Category Archive: Sustainable Packaging

Most Common Types of Paperboard Grades for Packaging

Selecting the right packaging material is critical to ensure products make it safely into the hands of consumers. The packaging should be protective and meet the brand’s goals for aesthetic appearance and branding. Paperboard is a common packaging material made from various pulps and fibers, and there are several types of paperboard to suit a diverse range of applications. Here, we will explore the main types of paperboard and the applications that depend on these versatile packaging solutions.

Types of Paperboard Materials

There are several types of paperboard materials, each of which allows packaging manufacturers and brands to find the ideal packaging solution for a given application.

Solid Bleached Sulfate (SBS)

Solid bleached sulfate (SBS) is a paperboard made from virgin wood pulp that has been bleached to create a unique white color. It offers a smooth finish, durability, and high strength. SBS has a printable surface, making it an ideal material for manufacturing high-end packaging products, including those used for:

Coated Unbleached Kraft (CUK)

Coated unbleached kraft (CUK) is a durable paperboard material that resists moisture. It consists of unbleached kraft pulp, offering a rustic and natural appearance. CUK is an ideal material for producing refrigerated products and beverage carriers.

Foilboard

Foilboard is an ideal paperboard material for packaging luxury and high-end goods like cosmetics and fragrances.

Coated Recycled Paperboard (CRB)

Coated recycled paperboard (CRB) is a paperboard made of recycled fibers with a clay-coated finish to enhance its ability to accept printing. However, it is not ideal for high-quality printing techniques, withstands less weight than other paperboard materials, and is moisture-absorbent.

Products that Use Paperboard Packaging

Paperboard is ideal for packaging various products, including:

Window Boxes

A window insert in a paperboard carton can enhance the visibility and appeal of the product inside. Printex Transparent Packaging is your expert in producing custom window boxes and window inserts for paperboard cartons in the most sustainable and environmentally responsible manner. Window inserts and window boxes work well for toys, cosmetics, health and beauty products, candy, and other food products, as well as consumer goods like cell phones and computer-related items. Browse our window box page for more information.

Start Your Custom Paperboard Packaging Project Now

Paperboard is an ideal material for various types of packaging, and it is critical to select the right type of paperboard for your application. A window box or window insert can enhance the appearance of any paperboard packaging, allowing consumers to see the actual product before they buy it.

Printex Transparent Packaging is a leader in window box packaging technology, specializing in window inserts in paperboard packaging. Our innovative window boxes have windows made from clear and recyclable materials like clear PET and Post-Consumer Recycled PCR PET. Our professionals work with some of the world’s leading brands, offering design, prototyping, and co-packing services. Contact us or request a quote to speak with a team member about your custom paperboard packaging needs.

Switching to Window Boxes from Clamshells for Sustainability

Many consumer brand companies have mandated reduced plastic use in order to achieve their sustainability goals. Although such a broad blanket statement is not always in the best interest of our environment when taking into account all the factors going into the environmental footprint of a package from raw material production to recycling or end of life for the material, it is the directive handed down to the packaging engineers due to social appearances.

One way of moving in this direction for many products, while still maintaining the significantly increased shelf attention of visual packaging, is to switch from a thermoformed clear clamshell to a recyclable window box; a paperboard carton with a removable recyclable PET window.  

Eco-Friendly Material

Choosing a window box can often offer a more sustainable packaging solution. Window boxes can be made from materials such as recycled paper or cardboard, with a post-consumer recycled PET window, both of which can be recycled again after use, reducing the overall environmental impact, and promoting a circular economy. By choosing these eco-friendly materials, consumer brand companies can align with the demand for more sustainable packaging solutions.

Recycling vs. Landfill

Window boxes with removable PET windows are designed to be easily separated for recycling. The PET used for windows and folding cartons is the most easily recycled plastic on the market today. Choosing the right substrate and plastic for your packaging needs makes an impact. Choose a plastic that has a lower recycle number such as PET which is a “1” versus perhaps a mixed plastic which may be a “7”. Items with a “1” within the recycle arrows are highly recyclable, whereas a 7 would be much more difficult and likely, not recycled and will end up in a landfill. Having said that, there is a train of thought that if material is destined for a landfill, it is better to have something like plastic in a landfill that will take many years to very gradually breakdown, say some pressure-treated lumber that will decompose much quicker while releasing the pressure treatment chemicals into the surrounding soil as it does so, or even worse, batteries releasing chemicals and acids if they are not disposed of properly.

