Food Packaging Innovations

Published on Monday, Sep 08 2014

Edible food packaging? Yes you’ve heard it right. For a while now, technology has enabled us to consume the very food and drink packaging we use. 

Edible Inventions

None seem to be more innovative and exciting as the deliciously flavoured edible glass designed by Loliware.
 
The inventors, who are product designers by trade, felt frustrated by the sheer volume of disposable packaging that was dispensed and were determined to right this wrong. Leading to the creation of their flavoured edible glass made with a seaweed-based gel called agar.
 
The edible glass has been cleverly designed to complement the drink you’re consuming so it becomes a desirable twist to a cocktail and includes flavours such as grapefruit and yuzu.
A great innovation to add a spark to your party and even if your guests don’t fancy a bite of their glass you can disintegrate them with hot water before your very own eyes – a great way to encourage people to switch from the environmentally wasteful and hazardous plastic cup!
 
The founders of Loliware are not however the first inventors within the packaging industry to have produced edible food packaging. David Edward, a professor of biomedical engineering at Harvard has brought to the market a range of products including; olfactory telephones, flavour clouds, breathable food and most recently, Wikipearl- a ball shaped food covered in an edible membrane that is essentially a food casing that imitates the skin of fruit. 

Food Packaging Trends

Traditionally, foam packaging has been the mainstay of many takeaway shops and picnic excursions; however modified atmosphere packaging is now starting to take centre stage. This type of packaging replaces air within the package with a unique blend comprising of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide; helping to extend the shelf life of the food.
 
Recycling is an increasing means to reduce waste and benefit the environment. In previous years, items such as polyethylene food packaging was abundantly used but often discarded; however, such materials are now efficiently recycled to ensure they are put to use again.
 
In fact, one trend that seems to be grabbing a lot of attention is the biodegradable food bowel. When purchasing the bowel you receive herb seeds that can be planted in the container and will grow in a week, a fantastic means to incentivise people into recycling packaging.
 
Another simple trend is the reduction in the size of the packaging; with companies using polyethylene die cut cartonsto ensure utilisation of space.
 
Here at Wessex Packaging, we are extremely focused to avoiding wastage wherever we can. Our bespoke packaging options allows us to do so, as being cut to size it means far less materials are wasted.  
 
We have the expertise to develop design and manufacture bespoke packs for a wide range of products, and we are happy to discuss potential solutions for your packaging specifications.

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