the material to provide a barrier to the environmental factors that cause spoilage.

The success in obtaining a packaging material with optimal barrier properties requires knowledge on all levels, from atomistic details to converting and handling properties.
Barrier protection of packaging

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Plastic film packaging

The preservation of a food product packed in a plastic firm mainly depends on the maintaining of its original quality by protecting it against external deterioration influences.

This achieved through the barrier properties of the packaging material.

From the early 1960s, to now, polymer film has been dominant film packaging material in the snack food, bakery and candy industries.

The majority of plastic films are transparent and not easily colored by dyeing or adding pigments. In order to develop opacity, films can be cavitated during film manufacture.

The films are heat-sealable and they have the advantages of being grease and oil resistant for the protection of the contents.

The required protection of the foodstuff may be achieved with a single layer of polymer or necessitates the use of multilayered films including different polymers, coating and metal foils.

The barrier properties, hence the protecting capacity of a package, mainly originate from its permeability to gases and vapors that are noxious to the quality of the product.

A loss of water may lead to undesirable drying detrimental to both the texture of the product and the purse of the manufacturer.

The film is used because of it excellent moisture barrier properties, stiffness, gloss, printability and crispness. When needed, special coatings provide excellent oxygen barrier property as well.

Generally, films are by definitions less than 1oo um thick. Film is used to warp products, to overwrap packaging to make sachets, bags and pouches and is combined with other plastics and other materials in laminates, which in turn are converted into packaging.
Plastic film packaging

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Polymers of food packaging

The materials used in food packaging are very common polymers. Their permeability to gases and vapors is at the origin of their barrier properties and capacity for protection of the food.

Polymers or plastic packaging materials have increasingly replaced traditional materials such as metal, glass or paper in many food packaging applications because of their light weight and superior functionality.

Polymers properties affecting permeability, such as free volume, crystallinity, tacticity, cross-linking, orientation and thickness.

Polymers for food packaging may be in the from films and other flexible items, or in the form of rigid containers, such as clear drinks bottles or opaque cartons for dairy products.

Polymer will usually require good barrier properties, both to prevent loss of moisture from the food, and to prevent ingress of undesirable, possible odorous contamination from outside.

There are few examples of the most commonly used plastic polymers:
*Polyethylene
*Polypropylene
*Polystyrene
*Polyvinyl chloride

In general, food diffuses into plastic packaging, which enhances migration of unreacted monomers and potentially mobile additives form the plastic into the food.

Probably the two most important barrier polymers for food packaging are polyvinyllidene and ethylene vinyl alcohol, although other materials find important niches.
Polymers of food packaging

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Food Packaging

At its most basic, packaging preserves and protects food and makes it portable.

Efficient packaging is necessary for every kind of food, whether it is fresh or processed. It is essential link between the food producer and the consumer, and unless performed correctly the standing of the product suffers and and customer goodwill is lost.

Food is package for the following reasons:
*For hygienic storage and transport
*To protect it from damage during storage and transport
*To give information to customers
*To attract customers
*For customer convenient

Food packaging also offer tamper-evident or temper resistant features, allow for product preparation and provide dispensing features and many convenient such as single serving potions.

As food products were distributed, they required identification and labeling. Also the design, shape and from of the package gained in importance.

The food industry uses four basic packaging materials: metal, plant matter –paper and wood, glass and plastic.

A number of basic packaging materials are often combined to give a suitable package. However the earliest food packaging was made from objects found in nature, such as hollowed-out gourds and empty seashells.

Proper food packaging of food is essential to make sure the food remains wholesome during its journey from processor to consumer; packaging also increase shelf life, an important consideration for food producers and marketers.
Food Packaging

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Definitions of Packaging

Definitions of Packaging
Despite the important role packaging plays, it is often regarded as a necessary evil or an unnecessary costs. Furthermore, in view of many consumers packaging is, at best somewhat superfluous and at worst, a serious waste of resources and an environmental menace.

Such views arose because the functions which packaging has to perform are either unknown or not considered in full.

By the time most consumers come into contact with a package its job, in many cases, is almost over, and it is perhaps understandable that the view that excessive packaging has been used gains some credence.

Packaging has been defined as a socio-scientific discipline which operated in society to ensure delivery of goods to the ultimate consumer of those goods in the best condition intended for their use.

Packaging Institute International defines packaging as the enclosure of products, items or packages in a wrapped pouch, bag, box, cup, tray, can, tube, bottle or other container form to perform one or more of the following functions: containment, protection, preservation, communication, utility and performance.

If the device or container performs one or more of these functions, it is considered a package.

Other definitions of packaging include a coordinated system of preparing goods for transport, distribution, storage, retailing and end-user a means of ensuring safe delivery to the ultimate consumer on sound at optimum cost and a techno commercial function aimed at optimizing the costs of delivery while maximizing sales.

It is important to distinguish between the words “package,” “packaging” and “packing.” The package is the physical entity that contains the product. Packaging was defined above and, in addition is also a discipline.

The verb “packing” can be defined as the enclosing of an individual item (or several items) in a package or container.
Definitions of Packaging

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