HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST PACKAGE FOR YOUR FOOD

Often, customers will see and experience the food package before they get to see, let alone taste, your food. In many cases, if the packaging doesn’t convey the value of your food, then the value of your food isn’t being conveyed—and you could be losing business. A good food-packaging fit ensures that you get a fair chance in the marketplace.

So, to help businesses make informed packaging decisions, we at Inno-Pak put together this guide on how to choose the best package for your food. It includes the information you need to weigh the various tradeoffs that abound when picking packaging.

First, Your Brand

Your brand should be your first consideration when you’re choosing your food packaging.

Do you sell quality products at a good price? Then you probably want a straightforward, value-focused package. If instead, you deliver a unique and memorable experience, then you’re going to want a package that complements that experience. Similarly, if sustainability is important to your brand, you’re going to need to choose packaging that reflects those values and avoid packages that undermine them.

Sustainability

Now that you’ve got your brand firmly in mind, one of the elements you’ll need to consider is the sustainability story you want to tell. Of the many sustainability factors to consider, we recommend asking yourself if the package:

• Reduces material usage/weight?

• Reduces use of virgin materials?

• Uses environmentally friendly materials?

• Is recyclable?

• Is commercially compostable?

Performance

When thinking about the durability of packaging, you need to consider the wear and tear of transportation. Try putting your largest or heaviest meal in a package and drive it home. Did it arrive damaged? Did items get mixed together or swap flavors?

Your employees, too, need to be able to quickly use the food packaging in your business to keep up with orders when every second counts. See if your employees can try out any new packages you’re evaluating. Do they decrease the time spent or keep it the same? Are they less likely to spill or cause other issues?

Materials

Now that you have an idea of your performance and sustainability needs, it’s time to think about the materials you’ll want to use. You’ll need to tailor your choices to fit the sustainability story you want to tell while also getting the performance you need.

Keep in mind that paper has a better reputation for sustainability than plastic does. But, ultimately, you have to find the solution that works best for your business and your community’s continued on page 118