As summer approaches, and with it, the hot weather, it is inevitable that consumers will stock up on ice cream. Whether as a food shop staple or a special treat, with over 13 million Brits buying ice cream, gelato, or frozen yoghurt every week in the UK [1], it is clear that the frozen dessert market is big business. If you are a business operating in this sector, whether as a manufacturer or a retailer, it is essential to remember that the packaging that you choose and the way in which you present your product will have a marked impact on sales [2].

Choosing the best ice cream packaging

The primary options for packaging ice cream are HPDE plastic and cardboard. Each offers a number of benefits, and it is important that ice cream, frozen yoghurt and gelato manufacturers select the one that best satisfies the needs of their customers and demonstrates their company ethos.

Cardboard

Cardboard ice cream packaging is often touted as a more environmentally friendly option than plastic. This type of packaging is often certified by the Forest Stewardship Council which means that the pulp has been sourced from forests that are specifically managed to protect wildlife and maintain biodiversity. Cardboard can only be used once, but it is recyclable or compostable at its end of life. Its drawback is that it is more susceptible to damage in transit which can breach the container and allow for leaks or contamination to occur.

Plastic

BPA-free and food-safe, hi-density polyethylene (HPDE) plastic is strong, flexible and resistant to impact, which reduces the risk of contamination or leakage. This material also withstands freezing temperatures with ease. Many plastics can be reused when recycled appropriately. The only drawback is that not all councils offer a kerbside recycling service for HPDE plastics, meaning that some consumers will need to take empty containers to their local recycling centre to ensure that they do not end up consigned to landfill.

Interpack plastic ice cream packaging

Our plastic containers are ideally suited to ice cream and gelato businesses. They are sturdy, sleek and strong, benefiting from a modern design that can be easily customised with your company logo, colour scheme and ingredients labelling.

The lids that are supplied are tightly fitted to guard against breaches that may contaminate your product, thereby ensuring customer satisfaction. We offer a wide range of sizes, from pint-sized, which is ideal for direct customer sales, to 10L, which is preferred by the catering industry.

Our 4.7L Napoli containers are ideally suited to those operating ice creams sales outlets, such as ice cream vans or market stalls. Their standard shape displays a tantalising amount of product and the reusability of the container can save retailers money.

Summary

Hard-wearing and reusable, our range of ice cream and gelato packaging will enhance customer satisfaction, allow you to personalise the presentation of your product and increase your business’ sustainability credentials.

A huge amount of food is wasted every day, contributing to the environmental emergency. Recyclable food packaging have an important role in reducing the amount of food wasted.

The major role of packaging is mainly to protect food from damage or spoilage on its journey to the end consumer. But it also has an important role in the home. It serves as a storage container, making the contents in it easily accessible, with instructions as to how to prepare the product. Resealable containers keep food fresh and allow food to be stored for much longer. That means it is less likely to be thrown away. Airtight containers can help protect the contents from exposure to air, moisture, micro-organisms, and light, all of which contribute to contamination.

Let’s see how the right packaging can prevent food waste effectively.

Recyclable food packaging

It is important to reduce the amount of packaging we throw away and the amount of food we waste.

Recyclable food containers that are easy to clean can be used over and over again. They are multi-purpose and are suitable for a wide range of uses, such as storing leftovers or transporting packed lunches. A durable alternative to disposable containers, reusable food containers help us contribute to a more sustainable future.

Accessible packaging

If the food inside the containers is hard to access, a flaw in the packaging design is evident, and it needs to be altered. Many consumers report their frustration at being unable to use the whole product due to poorly designed packaging, and many of us will have experienced difficulties in using up the last of the ketchup or honey. All packaging should make the contents easily accessible in order to limit food waste.

Pack size

It is important to consider portion size when designing packaging. Packs that are too big will mean that food goes uneaten and this will contribute to food waste. Smaller portions and a wider variety of different pack sizes to choose from will reduce waste as consumers can select an appropriate size for their needs rather than having to accept the default quantity.

Visibility and organization

Carefully designed packaging can also help to keep consumers conscious of what foods they have in their refrigerators. Clear, transparent packaging helps them see at a glance what they have available, making it less likely for them to forget about the food and allow it to go out of date. Every time they look in the fridge, they are reminded of what needs to be used up and what is beginning to lose its freshness. That’s how less amount of food gets wasted. Clear labeling on the packaging is also important. It helps people to keep track of the date by which when food needs to be consumed so they can use it in time.

