Most of the food products that we consume come packaged. The packaging is selected and designed to protect the food from spoilage and contamination; it is also often chosen to improve the appearance of the product and attract more people. However, when it comes to choosing packaging material for food, the main concern is its safety and effects on our health.
Metal tin containers, especially aluminum cans and aluminum bottles are amongst the best options for product packaging, primarily for consumables. Other conventional packaging materials like plastic, cardboard, and glass have been used for a long time, but they all carry some flaws. For example, plastic packaging is made up of chemicals. It contains BPA chemical agents, which studies have related to cancer, brain damage and many other adverse health effects. Cardboard and paper packaging are chemical-free, but they cannot stop moisture and oxygen from entering inside the packaging, thus as a result shortening the lifespan of the consumable products that are stored inside. Furthermore, cardboard packaging alone is not sturdy enough for most of the products in the market. On the other hand, glass can save food from oxygen and moisture. Still, it can easily break and is heavy material for packaging, making handling such items problematic.
Aluminum bottles and cans check all the boxes for a modern-day packaging material – food safety, longevity, lightweight packaging, and BPA-free material, making it a popular choice amongst brands. It is a naturally occurring material; it does not require treatment or coating of any harmful chemicals. Unlike its primary competitor, plastics, aluminum is BPA free. This makes it the perfect choice for packaging food items and cosmetics alike. There is nothing to worry about when it comes to the quality of products packaged in aluminum. Several component authorities have confirmed that consumer goods preserved and stored in aluminum packaging are safe for the human body. Aluminum is opaque and non-porous, which keeps moisture, oxygen, and UV rays away from the product and extends the lifespan of the food items inside. Once sealed correctly, consumables inside are safe from any outside threats. Furthermore, the resilient nature of this material gives it a dominant ranking when it comes to wear and tear resistance that occurs in local or global transportation. Additionally, the seamless design and premium metal finish that aluminum packaging offers has no match when compared to plastics and cardboard.
Apart from the health benefits, aluminum is also beneficial for our environment. It is an economical packaging material when the overall carbon footprint of other packaging material is accounted for. It is the thirds most common material and the most common metal found on earth. Extracting aluminum is easy, and thanks to its recyclability, its environmental footprint is minimal. It is endlessly recyclable when compared to plastic and paper and is lighter and sturdier than glass. In addition, recycling aluminum has no degradation effects on the material. In fact, it is more feasible to recycle aluminum than to extract virgin aluminum from ores; it only costs about 5% of its primary production energy to recycle aluminum. The abundant aluminum recycling capabilities ensure a constant and never-ending supply chain for industries, making it a reliable packaging material option. In addition, aluminum has a low melting point, making for a malleable material that is easy to shape and form. This has enormous marketing benefits for companies and provides them with an additional degree of freedom. Brands can easily customize the design and dimensions of the packaging to fit their needs. These qualities of aluminum make it an elite choice for the food industry to use as a packaging material.
Furthermore, aluminum packaging is also lightweight, which adds an almost negligible amount of weight to the product. One can argue that plastic is also lightweight, but aluminum has excellent durability and safety features that plastic cannot achieve. Its corrosion resistance characteristic allows for the safe storage of food with organic acids. Plastics are not resistant to acids and may react with them, compromising the food stored inside. Most of the plastic in the packaging industry requires BPA chemical treatment for strength and durability. This makes them potentially harmful to our health. Recycling plastics is no easy task, and its entire lifecycle carries tremendous amounts of carbon footprint. Plastics can stay in landfills for centuries before breaking down into microplastic particles, and that too is harmful. Animals and fishes can mistake this microplastic for food, and once it enters the food chain, it will most likely end up in our food supply as well.
In conclusion, there are many packaging materials you can choose from. However, amongst all the different packaging materials, we suggest that aluminum is one of the best options. It is safe, eco-friendly, recyclable, and most importantly, it does not compromise the quality of the food items packaged in it. Its lightweight features and seamless finish make for an excellent overall appearance. Products stored and shipped in aluminum packaging are an excellent choice among consumers, and this trend only seems to be growing with time.