Versatility and Customization

Window boxes offer a high level of versatility and customization options. These packaging solutions can be designed in various shapes, sizes, and styles to suit different product requirements. The presence of a transparent window on the box allows customers to see the product inside without opening the packaging. This not only enhances the overall visual appeal but also helps in building trust and increasing sales.

Moreover, window boxes can be printed for branding, and personalized with logos, beautiful graphics, and product information. This customization capability allows businesses to create a unique and memorable packaging experience for their customers.

Enhanced Product Visibility

One of the key advantages of window boxes is the enhanced product visibility they offer. The transparent window allows customers to get a glimpse of the product before making a purchase. The window can be a simple clear front panel, or it could be a much more interesting rigid window that wraps around two, three, or even all four sides and corners of the carton. This feature is particularly beneficial for items that rely on visual appeal, such as bakery products, cosmetics, fragrances, high-end door handles, gift sets, or even food products where the window box may serve as secondary packaging that still shows the convenient primary package of the food or beverage inside.

Convenience and Ease of Use

Window boxes provide convenience and ease of use for both businesses and customers. The design of these boxes allows for easy access to the product, eliminating the need for excessive handling and potential damage. Customers can quickly and effortlessly retrieve the item they desire without any hassle or “wrap rage” sometimes associated with clamshell-style packages.

Furthermore, window boxes are often designed with user-friendly features such as easy-open tabs or resealable closures, making them convenient for storing and reusing. This added convenience enhances the overall customer experience and encourages repeat purchases.

From a brand owner’s perspective, the fold-flat properties of a ship flat window box can also mean less storage space and trucking space required as compared to a molded clamshell.

Reduced Environmental Impact

Opting for window boxes contributes to a reduced environmental impact compared to clamshells. As mentioned earlier, window boxes are commonly made from recyclable materials, which helps conserve natural resources and reduce waste. In addition, the ship flat and lightweight nature of these boxes reduces transportation emissions and energy consumption during shipping.

By choosing window boxes, you play a part in promoting sustainable practices and minimizing the carbon footprint associated with your brand’s packaging. Smart Packaging Design for Sustainability such as Printex Transparent Packaging’s Eco-Smart Window Package makes recycling easy! This not only benefits the environment but also aligns your business with the values of eco-conscious consumers. Contact our team of specialists today for a quote on your next sustainable packaging project. 

Why Paper Isn’t the Solution to Plastic Waste

Switching to paper packaging isn’t the answer to plastic waste. Waste reduction and minimizing excess packaging is a good thing, but don’t naïvely switch from plastic to paper packaging because you think it must be more eco-friendly… it isn’t necessarily so!

Replacing plastic packaging with “sustainable or biodegradable” options like paper, cotton or bioplastic would do 3-4x more harm to the planet (more CO₂, more warming, more chemicals, energy, and water used)*(Chris DeArmitt, Ph.D. FRSC CCHEM)

7 Considerations When Deciding to Switch to Paper Packaging

Here are 7 things we should consider when deciding why switching to paper packaging can’t be the answer to plastic waste:

1) Deforestation

Deforestation is one of the major environmental impacts of the paper packaging industry. The production of paper requires a significant amount of wood fiber, and as demand for paper packaging increases, the industry may source wood from forests, including old-growth forests, to meet this demand. The logging of forests can lead to habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and the release of carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

To mitigate the negative effects of deforestation, sustainable forestry practices can be implemented, such as selective logging, reforestation, and forest certification programs. When utilized, these practices can help reduce the environmental impact inherently caused by logging and paper production. Additionally, the use of alternative materials such as recycled paper and plastics can reduce the demand for virgin wood fiber and help protect forests from deforestation. Finally, reducing overall paper consumption and promoting circular economy models can help to reduce the demand for paper packaging and protect forests from deforestation.

