Functions of packaging

There are billions of pounds spent every year on packaging food and other various items.

Packaging is essential for the protection, safety and cleanliness of food and items, but there are a few of the many notable uses that we are going to be focusing on today.

Packaging…

Protects a product from contamination and damage

Every product that is to be package will need to be protected against the possibility of it being dropped, crushed or any vibration it may undergo during transportation. Delicate products will require tough packaging. It must also be protected against climate changes etc.

Keeps products together

There are some shapes that cannot be packaged simply, e.g. some fruits and vegetables. There are, however, certain types of packaging products that can simplify this seemingly impossible feat.

Benefits storage and stacking

On your weekly supermarket shop you will notice the way products and packaged goods are stored. Some stacked, or side by side – it is the packaging that makes this possible and simple.

Fretfoil Birmingham Packaging solutions can provide you with correct packaging that you need.

Shrink Wrap

Shrink wrap, also known as shrink film, is the material that is manufactured from polymer plastic film.

This allows the product to shrink tightly over the product it is covering when heat is applied.

Polyolefin is the most used shrink wrap material as it comes in an array of clarity, shrink ratio, strength and thickness. Polypropylene, Polyethylene, PVC and more compositions are other forms of shrink films.

Shrink wraps are able to be manufactured to shrink in either one direction, mono-directional or unidirectional, or in two directions, bidirectional.

In order for films to stretch, the molecules are oriented away from their initial random pattern when they have been warmed. When it is cooled, the film’s characteristics are set into that position until they are reheated which will cause it to shrink back toward its initial dimensions.

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Polybags: All you need to know

Polybags are the name given to bags that are made from polyethylene – the most common form of plastic.

Polybags are used for the transportation of a variety of sealed goods. The bags are notable for their sleek design making them suitable for the items that are stored and shipped in them, including chemicals, comic books, and food.

Similar to most plastic bag, polybags will be thin, flexible and transparent, however, some can fall away from this pattern and some can be exceptionally light or incredibly dense.

Regarding environmental issues, polybags are sufficient for use are they are fairly simple to recycle compared with other packaging materials. While many shipping methods can appear to be wasteful or unnecessary to those concerned with the environment, polybags are a great alternate option, not only are they an efficient use of material and space but they can hold more while using less.

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Things to know about packaging tape

Packaging tape is an essential for warehouses, and being one of the products Fretfoil supply, we compiled a ‘how to’ guide.

Unbeknownst to many, when using packaging tape, you will need to consider the right sort to use for the job. The colour variation of between clear or brown backing has no affect on anything other than the presentation of your goods – it’s mainly the quality of the backing and adhesive type that counts.

New cardboard boxes and general purpose applications: The most suitable packaging tape for this job would be one that has a synthetic rubber adhesive. For general purpose applications, use a natural rubber adhesive.

Cool conditions, plastics and recycled board: Requiring packaging tape for cooler conditions, or for plastic materials such as bubble wrap and for recycled cartons, the best packaging tape would have an acrylic adhesive for these sorts of conditions.

Export or heavy duty requirements: Any critical applications will need a premium tape as the thickness provides that reassurance of a strong, resilient adhesive.

Making it stick

Did you know that all packaging tapes need to be activated by pressure?

To activate the adhesive, wet it out so it sticks, run your hand firmly over the tape after is has been applied to the surface, enabling the best chance of gripping to the surface.

Dispensing

To get the best use of your packaging tape, and to save time, obtain a dispenser.
There are a variety of styles available depending on what job is being executed and where.
For general work, pistol grips are more suitable, where as tear-drop dispensers fair well when working in tight places.

Know the weather

Weather conditions can actually play a part in affecting the packaging tape that should be used on your products.

Summer: Naturally, many tapes will struggle in humid weather conditions as the moisture content in cardboard will affect the stickiness of the tape. Opting for a tape with a natural rubber adhesive should be something that won’t be an issue in humid weather.

Refrigerators: When working through a freezer, keep in mind to tape products outside the freezer/refrigerator before proceeding to place it inside the cooler conditions.
There are specific cold temperature taps that can be used, also those with acrylic adhesives will provide the best results.

Using the correct supplies for packaging tape can make the execution easier as well as saving time and money.
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Shrink wrap and stretch wrap

Both of these packaging materials hold items together in a compact air space in packaging applications.

These materials are both lightweight and puncture and tear resistant, thus making them the perfect cost alternative to container packages or boxes.

Shrink wrap

This material is typically a clear plastic or polymer-based film that ultimately shrinks when heated and will conform to the shape of the object it is encasing.
The benefit of shrink wrap is that it forms a very tight, tamper evident seal that protects the products inside the package from dirt, moisture, dust or any insects. It’s commonly used as a food bag and in other perishable applications and is available for utilisation in a selection of widths, designs and film gauge, all dependant on the application.

