STORAGE AND PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY UNIT 3 FUNCTIONS OF PACKAGING MATERIALS 9 Introduction – packaging strategies for various environment – functions of package – packaging materials – cushioning materials – bio degradable packaging materials – shrink and stretch packaging materials. Food Packaging is one of the most important processes in food industry which helps in maintaining the quality of food products during storage, transportation and distribution. It is primarily done in order to protect the food products from external influences like biological, chemical or mechanical damage; to contain the food, preserve it in its state as packed by preventing quality deterioration, and to attract consumers and provide product and nutritional information. For years, ancient people consumed fresh food which they could gather from their natural surroundings without storing the food. As the nomadic culture evolved, the need for containers to store food has also emerged. It took over 300 years for food packaging to finally evolve into the current form. There are many packaging materials used ever since. Each type of packaging material has a different role to play in packaging. Also packaging material like biodegradable packaging or edible packaging may ensure the world’s need for environment friendly and natural foods which is a major global concern now-a-day. The food packaging industry has revolutionized to a great extent in the recent years with advancement of novel food packaging technologies, such as active packaging, aseptic packaging, smart packaging, bioactive packaging, edible packaging which are research trends. Advances in such packaging technology may prevent food spoilage by maintaining the food standard at the highest possible degree which may help in satisfying the needs of consumers throughout the food supply chain as well as fulfilling the requirements as per Food Packaging Laws. Keywords: packaging, packaging material, food packaging techniques, novel packaging technology, food packaging law, storage Introduction Packing: Food packaging is done in order to provide the basic protection to food materials from various direct and indirect contaminants, apart from protecting the food from damage, leakage, etc. Food packaging also aids in preservation and storage of food throughout the supply chain. Packaging: Packaging is generally done as a final process where packed goods/products are further packaged into bigger boxes, courier bags, bubble envelopes, cardboard, cartons or whatsoever. However, both the term packing and packaging are commonly used interchangeably. Packaging is an art of presenting a product. It is more about the appearance, colour, design or presentation of the final product wrapped in a material to attract the consumers. Packaging also plays an important role in tempting custome

1. - For Agriculture Engineers

2. PRESENTED BY
Mr.S.Arul B.E(AE).,M.Tech(AT)
MRT22PGMAT001
Department of Agriculture Technology
Shobhit Institute of Engineering and
Technology
Meerut,UP.

3. CONTENTS
 Introduction
 packaging strategies for various environment
 functions of package
 packaging materials
 cushioning materials
 bio degradable packaging materials
 shrink and stretch packaging materials
 Conclusion

4. Introduction
Packaging is an industrial and marketing
technique for containing, protecting,
identifying and facilitating the sale and
distribution of agricultural, industrial and
consumer products.

5. PACKAGING STRATEGIES FOR
VARIOUS ENVIRONMENT
Efficient packaging is a necessity for every
kind of food, whether it is fresh or
processed. It is an essential link between the
food producer and the consumer, and unless
performed correctly the standing of the
product suffers and customer goodwill is
lost. The basic functions of packaging are
more specifically stated.

6.  Containment
 Protection
 Communication
 Preservation
 Convenience
 Unitization
 Information about the product
 Presentation
 Brand communication
 Promotion
 Economy
FUNCTIONS OF PACKAGING

7. REQUIREMENTS FOR
EFFECTIVE FOOD PACKAGING
1. Be nontoxic
2. Protect against contamination from
microorganisms
3. act as a barrier to moisture loss or gain and
oxygen ingress
4. protect against ingress of odors or
environmental toxicants
5. Filter out harmful UV light
6. Provide resistance to physical damage
7. Be transparent
8. be tamper – resistant or tamper – evident

8. 9. Be easy to open
10. Have dispensing and resealing features
11. Be disposed of easily
12. Meet size, shape and weight requirements
13. Have appearance, printability features
14. Be low cost
15. Be compatible with food
16. Have special features such as utilizing groups
of product together.