The goal of reducing single-use packaging is laudable, but environmentalists are growing increasingly concerned about the amount of paper packaging being used in its place of plastic.

“We absolutely need to shift away from using plastics as much as we do, but trading in plastic pollution for deforestation and forest degradation is not the answer,” Canopy founder and executive director Nicole Rycroft told CTV News. “We really need to make sure we do not create another environmental disaster.”

2) A Substantial Amount of Water is Used to Make Paper

According to a report by Springer, the production of paper requires a significant amount of water, with some unit operations in the technological line requiring water consumption amounts ranging from 200 to 400 m3 t^-1 of paper. The University of Minnesota estimates that the US benchmark for water use within pulp and paper mills is approximately 17,000 gallons/ton of paper, with one of the most efficient kraft pulp and paper mills only using 4,500 gallons/ton.

Therefore, it is clear that the production of paper for packaging requires a substantial amount of water. As consumers, it is important to consider the environmental impact of our choices and look for sustainable packaging alternatives that minimize water usage and other negative impacts on the environment.

3) The Effects on Old-Growth Forests

The increase in demand for paper packaging can have negative effects on old-growth forests. The pulp and paper industry accounts for 13-15% of total wood consumption and uses between 33-40% of all industrial wood traded globally. As the demand for paper packaging increases, the industry may source wood from old-growth forests, which are ecosystems with unique biodiversity and carbon storage capacity. The logging of old-growth forests can lead to habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and the release of carbon into the atmosphere.

To mitigate the negative effects of paper packaging on old-growth forests, sustainable forestry practices and the use of alternative materials such as recycled paper and bioplastics can be implemented. Additionally, reducing overall paper consumption and promoting circular economy models can help to reduce the demand for virgin wood fiber and protect old-growth forests.

4) Some Paper Products Have Zero-Recycling Value and Become Landfill Garbage

Some paper products have a zero-recycling value, which means that they cannot be recycled and end up in landfill garbage. This is because these paper products are either contaminated with other materials, such as food or plastic, or they are made from low-quality paper fibers that cannot be recycled. For example, paper towels, tissues, and napkins are often made from lower-quality paper fibers that are too short to be recycled, and they are also frequently contaminated with food waste or other contaminants that make them unsuitable for recycling.

When these paper products are thrown away in the trash, they end up in landfills where they take up space and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions as they decompose. Additionally, as these paper products decompose, they release methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

To reduce the amount of paper products that end up in landfill garbage, it is important to properly dispose of them in the trash and not in recycling bins. It is also important to reduce overall paper consumption and choose paper products that are made from recycled fibers and can be recycled after use.

The book Rubbish! states that paper, cardboard, and rubble account for 50% of all solids in a landfill. This means that plastics are only 10% of the solids in a landfill. This could be reduced further if people and municipalities improved their recycling efficiency.

5) Are Plastics the Cause of Our Waste Problem? 

Should we replace plastics because they create a waste problem? No. Plastics are less than 0.5% of all waste and they are proven to reduce overall waste creation including waste going to landfill. Replacing plastics means creating 3-4x pounds of waste for every pound of plastic replaced.

There are arguments both for and against replacing plastics due to the waste problem they create. On one hand, plastic waste is a significant environmental issue, with only 10% of plastic produced globally being recycled. This has led to pollution of land and water, with plastic waste harming wildlife and ecosystems. On the other hand, plastic is a versatile and useful material that is difficult to replace in many applications, such as food packaging, where it is necessary to prevent food waste. Furthermore, some argue that plastic can be recycled and reused and that a system based on reuse could create new sources of value.

Ultimately, the decision to replace plastics requires a fundamental change in thinking about how plastics are made, used, and discarded. Alternatives to plastic, such as biodegradable materials, may be more environmentally friendly, but they also have limitations and trade-offs. Therefore, it is important to consider the full lifecycle of materials and their environmental impact when making decisions about their use and disposal.

