Packaging Machine for Sustainable Fruit and Vegetable Packaging | Cartoning & Sleeving Machine for Canned Peach, Mushroom, Orange, Beans…
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Food packaging is an important industrial sector that has great influence on food loss and waste [1]. The retail packaging of fresh products in the past has been relying on plastics: apples, strawberries, bananas, kiwis, tomatoes, etc., things tended to be flow wrapped in plastic bags and placed on shelves for retail selling. However, the recent new trend in sustainable packaging has changed the way how fruits are packed and sold in supermarkets.
In this article, we talk about the recent popular form of packaging with fruits and how packaging machines can get them handled.
Topics:
- Fruit packaging trends in recent days.
- How packaging machines can work for fruits?
The aftermath of Widely Used Plastic Packaging in the Food Sector
The most conventional way of preserving fruits and vegetables was the plastic packaging way: firstly get them loaded onto a clamshell or tray and then get the whole of it flow-wrapped with plastics. As suggested by NPP Grouping in the United Kingdom, plastic packaging has been preferred due to the flexibility to fit either food or non-food products with bespoke sizes and shapes. The plastic packaging also offers ideal clarity for the presentation of the containment[2]. The versatility is another advantage that plastic packaging has been loved for so long.
However, coming with such advantages are some significant impacts on the environment that people have neglected during the past long run. United Nations Environmental Investigation has addressed that there are some 8.3 Mt of plastics already reaching the ocean and has caused considerable pollution[3], though the use of plastic packaging in the food sector is just a minor one and a small portion of plastic pollution sources to blame.
Processing plastic packaging by incineration is another factor to concern now that it is a major source of GHG emissions and even toxins and contaminations, according to the GaBi database[4].
The Preferred Use of Cardboard, Recycled and Biodegradable Materials as Packaging
As the journalist, Ross Courtney, commented in the news on Jan 27, 2022, “The shift to sustainable consumer packaging has hit the fruit industry, and several packing companies say they are using more cardboard.”[5].
Jim Divis, the general manager of Honeybear Growers[5], a family-owned business with 200 acres of apples and pears in the Brewster, Washington area, comments that by shifting from plastic clamshells to cardboard packaging, the company has gained market recognization in terms of sustainability, which is a part of the social responsibility marketing strategy and their sales volume has seen growth after the change of packaging, while the packaging cost has been maintained at $3 for each 40-pound box.
Plastic-Free Packaging for fruit and vegetables meets the current regulation and requirements regarding recyclability and sustainability. More and more companies, both the brand company and packaging machine manufacturers are promoting this concept.
What Styles of Sustainable Packaging for Fruits are Prevailing?
The board trays and sleeves packaging of fruit and vegetables can either be done manually or by packaging automation. Alternatively, those who look for lighter packaging can also turn to banding by replacing sleeves with banderole.
The packaging process for cardboard trays and sleeves can be of different styles and be done by different packaging machines.
Pre-folded and Pre-glued Sleeve
The pre-folded and pre-glued sleeve packaging applies an end-load pattern to insert the cardboard tray into the open end of the sleeve.
Cavalier Sleeve Packaging
The cavalier packaging is a simplified pattern to a wrapped cardboard tray with a piece of the sleeve that only covers the two horizontal ends, without covering the bottom. Such packaging is secured by spraying hot melt glue on the tray’s two sides and applying the sleeve.
Wrap-Around Sleeve Packaging
The wrap-around application applies flat sleeves and wrapping over the cardboard tray. This one would be the tighter form of packaging than the two above.
Sustainable Packaging Also Applies for Canned Fruit and Vegetable
In the manufacturing processes of canned fruit and vegetable, such as pineapple and mushrooms, reaching the sustainability goal is also a key when it comes to packaging.
Sleeving Machine for Canned Fruit and Vegetables
Benefits of Carton Paper Sleeves for Canned Fruit and Vegetables
Carton paper sleeves are an eco-friendly packaging option due to their recallability and biodegradability, reducing landfill waste and plastic usage. They offer excellent branding opportunities with customizable surfaces for graphics and product information, enhancing product appeal and visibility. Additionally, these sleeves provide extra protection during transportation and handling, improving stackability and maintaining package shape.
Advantages of Auto Sleeving Machines
Auto sleeving machines significantly increase efficiency and consistency in the packaging process. They operate at high speeds, ensuring uniform application of sleeves, and reduce labor costs by minimizing manual handling. These machines are adaptable to various product sizes and shapes, allowing quick changeovers for different product lines. Furthermore, they enhance workplace safety with integrated safety features and maintain high quality through precise application and inspection systems.
Cartoning & Sleeving Machine for Canned Mushroom
What are the Varieties of Canned Fruit and Vegetables Our Sleeving Machine Covers?
ELITER’s Sleeving Machine offers versatile solutions for packaging a wide array of canned fruits and vegetables. The machine is designed to handle various product shapes and sizes, from round to oval cans, and can accommodate different labeling materials and styles.
Canned Peach Sleeveing & Cartoning Machine
Whether it’s peaches, pears, corn, or green beans, ELITER’s Sleeving Machine ensures a secure, aesthetically pleasing sleeve application that enhances shelf appeal and preserves product integrity. The machine’s adaptability makes it suitable for both high-volume production and smaller, specialty batches, providing efficiency and flexibility for diverse packaging needs.
Examples of Canned Fruit and Vegetables
Canned Fruits
- Peaches
- Pears
- Pineapples
- Apricots
- Mandarins
- Mixed fruit cocktail
- Cherries
- Applesauce
Canned Vegetables:
- Corn
- Green beans
- Peas
- Carrots
- Tomatoes
- Spinach
- Mushrooms
- Beets
Our Food Safe Serving Packaging Machine for your Fruit Packaging
ÉLITER Packaging Machinery is ready to take on the challenges to design and develop food-safe-serving and FMCs-compliant machines and to automate your packaging process for your success.
From end-load cartoner, to wrap-around sleever and bespoke machines for sleeve packaging, our portfolios of packaging machines are at your choice to meet your expectations.
Send your inquiry to: info@eliter-packaging.com
Bibliography
- [1] When plastic packaging should be preferred: Life cycle analysis of packages for fruit and vegetable distribution in the Spanish peninsular market, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 155, 2020, 104666, ISSN 0921-3449, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104666
- [2] Flow Wrap Film, NPP Group, United Kingdom, https://www.npp.ie/item/flowwrap-film
- [3] Life Cycle Assessment of Reusable Plastic Crates (RPCs), 21 April 2019 / Revised: 6 June 2019 / Accepted: 12 June 2019 / Published: 15 June 2019, https://doi.org/10.3390/resources8020110
- [4] Software-System and Databases for Life Cycle Engineering, S Gabi – Sphera: Stuttgart, Echterdingen, Germany, 2019
- [5] Sustainable packaging push, Packers roll out cardboard consumer packs for Costco, Ross Courtney, TJ Mullinax, January 27, 2022, https://www.goodfruit.com/sustainable-packaging-push/