The Takeaway

Food waste prevention and packaging design are directly related. Specific strategies in the design of packaging, such as resealability, accessibility, and pack size variety will help people to reduce the amount of food they throw away. The right design will allow them to store food for longer, access the whole of the contents, and select the correct portion size.

This will allow everyone to reduce their carbon footprint and lead a more sustainable life.

Plastic Packaging solutions are designed to not only protect the contents, but also to appeal to the target consumer. Understanding the psyche of the consumer is essential when optimising the design of the packaging. Creating an appealing and attractive design that will help in outperforming the competition.

Culture and materials

The UK is set on achieving net zero by 2050 and to this end, many consumers are continually receiving the message that single-use plastic is bad and that they must look to reuse and recycle where possible. Many Brits will even pay higher prices for compostable packaging in order to comply with the messaging that plastic should be avoided.

Understanding that the British public has high expectations for the environmental credentials of a product can help drive a sustainable design when developing plastic packaging solutions in the UK.

Branding and visual aesthetics

Your product is designed with a particular consumer in mind, so understanding the needs and wants of that consumer is essential in targeting the product to catch their attention. Not only should the packaging be of a material that they deem to be socially and morally acceptable, but it needs to be attractive and convey the right message.

Choose a colour scheme that creates the right emotional resonance. If you are marketing a healthy product, then greens and pinks will typically appeal. You should also research the competition to ensure that your product stands out for the right reasons – accidentally choosing the same colour combination as a supermarket budget brand is probably not the right option.

Make sure that your font style is easy to read from a distance and that any images included are consistent with your company ethos and tailored to appeal to your target demographic.

Staying with the multi-use plastic theme, ensure that any branding that is applied to your product can be removed and recycled or otherwise disposed of with as little waste as possible. This is to ensure that the plastic packaging can be reused after the initial contents have been consumed. This may mean choosing cardboard or paper labels rather than printing onto plastic sleeves.

Plastic packaging solutions in the UK

Clearly, you will need a sound basis for incorporating plastic into your packaging design, and avoiding single use plastic is a sensible move. Where food grade plastic is the most appropriate choice for packaging, due to its durability during transit and storage and to safeguard the contents against contamination or leakage, it should be of a size, shape and material that is commensurate with reuse.

Doesn’t make sense, as size, freezing and shape retention isn’t an attribute of being reusable?

Reusable plastic packaging can still have all the good qualities of being a consistent size, suitable for home freezing and capable of maintaining its shape when heated, either in a dishwasher or microwave. The added benefit is that it can be melted down into recycled pellets by a specialist manufacturer and reformed and reused almost indefinitely.

Summary

Understanding the psychology of the people who you wish to buy your products will help in the development of your plastic packaging solutions. For help in tailoring a solution for your product, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Business Development Team.

The manufacturing process for plastic buckets contains many individual steps to make sure that every single one is high quality and meets customers’ needs. These are three very important factors that we consider when making buckets.

Factors to Consider when Making Plastic Buckets with Handles:

1.The material used:

Many plastic buckets are made from low or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as this material is lightweight but strong. Our plastic buckets, however, are made from polypropylene, a very durable plastic. That means that our buckets can withstand a high level of impact and movement, making them perfect to use in areas where they’ll be moved around, for example, in food preparation. (more…)

How about creating an authentic cinema experience at home?

You’ve chosen the film and invited your friends and now you’re thinking about snacks. Popcorn is the perfect accompaniment when watching a film and we have put together some ideas as to how to make your own custom popcorn boxes.

Clear plastic popcorn containers

By using our clear plastic popcorn containers as a base, you can be confident that your popcorn will remain fresh and won’t fall out of a ripped paper bag, making a mess in your home. It gives you so many options for customisation and here are our three favourites. (more…)

Welcome to Interpack Ltd

We are part of the IPL.

This is our first blog post, on our new website, designed to inform you about the wide variety of Injection Moulded plastic packaging products we produce and stock.

We are looking to provide you with information on our products, new business and how we are developing as a company.

Our wide range of Injection moulded plastic food containers are the perfect choice for anyone that produces products in the meal preparation and food industries.

If you own a catering company, are a food producer or take-away business, then our transparent food tubs, pots, buckets and pails are an essential for your product.

Our Injection moulded plastic pots are available in a diverse range of sizes, and come with press down, tamper evident lids (unless specified).

When the tamper evident lid has been closed, the seal must then be broken, ensuring your product arrives at your chosen location, intact and without contamination from third parties. (more…)