The corrugated box is a widely used in food industry to package the products. The corrugated material may consist of a simple, easily recognized design – an arched layer of paper (“fluting”) between two smooth sheets of paper (“liners”) – but with its long list of benefits, the material is certainly here to stay.
Here, we’ll discover why corrugated is a smart, sustainable packaging choice for any food packaging or shipping needs.
Corrugated packaging boxes are used to pack 50% of the goods manufactured worldwide including food products.
Various food products like canned food, vegetables and fruits are packed and stored, transported or merchandised at various retail markets. Corrugated containers and boxes offer lower food safety risks, as it travels from supplier to customer table.
From great strength to ample size, corrugated boxes are the best for transporting food & other goods stacked on a pallet, and shipping them as a unit load. This storage method, also referred to as palletization, makes it easy to handle loads using fork-lift trucks.
When it comes to food packaging, corrugated supports food safety. Scientific research shows how corrugated packaging stops bacteria, research from the University of Bologna found evidence for corrugated containers being the most effective in keeping fruit and vegetables fresh for up to 3 days longer than other types of packaging.
Beyond freshness, corrugated containers were also found to have the unexpected effect of stopping the spread of bacteria. Bacteria and other microorganisms can become trapped in the fibers within the container. Once trapped, bacteria are unable to reach water and nutrients and dies before spreading to food.
With its simple design, corrugated is extremely customizable. Fluting and liners come in several sizes and thicknesses, depending on specific packaging requirements for food. The material can be shaped into cardboard boxes that carry a variety of products safely, from medical goods to toys, electronics to books. In addition, corrugated can be used for wine shippers, POP & floor displays, and much more.
The cost of production, labor, and shipping of corrugated materials is extremely low, making it one of the least expensive materials ever developed.
As a highly recycled, recyclable and reusable material, corrugated is an environmentally responsible packaging option. Corrugated is often made by using old corrugated containers, newspapers and even straw. It has the best recycling rate after Kraft material today. Breaking down corrugated boxes and storing them away for later use is a common practice among businesses and homes, where they can be used over and over before being recycled.
According to the American Forest & Paper Association, the U.S. recovery rate of Old Corrugated Containers (boxes) raised to 92.9% in year 2015. Over 51% of old corrugated container recovered was used in the manufacturing of new containerboard for various industries.
This increase has been credited to the industry’s commitment to educate retailers, packagers and consumers on the benefits of recycling corrugated materials.
The rigid structure and superior cushioning make corrugated packaging strong and protective – able to withstand rough shipping and handling processes while keeping the food products safe and dry.
Based on the cumulative amount of scientific research, corrugated is the smartest choice in packaging for food retailers. Corrugated containers reduce waste and spread of bacteria, and increase freshness with high rate of customer satisfaction!