All packaging materials intended for food contact must fulfil strict legal requirements at national and international levels. Plastics meet these requirements; they are firmly established as indispensable packaging materials. Over half of all plastic packaging are used in this sector. Their unparalleled versatility shows in a multitude of ways, e.g. as packaging films for fresh meats, bottles for beverages, edible oils and sauces, or fruit yoghurt cups and margarine tubs – with singular ease.
The commercial success of plastics as a packaging product is due to a combination of their flexibility (from film to rigid applications), strength, lightness, stability, impermeability and easy sterilisation. Plastics food packaging does not affect the taste and quality of the foodstuffs it is used to protect. In fact, the barrier properties of plastics ensure that food keeps its natural taste while protecting it from external contamination.
Plastics are also ideal for use in packaging medicines, because they protect against contamination and help prevent the spread of germs during manufacture, distribution and display. Tamper-proof closures provide added protection and security.
Lightweight packaging means lighter loads or fewer lorries needed to ship the same amount of product, helping to reduce transportation energy, decrease emissions and lower shipping costs. Lightweight packaging also helps to reduce the amount of waste generated or the amount of a material that needs to be recycled after a package is used.