A Guide To Different Types of Packaging Materials and Their Uses

Do you own a manufacturing company or are you a reseller to supply your goods and confused what type of packaging is a good fit for your products? You seem not familiar with different types of packaging materials. Right? Glass, plastic, cardboard, corrugated fiberboard, metal, clamshells, Kraft, or something else? You should choose a material that matches your product needs and supply chain. Not to worry. You have landed on the right blog page.

In this blog, we will explore different types of packaging materials and their uses. We will also discover how each packaging material offering its distinct features serves a business. Here you go!

Glass

Sourced from sand and nontoxic material, glass is heavier than plastic material but can break easily during transportation and shatter in no time. Glass containers are good examples of preserving the flavor of food items which gives a premium look on the shelves.

Many businesses are considering different textured glass jars giving an aesthetic appeal to customers capturing instant attention and encouraging customers to buy products after perceiving the products from the glass.

Plastic

Plastic packaging material is around us everywhere wherever we go. This durable material is lightweight, flexible, and cost-effective packaging with a transparent feature allowing customers to view the product without opening the package.

Its massive usage has a great influence on our environment as more than 450 million tonnes of plastic material is being produced every year. (source: ourworldindata.org)

Soft Plastics

Plastic bags and bubble wraps come in the category of soft plastics as they are thin yet durable and offer protection to your fragile products while giving a clear glimpse of the products.

Rigid Plastics

To pack your liquid items like milk or juices, the packaging made from rigid plastics is ideal for preserving your food and beverages.

Besides this, you can use this packaging material to cover your laptop, phone, or electronic devices. But, here one thing you don’t need to skip is their sustainability. To recycle this rigid material it is challenging.

Most plastic packaging materials are not eco-friendly. Therefore, many businesses are shifting to recyclable plastic material that has less environmental impact.

Go Green

Going green means opting for eco-friendly materials. Compared to traditional plastic, environmentally friendly plastic packaging materials made from natural resources reducing landfills are ideal.

Bioplastic:

Bioplastic is an eco-friendly packing material. It is made from biodegradable materials like cornstarch or sugarcane. It leaves no harmful residues as it is designed to rapidly break down into tiny pieces when composted. That is why it is an excellent choice over conventional plastic.

Paper

Without any objection, made from wood pulp and other sources, paper is a popular and affordable packaging material choice taking care of every product and providing essential information in creative and eye-catching designs while promoting a brand. Having durability, thickness, and strength, this packaging material is often used in manufacturing paperboard boxes, wrappers, and paper sleeves.

Cardboard

A sturdy, thick, and durable among different types of packaging materials for shipping to make custom boxes in various sizes and styles. For lighter items, they are made in single layers. To give more strength, they are produced with thicker layers for convenient handling and shipping of heavy-duty items.

Corrugated Cardboard

Made with multiple inner fluted (wavy) layers and flat outer layers, this material offers extreme protection and cushioning to your products and is ideal for manufacturing shipping boxes and moving boxes.

Kraft Paper

Naturally brown kraft made from fresh wood pulp is 100% recyclable and a sustainable choice. It is less moisture resistant as compared to SBS paperboard but one of the best types of food packaging materials for food items like bakery foodstuff to maintain their freshness for a longer time.

Metal

Metals are steel and aluminum packaging materials known for their strength and recyclability. They are more durable than plastic material but can be bent out in a shape if stronger force is applied. 

Lightweight cans and aluminum containers are examples that are resistant to corrosion offering complete protection against oxygen, light, moisture, and other external factors.

Many businesses use metal cans to package their products like soda or green beans which prevent them from spoiling.

Foam

Polyethylene and polyurethane foam are soft and lightweight. Not only this. They are moisture-resistant and shock-absorbent packaging materials offering excellent protection to your products inside the shipping boxes during transit. These materials offering cushioning aim to safeguard your products arriving undamaged.

To give your valuable items enhanced protection, you have the liberty to use other cushioning materials. They are bubble wraps, air pillows, packing peanuts, paper fillers, and molded pulp. Although they are lightweight and cost-efficient. But they offer superb protection.

Clamshell

This is a single sheet of paper or plastic materials folded to create a hinged container with two halves that open and close like a clamshell to produce visually appealing packaging giving a clear visibility of products.

It can be folded into different sizes and shapes to fit your products. Two halves connected to a hinge make the clamshell easy to open and close.

This packaging material is considerable for displaying food, cosmetics, electronics, and pharmaceutical items at stores.

Choosing Sustainable Packaging Materials

Global awareness about eco-friendliness is increasing and encouraging manufacturers. Therefore, many businesses are focusing on switching to nature-friendly materials derived from natural plants to reduce land waste. They are not only offering eco-friendly packaging solutions but also economical catering to their business needs.

Let’s Wrap Up

Making the right selection of packaging material can help you comfortably accommodate your product and ship. Through this blog, we have placed conventional packaging materials catering to different needs. After reading, you will be familiar with the most suitable material and can make an educated decision for your product.

For your convenience, a wide range of customized packaging solutions for your business is available at Custom Product Packaging. Our packaging experts are available round the clock to help you make the perfect selection of the material carrying all the elements you want to make your products look exclusive on the shelves and convenient in handling. Want to place an order? Email us at sales@customproductpackaging.com. We will be obliged to help you.