July 24th, 2012 
Tushar Mathur 
When it comes to packaging the items that we buy, there are is a vast range of options available for manufacturers of all types of goods. This varies from packaging which will keep food fresh for a long time, to disposable and recyclable packaging, to packaging which is more permanent and required for many uses. We take a look at some of the different types of packaging available, its uses and the pros and cons of each.
Paper or Cartons
Paper has its uses across many different types of products from food, toys and shoes to electronics and kitchenware. Paper can also be layered to help improve its strength and rigidity in packaging systems and is often recyclable. It is a material which can also be laminated to provide further protection products such as making it impermeable to water; however, laminating can make it difficult to recycle. Untreated paper is recyclable and biodegradable.
Foam
Foam can be produced in large sheets of different thicknesses to allow manufacturers to wrap their products. It can also be formed in custom shapes to help protect other more fragile goods; this is often quite common in the production of electronics where corners are often protected by high density foam to stop them from getting damaged during transportation, and to offer some form of shock absorption. Foam is also good at protecting us from sharp corners such as glass tables. Many foams are biodegradable, as they are often made from crop based starch.
Plastic Boxes
There are many different types of plastic packaging available. The most common use of plastic packaging is for transporting or storing goods which are reusable or perishable. The plastic containers themselves are also often reusable and can often be stacked or folded to allow you to reuse them for the storage of other good around the home. The beauty of most plastics (not all) is that they are becoming increasingly more recyclable, or if not, reusable. Plastics should be recycled if possible, as most are not biodegradable.
Film
Keeping within the theme of plastic there are many types of plastic film used in the packaging and transportation of goods. The most common types of film used are Polypropylene (PP), Polyolefin, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Polyethylene (PE). All of these plastics will most commonly come on large rolls which can then be used to wrap or cover goods e.g. goods on pallets. They can also be used to make products such as plastic bags, sheets and bubble wrap which are also used in the packaging of many goods.
Film possesses many characteristics which make it very versatile at packaging products, such as being anticorrosive, non-slip or slip, antistatic and shrink or non-shrink. Biodegradable film is now available, lessening the material’s impact on the environment.
MPS specialise in a range of packaging solutions, including super-efficient case sealers and strapping machines.
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