Food items are varied, including fresh, frozen, and microwavable options. To accommodate each food item, different types of packaging are available, each with its own uses. Understanding the differences between types can help your business choose the proper packaging for your food items. In this ultimate guide, we will discuss the different types of food packaging to help you choose the right one.
The Important Role of Food Packaging
Unfortunately, some businesses don’t pay much attention to food packaging and see it only as something to be disposed of, but it plays a significant role.
The fact is, consumers always want fresh, safe food. You can make this possible only if you pack your food items properly. Improper or no packaging makes it more difficult to preserve the freshness and safety of food items.
Before diving into the types, it’s essential to understand what food packaging actually means—its functions, materials, and role in keeping your products fresh and safe. This will help you better grasp why each packaging type exists and how to choose the right one.
The right packaging preserves, secures, and protects your food. Some food packaging seals in freshness and shields the food from contaminants. Other types of food packaging prevent physical damage and keep your food safe during transport.
The Different Types of Food Packaging
Whether you’re selling food in retail settings or online, packaging is one thing you should never ignore. Let’s break down each type!
Primary Food Packaging
Primary packaging is the packaging that directly surrounds food products. It comes into direct contact with the food, protecting and preserving it until the consumer opens the packaging.
Here are food packaging that fall under the primary type.
- Plastics
Plastic packaging is one of the most common types used in the food industry for dry and wet foods. PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is a plastic widely used to package soft drinks and milk.
Another innovation in plastic materials is high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is widely used in microwavable food packaging.
- Cellulose
Cellulose performs some of the functions of plastic. However, the material is biodegradable and, thus, a more environmentally friendly option.
- Glass
Glass is also one of the primary food packaging materials used extensively for juices, jams, oils, syrups, and other liquids.
- Metals
Metal is used in the food industry for canned food items, canned drinks, and more.
- Aluminum Cans
Aluminum cans are commonly used in beverages and restaurant containers. The best thing about aluminum cans is that they are easily recycled.
- Paper and Paperboard
Many food items, particularly dry food, simply use a regular layer of paper or paperboard.
Paper food trays are ideal for dry, fresh, or frozen foods, as they are designed to be in direct contact with the food to protect it.
Meanwhile, paperboard offers added barrier properties, making it incredibly strong and effective at preserving your food. The use cases of paperboard as the primary food packaging include French fry boxes and burger boxes.
Alternatively, you can opt for paper bags to pack some bakery items. Yes, paper bags are more eco-friendly compared to the plastic options. Read more details about this on our blog of paper bags vs. plastic bags.
- Mylar Bags
Mylar bags are perfect for preserving the freshness of your food. These bags offer excellent barrier properties to seal food, such as grains, rice, beans, pasta, and other items in perfect condition.
Specialty Primary Packaging
- Milk Cartons
Milk cartons are considered specialty food packaging made from paperboard, which is layered with plastic and sometimes aluminum. All the materials make the cartons waterproof and protect the beverages inside.
- Wrappers
Wrappers are mainly used for bakery items like cakes and cookies. These food-safe wrappers are essential when shipping baked goods safely.
Secondary Food Packaging
Secondary food packaging is the packaging that surrounds the primary packaging. It is often what binds together the primary packaging or what keeps it safe. Moreover, secondary packaging usually serves an aesthetic purpose and can also be used to display your food items.
What are the different types that fall into the secondary food packaging?
- Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard serves as the secondary packaging for your food, often what a consumer buys. For example, cereals are packed in aluminum foil or plastic as their primary packaging. Then, you can choose cardboard for food packaging boxes, as it further enhances protection and branding. In this context, secondary packaging performs the marketing work that primary packaging cannot.
- Plastics
Plastics are also used as secondary food packaging to group primary packages, making them easier to store and transport.
Tertiary Food Packaging
Tertiary food packaging provides an additional layer of protection, helping preserve your packages during bulk transport and storage.
What are the examples of tertiary packaging for food?
- Cardboard Boxes
Basically, cardboard boxes can be either secondary or tertiary packaging, depending on how you need to use them.
For example, you can use a cardboard box as a secondary packaging for multiple primary-packaged items. On the other hand, you can use a bigger corrugated cardboard box as tertiary packaging to group and ship multiple secondary packaged boxes.
Understand the Importance of Different Types of Food Packaging
Primary, secondary, and tertiary food packaging each serve a different purpose and are made of different materials.
Overall, to make it easier for you, have a look at the table below for a quick comparison.
| Food Packaging | Function | Examples |
| Primary | Direct contact with the food; it contains, protects, and preserves it. |
|
| Secondary | It groups multiple primary packages. |
|
| Tertiary | It protects food items during bulk transport and storage. |
|
Summing Up
No doubt, whether you’re selling food in retail settings or online, packaging is one thing you should never ignore.
Food packaging types come in primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging. Plastics, cellulose, and glass are some examples of primary packaging as they come into direct contact with the food, protecting and preserving it until the consumer opens the packaging.
Meanwhile, cardboard and plastics are included in secondary food packaging, which surrounds the primary packaging and serves an aesthetic purpose. Ultimately, cardboard boxes and pallets are part of tertiary food packaging that help preserve your food during bulk transport and storage.
If you’re looking for creative food packaging ideas to make your brand stand out, explore our detailed guide for inspiration and strategies that can help attract more customers and boost your sales.
Hopefully, our ultimate guide on different types of food packaging above helps you choose the right packaging for your sensitive food items.
To get food packaging solutions for your business, you can contact the experts at Custom Box Makers.
FAQs
What is the important role of food packaging?
Some food packaging seals in freshness and shields the food from contaminants. Other types of food packaging prevent physical damage and keep your food safe during transport.
What is primary food packaging?
Primary packaging is the packaging that comes into direct contact with the food, protecting and preserving it until the consumer opens it.
Are cardboard boxes included in the second or tertiary food packaging?
Cardboard boxes can be either secondary or tertiary packaging, depending on how you need to use them.
For example, you can use a cardboard box as a secondary packaging for multiple primary-packaged items (like a dozen bottles of juice). Meanwhile, a larger corrugated cardboard box serves as tertiary packaging to group and ship multiple secondary packaged boxes.