Stretch wrap

Stretch wrap is composed of polyethylene plastic, this responds to heat differently than shrink wrap, that when heated shrinks and secures the load, stretch wrap has an elastic memory that functions similarly to a rubber band.

Shrink wrap and stretch films should stick to certain standards so to ensure a proper design and functionality.
Standards such as ASTM D4649 are used during the selection and use of stretch wrap films.
ASTM D5416 and BS 2782-6 discuss the methods of testing abrasion resistance along with the shrinkage on heating, respectively.

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Facts about packaging

Packaging is an important aspect of everyday life – bags, boxes, tins, bottles, wrapping and pots are just some of the uses packaging provides.

Without it, items and goods would be damaged or spoiled, raw meat would likely be cross-contaminated prior to reaching supermarkets.

Fruits and vegetables are among a few of the goods that do not need any outer protection for shoppers to take them back to their homes.

Packaging revolves around a multi-stage process for getting goods from production to consumption which can include primary or sales packaging (what the consumer takes home), secondary packaging (boxes, trays and film wrap that group the items together) and transport packaging (ranging from small to large containers and pallets).
Each stage of packaging is selectively chosen in a specific combination to provide the right level of protection, thus slimming the chance of damage and waste.

Packaging materials

There isn’t a specified ‘best’ packaging material out there, only the appropriate material set for a particular product. As an example, toothpaste won’t be able to be packaged in a paper bag, however, paper bags are the perfect packaging for flour.

Over packaging

There are many products that are over-packed in recent times because of the cost producers will sacrifice.
Saying this, some items that ar found will appear to have unnecessary packaging, although this could be a result of not being aware of the journey that particular item may have had to endure to get to where it is.

Difficulty opening

In our everyday lives, on average we handle fifty different items of packaging a day.
Well packaged products won’t be appreciated and will likely be taken for granted, but the packaging has done its job in being easily accessible and protective of the item; on the other hand, poor packaging will make access to the product difficult.
This packaging is in need of re-design, but there are products out there that have specific packaging to limit its use to certain people e.g. bleach has a specific design that makes it almost impossible for children to open.

Buying loose or pre-wrapped

Depending on an individuals’ choice, some may want to pick and choose the loose consumable items, whereas others will want to grab an already packaged item and go.

All fruit and vegetables will be packaged for transportation – no matter the distance.
In some cases, those that are sold loose in supermarkets will have had more packaging during the transportation than those pre-wrapped.

Labels

Many packs will carry information as to whether it can be recycled or not.
It isn’t possible to label packs will information appropriate for each area or town (as recyclable materials may vary depending on the area you live in) thus labels will be missing from packs on most occasions.

Recycling

Recycling packages won’t make an impact on the reduction of climate change, simply because the carbon embedded in packaging is equal to roughly 2% of the EU’s total annual emissions.
In most food and drink supply chains, the packaging would consume less that 10% of that energy consumed in the chain.

For further information about packaging Birmingham and our services, please visit our website!

Benefits of using stretch wrap

If you’ve never heard of the term ‘stretch wrap’, then maybe ‘cling film’ or ‘stretch film’ will sound familiar to you.
Whatever you call it, it is one of the simplest ways to secure and protect your goods for transportation, or storage.

There are many benefits of selecting stretch wrap as your protective wrap:

Increased product protection: By using stretch wrap, you are protecting your goods from exposure to dirt, dust and moisture, keeping the product in pristine condition, clean and dry and it is still entirely visible.
There are also special UVI stretch films that can protect from UV rays, when a product is being stored outdoors.

Reduction of product damage/increased load stability: Stretch wrap securely wraps the product, helping with a more stable load that will prevent the product from moving inside the tight packaging, and prevent damage to the product damage.

Improved shipping and handling efficiencies: The height of the stacking of products is increased, and this will maximise your cube space when storing or shipping a product as the stretch wrap, combined with angled boards allows a higher stacking load on pallets.
As it is a quick way of wrapping, more work time is allowed, increasing your work productivity.
Stretch wrap enables you wrap up oddly shaped loads, than cannot be stacked in a neat square configuration

Improved inventory control: Inventory can be improved by grouping like products together, reducing the possibility of product separation that could make inventory checks time consuming and inaccurate.
Again, as the wrap is clear, it allows the scanning system to scan straight through the packaging.

Recyclable: A majority of stretch wrap is 100% recyclable and, if kept reasonably intact and clean, can be recycled for cash, keeping it out of landfills, that are becoming much too overused.

For more information on packaging, and the services we offer, please visit our website!

Plastic bag usage rises for fourth consecutive year

The usage of plastic bags has risen again!

In the latest study of plastic bag usage by UK supermarkets, a staggering 8 billion plastic bags were used in 2013. This is an increase for the fourth year running, as the finishing total for the year of 2013 was a massive 8.3 billion bags.

