Posted by Jane White on | Comments Off on Smart Packaging Design for recycling plastic
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.
Posted by Jane White on | Comments Off on Outstanding Christmas Holiday Packaging
Boost Your Sales During the Christmas Holiday. It’s Time to Start Planning Your Custom Christmas Packaging.
Innovative Custom Christmas Packaging with a “Wow Factor” is a wonderful way to boost your sales. It’s about that time of the year to begin preparing for your Christmas retail season. Here are some tips on holiday packaging ideas, when to start planning your custom Christmas Packaging, and why you should use holiday packaging to boost your sales!
Start Holiday Packaging Planning Early
This is a great time of year to begin preparing for your Christmas retail season. Here are some ideas for outstanding Christmas Packaging to help you boost your sales during the holiday season. Retail consumers love custom-designed holiday-themed boxes because they look great and can save them time and money wrapping gifts. Consumers love the convenience, and they look for packaging designed in a gift-ready decorated box.
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
Create new customized shapes or add to your existing packagings such as playful and festive holiday-themed imagery including snowflakes, snowmen, candy canes, Christmas ornaments, Christmas trees, and bows that spark a seasonal theme. Clear plastic PET is adaptable packaging that allows manufacturers to customize its shape, size, and style according to the customers’ needs. Shine Bright Nail Lacquer star-shaped container is made from recyclable clear PET and has silver hot foil graphics with a seasonal snowflake design. Custom holiday packaging can add value to your product and customer experience. They are great stocking stuffers and look good in gift baskets, or under the tree.
A “Window of Opportunity”
A window box has the benefits of a paperboard box plus the advantages of a PET clear window. Lots of branding can be printed on the box and a clear window showcases the product. For the holidays this can be for promotional gift sets, Christmas Crafts, Christmas chocolates, Christmas baked goods, or health and beauty promotional gift sets. A window box is a great way to showcase what is inside the package and convey a higher value proposition. In a Clemson eye-tracking study, participants were asked, “When buying personal care products, which package do you perceive as being higher quality?” respondents answered “clear plastic” more than 85 percent of the time. Participants were four times more likely to purchase a product that they could see through the clear plastic package.
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.
Benefit from package branding that pops but with the advantage of seeing what’s inside. If a customer can view your product, then they are more likely to choose the product that they can see rather than another that is blindly boxed in an opaque paperboard box. Customers like to see what they are buying. According to a Clemson eye-tracking study, Fixation counts! Clear plastic packages were 675 percent more likely to grab a shopper’s eyes than paperboard containers. Transparent packaging can help build brand equity and support the value proposition of your product. Starbucks Via Instant Latte Sachets packaging is transformed from a paperboard box with no visibility into a clear package made with 100% Post-Consumer Recycled PET—made from recycled water bottles! “Wow, factor” and product messaging are communicated by full-color printing enhanced by Silver Hot-foil stamped snowflakes and translucent areas that let the colored sachets shine through. In the case of this packaging design concept, it can serve as a stocking stuffer or can be hung from a Christmas tree and used as a fun, shiny Christmas ornament.
Holiday Packaging Deadlines
Traditional lead times and planning schedules are no longer the benchmarks. Since the Pandemic and other world events, shipments have been delayed by weeks and months, putting at risk of hitting key dates to sell into seasonal markets, Christmas Retail Packaging planning should be happening now! Economists expect shipping problems to linger well into 2022. Shipping costs are 6x more than the pre-pandemic norm! Backlogs and elevated shipping costs are likely to persist past next Christmas. We at Printex Transparent Packaging recommend three key helpful hints:
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
Yes, sustainability matters to customers as well as to manufacturers. You want your customers to still see your product and be dazzled by your fantastic packaging that draws them to your product. Especially during holiday retail Christmas! Yet, your company wants to comply with increased sustainability goals and still compete for attention on the shelf! Today, consumers want to invest in a brand mission. Eco-conscious holiday packaging is an excellent branding tool that allows you to meet all your packaging goals.
Holiday Packaging With Printex Transparent Packaging
Increased sales, a more commanding visual presence, greater visibility in the marketplace, and environmentally sensible – these are just some of the reasons transparent packaging or a window box is a wise decision for your holiday packaging needs.
Printex Transparent Packaging is the largest Clear Folding Box manufacturer in North America. Producing clear folding cartons and window boxes utilizing recyclable PET made from Virgin resin, 25%, 50%, and 100%, recycled PET (water bottles). With manufacturing plants in the US and Canada, overseas shipping delays are not something you have to worry about. Sourcing, buying, and manufacturing domestically also reduces negative environmental impacts associated with trans ocean shipping while also supporting our domestic economies and job creation.
You can also rest assured knowing our packaging is manufactured in our SQF-certified, food-safe packaging facility. SQF Code is internationally recognized, with emphasis on the systematic application of HACCP/Food Safety principles for control of food safety hazards.
Posted by Jane White on | Comments Off on What Your Product Packaging Says About Your Brand
With the almost infinite number of choices that consumers have nowadays, it can be easy to feel like your product is lost in the crowd. How your brand is presented to your customers matters, and the first thing they are going to notice is the packaging that the product is in. It’s important that you get your message across in your packaging as efficiently as possible. Let’s look into what your product packaging says about your brand.
