According to the annual Foodservice Packaging Institute “State of the Industry Survey,” food packaging companies could see some growth—most foodservice packaging manufacturers in North America predict higher sales volumes and higher profits over the course of the rest of the year That doesn’t mean things are perfect, though, as manufacturers in both North America and Europe face hurdles to realizing this growth, as described in this survey. When confronted with data like this, you have to ask yourself: How can we improve our packaging solutions? Dealing with Common Challenges Many packaging companies that responded to the FPI survey replied with similar answers, particularly when it came to acknowledging challenges in the foodservice packaging industry. For example, one of the biggest challenges named was the general public perception that foodservice packaging is inherently wasteful. This isn’t a particularly new complaint, so it’s one that we’ve been addressing at PI for years. While plastic packaging for foodservice is inherently disposable, it doesn’t have to be inherently wasteful, which is why we invest in sustainable manufacturing processes, recycled and repurposed materials and efficient designs....
Posted by rhelmke on Custom Packaging | Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 | 0 comments
This month started with an exciting announcement in the plastic packaging world, and it came straight from the red, white and blue—no, the other red, white and blue: Pepsi. PepsiCo Inc. announced that for the first time in 16 years, it’s changing its bottle design. Despite changes to the logo, the soda has come in the same bottle since 1997. So what does the sudden, drastic redesign tell us about the product packaging industry in general? Never Stop Innovating The Pepsi redesign goes to show what many product packaging companies already know: It’s never too late to innovate. PepsiCo Inc. shook things up when it debuted its newest logo in 2008, and this is the exact attitude that helps a ubiquitous product maintain its relevance—especially in a competitive industry. The new, swirled plastic packaging shape is literally a twist on the simple, classic design of the old bottle—and of hundreds of imitators on the market today. Innovating with a new design keeps consumers’ eyes on this product. The product packaging is inextricably linked to the product itself, making a statement...
Posted by admin on Food Packaging | Wednesday, May 15th, 2013 | 0 comments
When a packaging company designs for sustainability, it isn’t just the package itself that they need to consider—it’s what goes in that package. Plastic packaging should discourage waste of both itself and the product inside, or else it can create environmental problems far outside the landfill. A prime example of this is food waste. According to the Global Methane Initiative, food waste in a landfill produces methane gas. The methane produced from food waste alone is more dangerous than carbon dioxide emissions from every car on the road! Factor in that 1/4 of all purchased food gets thrown away, and you have a serious problem on your hands. So what’s a packaging company to do? Making the Most of Food What savvy packaging companies focus on now more than ever is convenience in their food packaging solutions. For example, airtight plastic packaging makes food last longer, whether it’s bought at the store or brought home from a restaurant in a takeout container. Sealing and resealing are both big priorities in the industry, including plastic packaging solutions like easy-open, resealable bags...
Posted by admin on Custom Packaging | Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 | 0 comments
Sustainability is one of the biggest concerns that a packaging company faces today, and in few industries can it be more problematic than pharmaceutical packaging. After all, pharmaceutical packaging has to be difficult for a child to open but easy enough for the elderly, it has to be strong while reducing material and it needs to generate recyclable waste, if possible. One recourse that a packaging company can take is to manufacture compliance packaging as opposed to pill-bottle packaging, and the increasing popularity of compliance packaging may make you ask: What does sustainability mean to you? Combining Eco-Friendly and User-Friendly Designs Compliance-prompting pharmaceutical packaging encourages users to take the doctor-recommended dosages—one example is a tray that holds each dose in an individual cavity, so users only remove one dose of pills at a time instead of accessing the entire package at once. This type of packaging uses several different types of material, including paper, plastic and foil, which may give the illusion of poor sustainability. When made responsibly, though, medical packaging like this can be eco-friendly—particularly by using recyclable plastic...
Posted by admin on Custom Packaging | Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013 | 0 comments
Recent recycling data shows that PET packaging continues to be one of the most recycled types of plastic on the market today, especially when it comes to consumer products. While advances in the manufacturing of PET by packaging companies are making it lighter and less wasteful, the percentage of bottles being recycled continues to rise, giving this material considerable staying power when it comes to sustainable manufacturing. PET Packaging and Water: H2-Whoa In 2010, about 32 percent of all PET water bottles were recycled. According to recently released data from the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), in 2011, that number jumped up to 39 percent—a 20 percent increase. About 500 million pounds of PET plastic was recycled, and that’s just from water bottles. Consider also that packaging companies are finding ways to make PET packaging thinner and lighter all the time—recent data from the Beverage Marketing Corporation shows that the average weight of a half-liter PET water bottle went down more than 45 percent between 2000 and 2011. That adds up to billions of pounds of PET saved,...
