Much thought must be taken into consideration when buying food packaging. The appeal of a package design might be the first factor that can catch your eye. But take note that there are more important things than what meets the eye. When buying food packaging, a poor decision can even lead to health problems.
That being said, here are some important factors to consider when buying food packaging solutions:
#1. Food Safety
When you purchase food packaging boxes, you must make sure that the food inside is going to be safe.
You can tell that the food is unsafely packaged if, for example, the food takes the color of the packaging. For instance, if the food is white and the packaging is blue, it’s a red flag if the white food ends up having blue coloring on it. This is indicative of a reaction, which the food has undergone, as a result of the packaging. The packaging may have added chemicals and coloring that can contaminate your food, increasing the risks of possible food poisoning.
Although the topic about food becoming colored as a result of packaging, or adding food coloring is controversial, there have been claims that any unnatural coloring on food can lead to dangerous health effects. Some have claimed that this can lead to diseases, such as cancers, and various allergies that are experienced differently. Naturally colored food packages are more encouraged as these won’t pose wellness risks.
#2. Package Strength
If the packaging you purchase can be easily torn, you may just be setting yourself up for disappointment. The package may be filled with torn or with holes when it reaches you, compromising the quality of the food. Due to this, the food might taste stale, cold (if it’s meant to be a hot meal), or may have been contaminated as a result of exposure.
#3. Environmentally friendly
The environment needs each one of us to play a role in its upkeep. Purchasing bio-degradable packaging means you don’t have to worry about contributing to waste in the form of plastic or paper.
Biodegradable packaging makes for creative recycling such as using the package as a temporary plant grower that’ll eventually contribute to the growth of the plant. An alternative to this can be to use food packages for various purposes in the home. For example, you can turn a food package into a stationary holder or a box to store your keys.
Children are very creative when it comes to taking old material to repurpose. You can give children old food packages for arts and crafts sessions. Knowing that earth-friendly food packages won’t place them at a health risk by being exposed to chemicals makes for a kid-friendly product.
#4. Convenience
It’s frustrating to struggle with packaging when you simply want to enjoy the food content. When you wish to purchase food packaging, analyze whether the packaging is convenient.
If you have to spend a couple of minutes to open or close the package, you may want to re-consider a more convenient option.
#5. Packaging Brand
It’s important to consider the food package’s brand. This is because a brand’s history, values, goals, and missions can give insight into what to expect as a customer.
Here are some things to consider when choosing a packaging brand:
- The clients that the brands have partnered with
- Innovation styles
- Packaging processes
- The material used for packaging
This information can be found on the brand’s website as well as independent reviews that are shared by customers and clients that would have experienced the brand.
#6. Necessity
The type of food package that you purchase largely depends on the type of food that you wish to package. For example, an earthbag might not be ideal for storing liquids.
When buying a food packaging solution, always consider the nature of the food, the duration you wish to store the food, and where you intend to store the food.
#7. Material Consistency
The consistency of the material is also important when deciding the type of packaging to purchase. Different types of material change with temperature. If the weather is hot, the packaging might absorb the heat and affect the food that’s contained. If it’s a cold day, the packaging may also become a mini-refrigerator.
To prevent inconsistency, you want to purchase a food package that doesn’t change with the weather and remains consistent.
#8. Package Size
Always have in mind the type of food that you wish to package. Packages that come in smaller forms might work better for foods that are less bulky and dry.
For example, a small package works well for dried food, and might not produce the same desired effect for lasagna, which might need a package that’s larger in size because of the texture.
To avoid rearrangement of the food inside, you also need to be cautious of purchasing packages that are too big for the kind of food you wish to store.
#9. Packaging Purpose
If the purpose of purchasing food packaging is for an event, you have to keep the type and theme of the event in mind; the packaging has to reflect the tone of the event.
For example, a baby shower food packaging can be colorful and reflect the colors of the theme, while a more somber event, such as a memorial, might require a more toned-down color.
Conclusion
As much as certain food packaging looks appealing to the eye, some factors need to be considered when purchasing these to make sure that your food is not compromised. Factors to consider include whether the food doesn’t react to the packaging as this can cause possible health side-effects, packaging durability, environmentally accommodating, convenience, consistency, and the type of food that you wish to package.
A brand is telling of the experiences that you can look forward to as a customer or client. Make sure to check out the brand’s values and history as well as client history. This can reduce the risks of disappointment in the product purchased.