Published on Thursday, Aug 07 2014
Research has hit the headlines recently announcing that some of the chemicals found in plastic packaging used within the food industry may be damaging our health.
But is this just scaremongering or is their truth behind the claims?
The news is full of articles of how food packaging is evolving or advising on how it needs to develop further. There are many health and environmental pressures within the industry that brands need to adhere to, as well as growing consumer awareness and demands for change.
There has been mounting worry over the past decade, predominately concerning the chemical Bisphenol A (commonly referred to as BPA) which is widely used within plastic bottles as well as food containers for more than 50 years.
The recent study has focused on this area and joins the constantly increasing register of research into BPA. It has been predicted over the past ten years a staggering £150 million has been spent to understand the health implications, and yet it is still not definitive what exposure to this chemical can have to our health.
Due to the growing public concern and scientific pressures many brands are having to find an alternative to their BPA packaging.
Some are turning back the clocks and are using more traditional materials such as a glass and stainless steel for their products. These materials have been used safely for years, and can be reused enhancing their environmentally friendly image.
For some they have moved across to aseptic packaging such as cartons and containers which have a shelf life of around six months; whereas others are going the opposite way and are innovating with new materials and combinations to find suitable substitutes.
Leading brands such as Heinz and Campbell now promise their containers are BPA free along with a long record of other companies. This list continues to grow as more replacements are found and the economies of scale work in the favour of the food industry.
At Wessex Packaging we have years of experience in creating polyethylene foam packaging to help preserve chilled and frozen foods. These packs have minimal impact to the environment and can be reused as well as recycled whilst not impacting upon the packaging’s quality or protection.
To find out more about the food packaging solutions we offer contact us today.
We deliver nationwide either using our own two signwritten vehicles or by courier service
We can normally manufacture and deliver your bespoke packaging within 7 to 10 days
All goods pass through our rigorous ISO led quality assurance inspections