6) Global CO₂ Emissions

Plastics is one of the materials with the smallest carbon footprint creating 0.5% of the global CO₂ emission.

• CO₂ from plastics 0.23 GTons/year
• CO₂ from paper 0.55 GTons/year

“It should be clear that anyone genuinely concerned about carbon dioxide and warming would not be targeting plastics as the prime cause. based on the data, anyone who was genuinely worried about carbon dioxide should be 2x more concerned about paper.” https://phantomplastics.com/carbon-dioxide-created-and-saved-by-using-plastics/

7) Lower Transportation Costs and Fewer CO₂ Emissions Due to Transportation

PET plastic weighs considerably less than paperboard packaging, only 2% in comparison. 1000 kg of paperboard packaging compared to 20 kg of plastic packaging. PET has a clear advantage, due to its incredibly low weight-to-strength ratio with higher volume transport this has a huge positive bearing on fuel consumption, and ultimately—CO₂ emissions.

Paper alone cannot be the complete solution to plastic waste in the packaging industry. While paper may seem like a more sustainable alternative to plastic, paper packaging may not be as durable or effective as plastic in protecting products during transportation and storage, which could lead to increased product waste and potentially negate any environmental benefits of using paper.

Therefore, it is important to consider a range of sustainable packaging options such as post-consumer recycled plastics, compostable materials, and reusable containers. It is also crucial to recycle and properly dispose of packaging to minimize waste and promote a circular economy. Ultimately, a combination of different sustainable packaging solutions may be necessary to address the complex issue of plastic waste in the packaging industry.

In Conclusion

There is a misguided perception that plastics are adding to climate change. Nothing could be further from the truth! Producing ANY material uses energy and water, so not producing any materials would have the greatest impact on CO₂ emissions and climate change. If you are going to produce anything though, then plastic is the best choice for fighting climate change!

Wendy’s has set near-term science-based targets to reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions based on the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Their goal is to cut absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions and Scope 3 emissions intensity by 47% by 2030. Scope 3 targets, focus on addressing indirect emissions from purchased goods in their supply chain and downstream emissions in their franchised restaurants.

“Purchased goods, such as food and packaging, represent the lion’s share of our Scope 3 emissions at nearly 85%, with beef, chicken, dairy and pork the most significant contributors.” https://www.wendys.com/blog/wendys-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-47

That means that out of Wendy’s 47% goal to reduce emissions, only 15% of that has to do with packaging. So, the way the numbers are grouped and presented is deceiving to the public. Is this an example of a false narrative? The paper packaging is not having the positive effect that you think. Also missing from their reports are details on whether the paper products are contaminated with other materials, such as food that deem them as “zero-recycle value”, ending up in landfills.

In summary, plastics are the lowest CO₂ materials to produce and process and can easily be recycled -when factoring in food contamination (& when designed correctly). Recycling plastics (instead of littering them) keeps them out of our rivers and oceans. It’s very scary how anti-plastic organizations have brainwashed the public into believing something that just isn’t true. What’s more frightening is how many anti-plastic companies have emerged to capitalize on the false narrative – instead of educating the public on what is or isn’t the greenest solution, based on facts instead of emotive scare stories.

Don’t blame plastics! Recycle and reuse them!

Design Plastic Packaging for Easy Consumer Recycling

Easy separation of materials makes a package simple to recycle

Most consumers care about the environment. It is now our job to help the consumer achieve their goals of recycling packaging through sustainable design and messaging.

Recycling presents exciting challenges for designers to innovate and constantly challenge the boundaries between functional, aesthetic and environmentally conscious design. Packaging design with recycling in mind needs to meet the needs of all stakeholders in the supply chain.

Raising awareness:

People care about the environment and want to recycle but raised awareness does not teach the consumer how to recycle. Litter is a people problem. There is a gap between technology and people’s habits. We can improve recycling efforts with smart packaging design that facilitates recycling and makes recycling easier for the consumer!

