Do you believe that without a controlled approach and integrity of packaging best practices, we could ever emerge from the stone age? No! Especially, when it comes to food, or rather, dairy products, packaging plays a crucial role in safeguarding the content inside and keeping it suitable for consumption.
From production to consumption, packaging is a crucial and vital part of the food value chain. This is to support resilient and sustainable food supply networks. This article aims to highlight the significant role packaging plays throughout the dairy supply chain and in everyday life for customers.
Packaging is meant to minimize its environmental impact and adhere to a circular economic model. The emphasis is on upholding the strict regulatory and safety standards used in the dairy business while also guaranteeing usability and sustainability.
Choice of Packaging Materials
The selection of the type of packaging material for milk and dairy products depends on various factors. The most vital deciding parameters are product type, manufacturing, processing or storage conditions, handling practices, and intended use.
Dairy product manufacturers select the packaging materials from the options of glass or plastic, laminates (multilayer materials), pouches, plastic tubs, cans, etc. Irrespective of the type of packaging material they select, all packets must have the product details in the format that is specified by law.
It all depends on striking the right balance between the required packaging function and the least amount of environmental impact. There is no such thing as a good or terrible packaging material or a “one size fits all” approach.
Composition of Milk & Dairy Products Packaging Materials
As discussed, the selection of milk and dairy product packaging material depends on various factors. However, there are certain established regulations that have evolved after years of manufacturing and packaging practices in the dairy industry. With a proper understanding of the various associated parameters the preferred milk & dairy product packaging materials are as follows:
Plastics:
Oil- or biomass-based plastics come in a variety of specialized forms. Bottles, other lightweight containers, flexible packaging, and polyethylene (PE and HDPE) are all made from polyester (PET), polyethylene (PE and HDPE), polystyrene (PS), and polypropylene (PP).
Plastics combine flexibility (from film to rigid applications), strength, lightweight, stability, and ease of sterilizing as a packing material. For instance, the flavor and quality of food are unaffected by plastic food packaging. In reality, the barrier qualities of plastics ensure that food retains its original flavor while defending it against outside contamination. Additionally, plastic packaging is particularly resistant to moisture, heat, and cold, and it makes it easier to store and distribute products.
Drinking yogurt products are packed in HDPE bottles that are closed with PE-LD caps or aluminum foil laminate heat-seal closures. Other plastic bottles, such as PET bottles, can also be utilized. Yogurt is typically packaged in opaque or semi-opaque materials, many of which contain a white pigment like TiO2. In addition, dairy products including yogurt, buttermilk, and dairy desserts are frequently packaged in polystyrene, which is typically used for thin-wall packaging.
Metal:
Containers, foil, and closures are all made of metal, including aluminum. To create flexible packaging and food and beverage containers, foil is frequently laminated with paper and plastic components. Metal containers may be filled quickly and rigidly, with almost no product loss, enhancing overall efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions.
Metal packaging is simple to handle in the store, which lowers expenses and spoilage. Because it cannot break, there is less chance that it will leak or tear while being transported, stored, displayed on store shelves, or used in consumers’ homes. Metal is utilized in a few applications in the dairy industry, such as cans for condensed milk and milk powders and aluminum foil for butter.
Cardboards:
Organic fibers from wood and other biomass sources form the foundation of paper and board. Paper is frequently used in conjunction with coatings, foil, wax, or plastic materials for product packaging in order to give barrier characteristics and sealability.
Without refrigeration or the need for additional preservatives, products that are packaged in cartons can be kept for up to 12 months. There is no need for aluminum coatings in the boxes used for fresh dairy products. They are delivered in a chilled state.
Paper may be recycled easily, and high recycling rates are attained. After being recycled, the fiber is put to use in other paper-based products. Either paper-based or lightweight packaging is used to gather cartons.
Dairy product carton packaging leaves a little carbon footprint over the course of its lifetime. Additionally, the product-to-packing ratio for food and drink cartons can reach 96:4, which means that only 4% of the weight of the carton is made up of packaging and the rest is made up of the product within. Containers for liquid dairy products like cream, milk, and fermented beverages are typically made of cardboard.
Glass:
Glass can be easily opened and closed and produces impermeable containers out of sand, soda, ash, and limestone. Food and beverages can be safely stored in it because it is inert.
Glass is completely recyclable and may be recycled indefinitely without losing any of its quality or purity. Since glass recycling is a closed-loop system, no further waste or byproducts are produced. Glass is typically used in the dairy industry to pack sweets, fermented milk, and liquid milk.
Best Dairy Product Packaging Practices
The dairy industry is actively engaged in multiple initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of its packaging and looks for better ways to facilitate collection and recycling. The majority of dairy companies set goals for packaging’s reusability, recyclable content, composability, sorting and collecting, design, and carbon impact.
Prominently, the best dairy product packaging practices can be based on the following approaches:
- Substantial reduction in packaging’s carbon footprint.
- Packaging selection that is entirely recyclable, biodegradable, or reusable, with more than 50% of plastic packaging being actually recycled.
- As permitted by food safety and regulation, enhance the proportion of recycled materials in packaging.
- Cooperating with local governments and other outside parties to enhance recycling systems, avoid littering, and reduce ocean plastic pollution.
- Collaborate with suppliers, conduct research to discover new, more environmentally friendly materials, and enhance dairy package design targeting the following:
- Eliminate plastic packaging that is harmful or superfluous.
- Reduce the weight of packaging.
- Utilize more certified materials.
- utilize more biodegradable plastic.
- Utilize monoplastic materials that can be recycled.
In order to assist in the reduction of packaging waste and improve the sustainability of packaging in a financially feasible way, research, investment, and innovation in sustainable cutting-edge solutions are essential. Such cutting-edge approaches help the dairy industry achieve its ultimate goal of supporting sustainable production while guaranteeing the preservation of our customers’ health. They also positively impact the entire environmental footprint of dairy products.
