Good Fresh and Frozen Food Deserves Good Packaging for Safe Shipping and Temperature Control

For several years we have been a leading source for custom printed small and medium size die cut mailer and RSC style boxes for shipping a wide variety of non-perishable food products. The range has been literally from dried soups to nuts and for the subscription snack fulfillment market.

More recently, we have used that same expertise to create oversized containers, RSC boxes and die cut mailers to ship both prepared and unprepared food products. In many cases, our packaging is for shipping complete dinners, either fresh or frozen, requiring coolant and/or insulation. Whether the meals or ingredients are sold to address a specific medical requirement (gluten free, diabetic patients, etc.), to satisfy a healthy eating concern (vegan, organic, etc.) or simply for convenience, getting them to the customer safely, securely and at the required temperature is the objective.

Every application shipping food is a little different  

That is what we have learned and fortunately we have the products and design capabilities to be able to provide packaging solutions for just about any food application and variable. Is the food being shipped fresh or frozen? What temperature has to be maintained and for how long? How are the containers being shipped or delivered? Are there any product breakage, bruising or crushing concerns?

These are just a few of the many application considerations we review with our customers before making our product and component recommendations.

Insulated Shipping Boxes

We recently added three “stock” sizes of insulated RSC shipping boxes to our www.GlobeGuardProducts.com green packaging store and have included pricing for the convenience of customers who only need to occasionally order a few insulated boxes. However, the three sizes shown are just a very small sample of our overall capabilities because we make custom size insulated shipping boxes of any style or size with 1”, 1-1/2” and 2” thick walls made of biodegradable, eco-friendly foam.

In some cases, the container is only going to be used for a short period of time and within a wide temperature range requirement, so we are able to satisfy the need with one of our coated products that resists moisture without adversely affecting the recyclability of the corrugated container.

Branding is Important

On our web site’s custom printed section we talk about “packaging that communicates” and by now most people understand the importance of reinforcing a brand image or logo and creating that all important positive customer experience and first impression.

For this particular market segment, custom printing also represents a unique opportunity to remind customers about the greenness of the packaging. Why is that so important? Keep in mind that in many cases these are the same types of customers who carry their own bags to the grocery store. Your goal (and ours too) is to make them a loyal subscriber which means you will be sending volumes of packaging directly into their homes on a regular basis. The shipping containers, insulating materials and even the coolants (frozen ice, cold packs, etc.) may all represent difficult challenges when it comes to disposal.

Reminding people of the content of your packaging (example – 100% recycled content boxes) and if/how they can be reused or recycled is not only a good idea, it can make or break the ongoing relationship we are attempting to establish. We have been repeatedly contacted by companies whose customers have provided feedback such as, “I love the program and products but what can I do about all of this packaging I am accumulating?” Providing a reasonable “end of use” response and relieving the waste guilt trip is absolutely necessary to maintain the desired long term relationship.

Green packaging for food – it’s complicated!

It is but it’s not. There are many factors to be considered and numerous potentially costly mistakes that can be made, but few that we have not already met and overcome or avoided in the past.

Please contact us or call us at 815-609-3600 about your program and packaging requirements and we will be glad to provide you with a no cost, no obligation review of your application.

- See more at: http://blog.salazarpackaging.com/sustainable-packaging/good-fresh-and-frozen-food-deserves-good-packaging-for-safe-shipping-and-temperature-control/#sthash.E0Rdixh4.dpuf

Source: http://goo.gl/Ctdkrc