There’s no getting around it, We have a “need for plastics”:

We need to see what we would lose if we truly eliminated plastics. There would be no computers, phones, TVs, no crucial PPE or gloves at hospitals. Even the wires that bring electricity to our homes are coated with protective plastic. Plastics are a significant part of our life and world and yet they make up less than 1% of the materials we use based on weight and waste. Because of their high popularity, usage, and unfortunate littering by some, plastic bottles are a high-profile villain in the packaging world. In reality they are considered greener than aluminum and glass when evaluating the complete product lifecycle. It may surprise you to know that aluminum and glass emit 4x CO₂, greenhouse gas emissions and create 4x the amount of waste in weight* (Page 19, The Plastics Paradox by Dr. Chris DeArmitt).

Packaging is everywhere:

Packaging needs to contain and carry information about the product.

Contain the product to:
• Protect the product
• To display the product
• To create a positive product experience when holding the package in your hands

Packaging carries information about the product:
• Directions / Instructions including how to recycle
• Product ingredients
• Usage
• Storage
• Nutrition
• Retail Branding
• Bar code information for efficient check out

Now we need to go one step further and help the environment by designing for the end use of packaging . Easy separation of materials makes a package simple to recycle.

Design with sustainability in mind:
A sustainable packaging design considers the resource consumption and its impact on the environment, as well as it’s final recycling or disposal.. PET plastic is a much greener resource to recycle than aluminum or glass. Recycling plastic saves material, saves energy, and reduces waste. For example, it has been estimated that recycled plastic requires only a tenth as much energy to make as virgin plastic. That means less carbon dioxide emissions in addition to the energy saving (usually a combination of coal, gas, oil, and nuclear)* (Page 46, The Plastics Paradox by Dr. Chris DeArmitt)

Sustainable packaging should be designed to:
• Use minimum number of resources, for example, custom designed boxes
• Maximize recovery of material, such as “smart packaging designs” that separate easily for recycling
• Be made from materials that have already been recycled, like 100% PCR PET

Design with recycling in mind:
To divert packaging from landfills a package should be designed with an end-of-life solution for the product. PET bottles can be recycled infinitely. So, to maximize recovery of material “smart packaging designs” should separate materials easily for recycling.

“Smart Packaging Design Window Box from PTP”

This eco-smart design takes the window box to the next level of Smart Packaging Design for Recycling. The package can be easily separated by the consumer for recycling. This window is designed to slide in and out without gluing, making separation easy for the consumer. Mixed packaging often ends up in landfills because the components cannot be separated easily. The clear plastic window is made from 100% Post-Consumer Recycled PET (recycled water bottles) and can be recycled over and over again. This eco-friendly design requires the separate window to be slid into place. Once the box is erected, the window stays in place perfectly – without glue!
Most consumers care about the environment. It is now our job to help the consumer achieve their goals through design and messaging. For the window, Printex Transparent Packaging offers their Eco-PET Series made from your choice of 25%, 50% and 100% Post-Consumer Recycled PET.

“Smart Packaging Design Wine Twin Pack from PTP”

Another example of “smart packaging design for recycling plastic” is this Eco-PET 100 Wine Twin Pack. The Twin Pack is a clear recycled PET gusset top box that allows you to see the set of 2 different wine bottles. The eco-friendly design showcases the product and has a separate printed graphics card insert that slides in and pops open easily, for maximum branding impact. The wonderful packaging development here is the ability to produce clear PET packaging and still comply with companies’ sustainability goals while making it easy for the consumer to separate and recycle the packaging. PET can be recycled multiple times to maintain a closed loop system. Easy separation of materials makes it simple to recycle. Reprocessing existing plastics uses less energy and fossil fuels. This product allows companies to continue to utilize the benefits of clear packaging while meeting their sustainability goals. Printex Transparent Packaging is always ready to work with companies that would like to offer smart packaging designs to help their consumers contribute to the recycling loop.