9. PACKAGING MATERIALS
1. PAPER / PAPER BOARD
2. GLASS
3. PLASTIC
4. METAL

10. PAPER / PAPER BOARD
 Pulp from wood or other sources, such as hemp or bamboo,
makes up this type of packaging. Manufacturers often use it as
a wrapper, paper box, shredded packing material, or in the form
of paperboard. Corrugated boxes are made of two or more
layers of paper stuck together by adhesive.
 Paper is 100% recyclable, which can make it a sustainable
choice of packaging material. Making it out of wood is less
eco-friendly, but there are numerous up-and-coming
alternatives that have a smaller carbon footprint. Bamboo, for
example, grows quickly and comes back repeatedly after being
cut down.
 Paper can be less sturdy than other packaging materials, but it
is durable in the form of board, and it’s lightweight.

12. GLASS
 A nonporous, nontoxic material made from sand, glass is
infinitely recyclable. One of its downsides is breakability glass
products may shatter in transit, costing the manufacturer money
in the form of lost products and time spent cleaning up. It’s also
heavier than plastic and requires substantial heat (energy) to
produce.
 But glass is an excellent barrier material, preserving the flavor
of foods and drinks without leaching particles into them.
 Manufacturers may design colored or textured glass containers
with aesthetic appeal, encouraging people to buy the product
inside. This is often the case with alcohol, soda, or candles.
 Glass packaging is also reusable.

14. PLASTIC
 Polymers are the main ingredient of this
synthetic material. When it comes to
packaging, plastic may be flexible as is the
case with bags, wrappers, and stickers or rigid
such as bottles, jars, and tubs, holding foods,
drinks, detergents, pharmaceuticals, and more.
 Plastic is also used inside other types of
packaging in the form of packing peanuts or
bubble wrap.

15.  Plastic is lightweight, inexpensive, and strong
enough to protect items during shipping. As a tape,
it can bind packages together. Manufacturers can
make it in a variety of colors and opacities.
 However, it’s could be difficult to recycle plastic,
so most of it ends up in landfills or the
environment. It could break down into tiny pieces
called micro plastics that often contaminate
waterways and food.
 Researchers have discovered a way to turn some
plastics into fuel, which could hopefully make it a
more sustainable material in the future.

17. METAL
 Aluminum, steel, and other types of metal packaging are
made by mining raw materials from the earth, then
refining them. Metal can be more durable than glass or
plastic, although thin metal is usually pliable and subject
to bending out of shape.
 Manufacturers use metal cans to package products as
diverse as soda, green beans, paint, and shoe polish. Metal
cans prevent food from spoiling, allowing it to be stored
longer. Steel drums also transport large quantities of
liquids, such as oil, for commercial use.
 Metal can be dropped or subjected to high heat without
breaking. Obtaining metal by mining is often an
ecologically destructive process, but it’s easier to recycle
than plastic. Metal packaging ranges from light to heavy
depending on its thickness.

19. CUSHIONING MATERIALS
The cushioning material used for packaging
fruits/vegetables are dry grass, paddy straw,
leaves, saw dust, paper shreds, thermocol,
foam nets(apple, pear, citrus), bud net(rose)
etc.

20. For the cushioning material to be useful
 It should have resilient/flexible property
 It should dissipate the heat of respiration of
the produce
 It should be free from infection
 Should be physiologically inactive

22. BIO DEGRADABLE
PACKAGING MATERIALS
Biodegradable packaging is generally defined as any form of
packaging that will naturally disintegrate and decompose.
Biodegradable Definition:
 The term “biodegradable” has typically been used very broadly
for any sustainable packaging material that will naturally break
down – under any conditions and in an undefined amount of
time. The issue? By this definition, anything from a wooden
box to a cellulose-based wrapper is biodegradable. The
difference being that the wrapper will biodegrade within weeks,
while the wood will take decades or even centuries. Some of
the sustainably-stamped biodegradable packaging that is being
sold today will still cause harm to the environment!

24. SHRINK AND STRETCH
PACKAGING MATERIALS
Polyethylene is the most commonly used
material for shrink and stretch
wrapping because it is relatively cheap and
can be produced in a range of different
densities and modified with additives to
perform many functions.

26. CONCLUSION
It shields the product from heat, humidity,
light, and other external influences. This is
the primary function of packaging. Apart
from that the amount of packaging waste
that a product creates is truly shocking. In
the end, packaging's function is to
safeguard.