Posted by admin on Custom Packaging | Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 | 0 comments
We’ll be the first to admit it here at Plastic Ingenuity: We can’t help getting excited over the latest trends in plastic packaging. While other people are perfecting their fantasy baseball rosters and browsing the web, we’re reading up on the latest recycling statistics and innovative design awards. And sometimes we pick up on cool trends we want to share. In our new blog series, you’ll learn about some of the hottest and latest trends in the plastic packaging industry, and how they have an impact on other industries, too. Part One: Study Shows Consumers Prefer “Clamming Up” Clamshell packaging is just one of the designs that we specialize in at PI, and apparently, we’re not the only ones that think it’s pretty special. According to a recent study, consumers enjoy clamshell package as much as we do—in fact, they like it a whole lot more than paperboard packaging. A behavioral study conducted by Klockner determined that when given a choice between a clear clamshell package and a paperboard package containing the same product, the clamshell was significantly more effective...
Posted by rhelmke on Custom Packaging | Tuesday, April 9th, 2013 | 0 comments
No matter the value of what you’re selling, you want it to always look its best and be protected in a retail environment. That’s why the best plastic manufacturers have the same philosophy we do at PI: There’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all packaging for retail. We always take the steps that any quality plastic manufacturer should, because success in the world of retail is highly dependent on how the products are presented to the customer in the store. See the klockner pntaplast eyetracking study report to see how different packaging options can make a difference to the bottom line. Packaging for Retail Takes Style and Substance Packaging for retail products has to be highly appealing and highly functional. This means showcasing the product visually, no matter the size or shape, while still making sure that the packaging is secure and fits efficiently on a shelf. While you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, consumers in a retail environment often associate quality packaging with a quality product, so it has to look good while doing its job. The Varying...
Posted by rhelmke on Plastics | Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013 | 0 comments
Electronics concentrate high value into a small product, which poses a unique challenge to plastic manufacturers responsible for advising companies on how best to package the product. Consumers have to be able to clearly see the product from outside the plastic packaging, but the packaging must also be adequately secure to prevent theft. And these aren’t even the only challenges inherent to the design and manufacture of packaging for electronics. At PI, we’ve seen and done it all—here are just a few of the considerations that regularly accompany this type of plastic manufacturing. Static Reduction in Electronics Product Packaging Consumer electronics can be negatively affected by static charge buildup, and if your plastic manufacturer isn’t careful, the packaging process can contribute negatively. At PI, we work around that potential detriment by establishing our own processing procedures, which dissipate static charges to reduce the impact on delicate electronic systems. If it weren’t for these special procedures, the static generated by the manufacturing process could potentially harm the product—so we don’t take any chances! Visibility and Security PETG plastics are a popular...
Posted by rhelmke on Retail Packaging | Tuesday, March 26th, 2013 | 0 comments
Medical products are some of the most sensitive items that a plastic manufacturer can package, so they have to be experts at what they do. Life-saving instruments require sterility and security when they’re packaged, otherwise they run the risk of being compromised. At PI, we address the need for sensitivity and care in medical packaging design and manufacturing by implementing industry best practices. By doing so, we’re able to create packages of all types that the medical industry trusts and relies on—here’s what makes them special. Superior Sterility in Medical Packaging Production Medical products have to be packaged to the highest standards of sterility, because when a patient’s health is on the line, doctors can’t afford to take risks. That’s why plastic manufacturers should always implement special safety measures just for medical packaging. At PI, we do it by manufacturing all of our medical packaging in a special clean room environment, complete with air filtration and purification, pressurization and other control measures that ensure total sterility. Choosing the Right Material Plastic manufacturers rely on different types of plastic for creating...
Posted by rhelmke on Custom Packaging | Tuesday, March 19th, 2013 | 0 comments
Different types of plastic are better for certain applications than others, and the same goes for different styles of plastic packaging. A material or packaging type that’s commonly used for products in one industry may not be a good fit for another, so an effective plastic manufacturer is a versatile one. In this new blog series, you’ll learn about how different materials and packaging styles benefit different industries, and how the designers and engineers at PI change their strategies depending on the industry being served. Part One: Plastic Food Packaging When you create plastic packaging for food, sterility and safety are your primary concerns. Your clients trust that the packaging you design and manufacture is safe enough for storing what people eat, and this isn’t a responsibility to be taken lightly. For example, at PI, we have one of the highest levels of certification from the Safe Quality Food (SQF) program, which ensures that plastic manufacturers are following procedures that will allow them to produce safe and high quality packaging. So how do we do it? First, you have to...
Posted by rhelmke on Custom Packaging | Tuesday, March 12th, 2013 | 0 comments