“Smart Packaging Design Toothpaste Tube from Colgate”

Colgate’s designers have spent more than five years redesigning the brand’s toothpaste tubes so they can be recycled in curbside bins. the key was using a single material so they could be easily recycled. The new design layers different grades of HDPE on top of each other, which allows a tube that is more squeezable. They replaced the inner aluminum barrier with a plastic that’s compatible with HDPE recycling (the new tube is classified as #2 plastic). The cap is made from a polypropylene (or #5 plastic). In most cases, customers will be able to throw the tube and the cap into the recycling bin. But local recycling rules sometimes vary, and some recyclers prefer that consumers remove the cap before placing both the tube and the cap in the bin. Colgate says there will inevitably be toothpaste residue left in the tube, but consumers don’t need to bother cleaning it out before recycling; since toothpaste is water soluble, it will get washed out during the cleaning process at the recycling plant.*

Packaging is everywhere, with smart packaging design we can make it easier for the consumer to recycle.

Outstanding Christmas Holiday Packaging

Boost Your Sales During the Christmas Holiday. It’s Time to Start Planning Your Custom Christmas Packaging.

Start Holiday Packaging Planning Early

Shine Bright Nail Lacquer star-shaped container is made from recyclable clear PET package by Printex Transparent Packaging and has silver hot foil graphics with a seasonal snowflake design.

Enhance your Holiday Packaging with Seasonal Shapes & Designs

A “Window of Opportunity”

People Are More Likely to Purchase a Product That They Can See

Starbucks Christmas latte packaging is transformed into Christmas Holiday Packaging by Printex Transparent Packaging with full-color printing enhanced by Silver Hot-foil stamped snowflakes.

Holiday Packaging Deadlines

• Plan early
• Buy early
• Buy domestic

Eco-PET 100 Wine Twin Pack from Printex Transparent Packaging is made from 100% Post-Consumer Recycled PET, a fully recyclable structure with a recyclable printed paperboard insert that can be separated by the consumer to ensure that the separate components can be easily recycled.

Sustainable Packaging Material Matters

Holiday Packaging With Printex Transparent Packaging 

The Benefits of Custom Packaging

From makeup foundation to clear plastic face shields and everything in between, the packaging is essential to get right if you want to grab your customer’s attention. Not only is it the first line of defense to protecting your product, but it is also the first thing the customer handles when pulling your product from the shelves. When you have a product in a highly competitive industry, packaging could be the very thing that separates a sale for you from a sale for your competitors. Here are just a few of the benefits of custom packaging.

Improves the Customer’s Experience

Everything about the product must be for the customer’s benefit, even the packaging. Having packaging that stands out and sends the right message helps your product stand out from the sea of boring boxes. The right kind of packaging can elevate the product inside of it, creating a sense of exclusivity when the customer picks it up. The product inside may be exactly what they need, but if the packaging it’s in says otherwise, no one goes home happy.

Allows You to Show Off the Brand

Not every product will need this; for example, we sell our clear plastic face shields with the option of using a logo or being completely blank. However, you may want your brand front and center on your packaging. Branding is incredibly important to creating a sense of security when customers see your product, and repeat buyers will want to know exactly where to look to find your product again.

Keeps Your Product Protected

Having an oddly shaped or fragile product can be a hassle to deal with, especially during shipping. One of the benefits of custom packaging is that you know the exact specifications of your package and can be more assured of its safety in transit. It doesn’t matter if you are buying a sturdier box for glass products or you need an exact shape for a clear plastic face shield—protection from harm should be a top priority.

They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but plenty of customers judge a product by its packaging. Don’t lose out on sales because your packaging was an afterthought. Printex Transparent Packaging offers various packaging options to ensure your product is the one that stands out the most—call us today at (800) 461-8106 to make your packaging truly stand out.

Ways to Introduce New Products

Preparing to debut a new product can be a lengthy and rather involved process. Many different elements need to work in tandem to make sure the launch goes off without a hitch. There is also a significant amount of research that must be conducted before a product will be ready to hit the retail shelves. It’s because of this comprehensive preparation process that many products either never come to fruition or simply fall flat after hitting the market. This doesn’t have to be the case, however. With a proper understanding of how to introduce new products the right way, plus a little hard work and determination, your company’s next product launch can be highly successful.