The ever rising consumption of plastic bags comes ahead of a charge that is soon to be introduced throughout England, in order to reduce the amount of rising usage of the items.

Data published in the study shows an increase of 3% in the number of bags that were given away by supermarkets throughout 2012/13. The study was conducted by the Government’s Waste Programme. The British Retail Consortium, the association behind the big retailers, looked into the increase, stating that it was merely a “small” boost to the numbers, indicating that the way we shop could be to blame. They said that British shoppers are now more frequent in the way they buy products, as we ‘top up’ our shopping over the weeks.

You should know though, that whilst 8.3 billion bags may seem a lot, it’s a massive reduction from the whopping 12 billion plastic bags used by shoppers in 2006. This number led to a massive reduction in figures for several years afterwards, with an agreement coming from retailers to cut their amount of bags used. A number of campaigns in 2006 led to the reduction of bags used, as a number of towns throughout England went plastic bag free.

The bag charge due to come into force in England next year has been criticised by MPs for an exemption that means small shops will not have to apply the 5p charge.

The plastic bag charge is set to come into play in England in 2015, but this has been criticised by a number of MPs, besides the amount of small shops that won’t have to imply a 5p charge on their bags used.

So, what do you think of the new rule?

Is it a good idea in order to lower the amount of plastic bags used?

For all of this and more, please visit our website.

Packaging your items to make sure they arrive in good condition

Packaging items can be difficult, so follow our great tips

When sending items through the post, the worry of transporting your items in a secure manner is always at the back of your mind. You want to ensure that the item arrives in prestige condition, so here are some things to keep at the front of your mind when packaging your items:

It’s always good to choose a box that’s bigger than the item that you send so you can fill out the box with cushioning items.
Pad the box out with bubble wrap to ensure the safety of the item.
Use clear or brown packaging tape, which will reinforce the integrity of the item. Seal up the box with tape to ensure security.
Label the package and include a return address. If you’re reusing an old box, cover any previous labels to ensure that no confusion is made.

Using a corrugated box as a form of packaging is a good idea

Irregular shaped items can be difficult to pack

Metal/sharp items: Tape the address label to the item. Cover any sharp or protruding edges that could hurt anybody, and tape-on corrugated cardboard pieces to ensure safety.
Fabric or wallpaper: Items that are usually rolled up travel better when they’re posted in corrugated boxes. If fabric roll is posted in a bag, ensure that the bag is tightly wrapped and taped to reduce any risk of tearing.

Note: These tips are general guidelines. We can’t be held responsible if your item is damaged in transit.

5 Things You Can Do With Protective Packaging

There are many uses of bubble wrap, but how can you use it?

Bubble wrap is probably one of the most conveniently useful inventions known to man. When it was invented in 1957, bubble wrap was conceived as one of the coolest ideas of its time. Even to this day, it’s still widely used to keep fragile items protected during transport to different locations. Bubble wrap still has numerous other functions though, as you can use it for warmth in winter, cushioning on hard surfaces and much, much more!

1. Bubble wrap insulation?

Surprisingly, you can used bubble wrap for insulation for your windows! When the cold winter sets in again, simply cut windows sized layers of bubble wrap and gaffer tape them onto the inside of your windows! They will give an extra layer of warmth, as well as saving you money on your fuel bills in the face of the cold. You can always draw your curtains or consider lowering your blinds to reduce the notice levels.

2. Patio protection

Your outdoor container plants can be kept warm with a nice layer of bubble wrap. This allows for protection from winter frost damage, as plants can offer suffer in the winter. Be sure to wrap each container with a protective layer of packaging and again use gaffer tape or string to fix the wrap into place. Make sure that the wrap extends up and over the top of container by a couple of inches to ensure that the soil will be kept warm all winter.

Bubble wrap can be used for lots of things!

3. Sleeping on air…

Camping trips can be difficult at times, mostly due to the uncomfortable night’s sleep that some may experience. Take a roll of bubble wrap and use it as a mat for your sleeping bag to rest on. If you don’t use a sleeping bag, which some campers don’t, fold your bubble wrap in half and gaffer tape the sides up. This will make your very own makeshift sleeping bag, built for comfort!

4. Extra cushioning for those uncomfortable benches

You can use bubble wrap to cushion those uncomfortable chairs that you sit on in the garden. Seats and benches can all be extra cushioned with bubble wrap, it’s magical! Stretch a length of the product along the furniture for a more comfortable outdoor experience.

5. Protect the fridge?

The drawers that hold your sensitive foods, like fruit or other various produce can be lined with bubble wrap. This will make sure that the food isn’t roughly knocked about in storage, prevent bruising. It also allows for easier cleaning too – just throw the bubble wrap away!

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