It Tells Your Story
There’s no denying that an emotional connection is a powerful tool when it comes to selling a product. Your packaging is a great place to sell your story to your customer. However, at the same time, you don’t want to bombard your customer with too much information all at once. Finding the right balance of text on your packaging is key to grab a potential customer’s attention.
It Reflects Your Values
If your brand is dedicated to ideas such as minimalism or eco-friendliness, that should be reflected in your product packaging. Go with a minimalist design on the packaging or make it out of reused plastic or paper. You want to use every opportunity afforded to you to showcase your brand’s values to your customers.
It Shows You Trust Your Product
The benefit of clear product packaging is the ability to show your customer exactly what they’ll be getting. Lesser brands often hide the size or quality of their product behind opaque, misleading packaging to trick people into buying them. Having clear packaging shows that you trust your product enough for the customer to see exactly what they’ll be getting.
It Shows How Much You Value Your Own Product
Having packaging that you use simply because it’s the cheapest or easily available reflects poorly on the product itself. Customers can get a sense of the quality of the product based on the quality of packaging that it is in. You don’t want the first impression of your product to be that you didn’t care enough to give it proper packaging.
What does your product packaging say about your brand? Ideally, it should match up perfectly to how you market your brand outside of the packaging as well. Printex Transparent Packaging wants to be your go-to for any packaging needs you might have, whether that is a folding plastic box or clear PVC.
Posted by Jane White on | Comments Off on 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.
Posted by Jane White on | Comments Off on 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. Usingclear 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.
Posted by Jane White on | Comments Off on 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.
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, pleasecontact us today.
Posted by Jane White on | Comments Off on What Can PET Plastic Be Recycled Into?
Polyethylene terephthalate packaging—or as it’s more commonly known, PET packaging—is a popular material for packaging products in a variety of different industries. PET plastic is popular not only for its crystal-clear transparency and durable yet lightweight nature, but also for the positive impact it has had on the environment. PET packaging is 100 percent recyclable and can be broken down to its base elements in order to create a variety of different products. Recycling PET plastic in this way helps decrease the amount of waste that’s put into landfills each year and reduces the negative impact such waste can have on the environment. Below are just a few of the many things PET plastic can be recycled into.
New PET containers
The most common use for recycled PET plastic is in retail packaging. PET plastic is made from one of the few polymers which can be recycled back into the same format. This means that old PET plastic bottles or packaging can be easily recycled into brand new PET plastic bottles or packaging, with almost no discernable difference between the two items. PET packaging is used by many different industries, including the beauty, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries. Utilizing recycled PET plastic to package their products can help an organization decrease their carbon footprint while still ensuring that their products are well protected and beautifully displayed. PET containers made from recycled PET plastic retain the same structural integrity and almost glass-like transparency as containers made from nonrecycled PET plastic. Perhaps the most notable benefit of using recycled PET plastic in this way is that it can be recycled again and again, thereby reducing the amount of pollution and waste that is placed into landfills every year.
Clothing
It may sound surprising, but PET plastic is actually a common component in many clothing items. As we’ve stated, PET plastic is made from an easily recyclable polymer. While this polymer can be recycled back into its original format, as is the case with recycled PET containers, it can also be recycled into other formats. In the clothing industry, PET plastic is generally broken down into its base polymers, which are then used to create polyester fabric. Polyester fabric can be put to use in many different clothing items and is a popular choice among many clothing brands because of its durable, lightweight, and often wrinkle-resistant nature. Polyester is also a popular material for creating wind and water resistant clothing. PET plastic can also be recycled into Poly-Fil or Fiber-Fil material, which can be put to use as insulation in winter jackets, snow pants, and even sleeping bags.
Carpeting
Similar to its use in the clothing industry, PET plastic can also be used to make carpeting. Using the same processes to break down PET plastic into its base polymers, the materials are then used to produce polyester carpet fibers. Carpets that utilize polyester fibers are quite stain resistant and durable, yet still incredibly soft. When compared to other carpeting materials, such as nylon, polyester carpets build up far less static electricity, making them a wonderful material for homeowners living in a particularly dry climate.
Recycled Carpeting Made With Plastic
Your feet may be resting on recycled plastic water or soda bottles. Most carpeting is made from plastic fibers such as nylon, polypropylene, or polyester. In recent years, manufacturers have been able to create carpet fiber from recycled plastics, such as the plastic used to make beverage bottles. It takes approximately 50 two-liter bottles to create one square yard of carpet fiber.
Like “virgin” plastics, the recycled plastic carpeting fibers often are more stain-resistant and color-fast than materials such as wool, and manufacturing carpeting using recycled plastics produces fewer emissions than using virgin plastics.
Posted by Jane White on | Comments Off on 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.”
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 terephthalate packaging—or as it’s more commonly known, PET packaging—is a popular material for packaging products in a variety of different industries. PET plastic is popular not only for its crystal-clear transparency and durable yet lightweight nature, but also for the positive impact it has had on the environment. 