Conduct market research

A significant amount of preliminary research must be conducted to ensure your new product will be well received. Mastering the basics of market research, therefore, is instrumental in understanding the best ways to introduce new products successfully. Start by researching the wants and needs of your current customer base. This knowledge will provide insight into what consumers would like to see from your company next, and you will be able to more closely tailor your upcoming products to match their desires. Be sure to continue conducting research as you move through various stages in product development. Host a focus group or give a survey to assess customer reactions to various aspects of the new product, including the color, packaging, and overall design of the item. Adapt designs as needed to ensure customers are provided with an end product that they will truly love.

Select a solid marketing strategy

In the weeks leading up to your new product launch, it’s important to build as big a buzz as possible. Even if all the preliminary research steps have been completed perfectly, without a solid marketing campaign, your product launch will likely fall flat. Be sure to select a marketing strategy that appeals to your company’s specific target audience. Bear in mind that certain strategies may be more beneficial to consumers in certain age, gender, or cultural demographics. Younger consumers, for instance, spend a large portion of their time engaging with one another on a digital platform. Digital and social media marketing, therefore, is a highly effective way to reach this specific demographic.

Prepare to make a statement

Your product launch should go off with a bang and should get people talking the instant it hits the shelves. One of the simplest ways to do this is through a product design that makes a statement. Try to design your product in a way that easily sets it apart from the competition. Incorporating elements that are a bit bolder and higher quality, such as embossed or die-cut clear product packaging, will give you an edge over your competition. The incorporation of such elements will also improve your product’s shelf appeal, and customers will be more likely to gravitate toward your items. Indeed, clear product packaging can prove instrumental when debuting a new item, as it satisfies curiosity. Because customers will have no prior knowledge of the product, they will likely be very interested to see how it looks and operates. Using clear product packaging will give them an unobstructed view of the new item, helping to pique their interest and making them much more likely to make a purchase.

Make the biggest statement possible with your next product launch. Contact our team at Printex Transparent Packaging to start designing your next best-selling product today.

Polyethylene vs. Polypropylene Packaging

Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) both have gained popularity as materials for plastic packaging. These two materials have become so prevalent that most of us come in contact with them in some form every day. To make the right packaging decision, it’s important to understand the properties, differences, and applications of both materials. While polypropylene and polyethylene may appear very similar on the surface, each has certain well-defined characteristics that can help inform decisions regarding polypropylene vs. polyethylene.

Polyethylene vs. Polypropylene: Similarities

Both polypropylene and polyethylene fall under a category of plastic materials known as polymers. Both plastics are considered commodity plastics, which means they typically get used in large volumes for a wide range of applications. As thermoplastics, polypropylene and polyethylene food packaging are easy to recycle, since thermoplastics can be easily melted down and reused.

Polyethylene vs Polypropylene: Differences

Click to Expand
View French Infographic Here

Despite the aforementioned similarities, polyethylene and polypropylene have a variety of distinct differences.

Color

These two materials have different aesthetic qualities that make them better suited for different products:

• Polyethylene packaging usually appears as milky-opaque, opaque, or translucent depending on the thermal history and film thickness of the material. The color of PE prevents light from reaching the contents of the packaging, which helps to protect products from UV damage.

• Polypropylene packaging features high clarity, making it easy to view the packaged item. Pigments may be added to the plastic to tint the packaging. PP packaging may also be manufactured as translucent without coloring.

Temperatures

Polypropylene can withstand high temperatures up to 170°C, as opposed to polyethylene’s maximum tolerance of 115°C. Conversely, PE features stronger resistance to cold down to -80°C, as opposed to PP’s maximum cold resistance of about 0°C.

Resistances

Polyethylene is durable and flexible, with excellent resistances to fatigue, tearing, and chemical exposure. PE is also an effective electrical insulator and provides good tracking resistance. However, it is easily electrostatically charged, though this property can be offset by adding antistatic agents, carbon black, or graphite.

At room temperature, polypropylene features excellent resistances to almost all organic solvents and fats. PP can withstand non-oxidizing acids and bases and has high resistances to cracking, acids, and electrolytes. PP also features excellent resistance to fatigue.

Flexibility & Durability

Polypropylene is highly flexible, lightweight, and quite durable. The durability of PP allows it to bend repeatedly at the same point without cracking or breaking.

By contrast, polyethylene features better softness and pliability. However, polyethylene is available in low-density and high-density formulations, which makes it quite versatile for a variety of product types.

Cost

Polyethylene is generally less expensive, and low-density polyethylene can offer significant savings for high-volume shipping due to its lower weight. The lightweight nature of polypropylene packaging also contributes to low shipping costs, though the material itself is more expensive.

Polyethylene vs Polypropylene: Applications

Some of the most common uses for polyethylene and polypropylene include:

Polyethylene

• The elasticity of polyethylene makes it an ideal material for food packaging.
• Polyethylene is used extensively in the automotive industry.
• Polyethylene is often used for manufacturing stock poly bags, zip lock bags, bottles, food containers, food crates, stretch film, tape, pallets and plastic sheeting.
• Due to its durability, industrial companies often use polyethylene storage bags for large heavy items.

 Polypropylene

• Polypropylene is used usually for strapping tape, flat bags, gusseted bags, polypropylene boxes and poly strapping.
• Due to high temperature resistance, polypropylene is well-suited for microwaveable packaging.
• Non-packaging uses include housewares, toys, carpeting, upholstery and appliances.

About Printex Transparent Packaging

Many considerations go into selecting the right packaging material, including aesthetics, functionality, resistances, and more. The team at Printex Transparent Packaging can help you select the most appropriate packaging material for your needs. To see how our packaging solutions can protect your products, please contact us today.

What Can PET Plastic Be Recycled Into?

New PET containers

Clothing

Carpeting

Recycled Carpeting Made With Plastic

Eco-Friendly Product Packaging Ideas

As consumers grow more and more eco-conscious, many of them are now on the lookout for eco-friendly products and product packaging. Luckily, going green and reducing your company’s carbon footprint can be quite easy, especially with these eco-friendly product packaging ideas.

Utilize recycled materials

Creating eco-friendly product packaging begins with choosing sustainable, recyclable, or biodegradable materials. Doing so won’t just help reduce the product’s carbon footprint—it may also boost sales for your product. With the growing importance of environmentalism, many consumers are now on the lookout for sustainable products made with recycled materials. Using this type of material is better for the environment and gives the consumer sustainable options.

Plastic packaging often gets a bad rap for not being eco-friendly, but many plastic packaging materials are recyclable or made from recycled materials. For instance, you can recycle PET packaging, which in turn can be made from recycled plastic bottles, compostable PLA (polylactic acid, a corn-based product created from natural, renewable resources), and partly from recycled PET plastic (rPET). Using recyclable materials such as PET plastic in your product’s packaging significantly cuts down on the amount of waste thrown into landfills each year.

Many plastic packaging products are also recyclable in and of themselves. You can easily recycle PET plastic as well as most other clear plastic packaging. These materials can be ground down and converted into materials that can then be used to manufacture and produce other plastic boxes. For more information on the eco-friendly packaging materials and practices used at Printex Transparent Packaging, check out our page on sustainable packaging as well as our glossary of terms page.

Embrace the minimalist mind-set

One of the easiest eco-friendly product packaging ideas is to simply reduce the size and amount of packaging you use. Reducing the size of the packaging will, in turn, reduce the cost of packaging overall and the amount of waste that ends up in a landfill. When you reduce the size of the packaging, also try to reduce the amount of empty space within the box. Excess space in packaging is often filled with small, soft materials designed to cushion the product. These materials, such as Bubble Wrap and Styrofoam packing peanuts, are often not recyclable or biodegradable, and they can harm the environment. Rather than packing a small product in a large box and padding it with filler materials, consider designing a custom-made package for the product. Custom-designed product packaging can protect the product and ensure you’re using the least amount of packaging necessary. A custom box designed for a perfect fit is also structurally much stronger. When you’re designing your product’s packaging, always remember: “less is more.”