Dairy products’ manufacturers have to pay special attention to packaging because they have to ensure that their products are fresh and have retained their original taste when they reach the consumers.

Whether it is choosing a zipper pouch, plastic cup, or transparent pouch film, you have to take into consideration several factors before you make the final decision on dairy packaging.  

Protection and Preserve Quality

Food safety is a major concern and this is especially true for the dairy industry because improper packaging can lead to spoilage and contamination. This, in turn, can lead to recalls, which often have a negative impact on the brand and profits.

When selecting dairy packaging, you need to keep in mind that it should protect the product from moisture, light, aromas, lipid oxidation, enzymatic degradation, non-enzymatic browning, nutrient loss, changes in color or flavor, acidity, oxygen, microbial contaminants, dust, fungal contamination, and other physical contaminants.

You have to ensure that the packaging material does not react with the dairy product. In other words, it has to be chemically inert. Furthermore, when selecting the packaging material, you have to keep in mind the characteristics and nature of the dairy product that you need to package.

For example, if you are dealing with butter, you need to opt for a packaging that has high barrier properties and will prevent the oxidation of butter. When you keep all these factors in mind when selecting packaging for your dairy products, you will be able to select a packaging material that will ensure freshness and maintain the original taste of the product.

Environment Friendly and Not in Violation of Any Law

It pays to have environmentally friendly packaging because customers prefer associating with businesses that are concerned about the environment. It is thus important to opt for packaging that is recyclable, reusable, and sustainable.

For example, multi-layer barrier packaging offers maximum protection against contamination, but it is very hard to recycle. Many recycling companies find it hard to separate films and recycle them.

However, many flexible packaging options are bio-degradable and require less material to manufacture. Plus, you have to make sure that the packaging that you are using is in compliance with the laws of the country that you are doing business in. For example, some countries have banned plastic.

Protects During Transit and Storage

As with any other product, dairy products also need to be transported and stored before they reach the supermarkets’ shelves.

Therefore, you need to make sure that the packaging that you select is strong enough to protect your dairy products from physical damage. In other words, you need to make sure that the packaging that you are selecting has:

• Tensile Strength: This refers to the amount of stress that the packaging material can withstand.

• Impact Strength Resistance: This refers to the strength of resistance that the packaging material provides during shock loading.

• Burst Strength: This refers to the resistance that the packaging material provides to compressional forces.

• Tear Strength: This refers to the resistance that the packaging material provides against tearing and cracking.

• Stiffness: This refers to the resistance of the packaging material against distortion.

• Flex Resistance: This refers to the resistance of the packaging material against continuous creasing.

A packaging material that scores high on all the above-mentioned parameters, ensures that the product is not damaged during transit and storage.

What Type of Lid to Provide

While selecting packaging, you have to pay special attention to the type of lid that you will provide. It has been noted that lids of dairy products like yogurt and dessert, are susceptible to tear and puncture during transportation and storage.

So you want to select a lid that is strong enough to withstand the stress of transportation. Furthermore, when selecting the lid or cover, you want to make sure that it is easy for the customer to open. If the customer has to apply to much force to open the lid or tear the covering, there is always a high chance of spillage. Finally, you want to make sure that the lid or cover is tamper-proof.

You can opt for safety features like water-activated tapes, shrink wraps, poly straps, and container seals, to ensure that your dairy packaging is tamper-proof.

Cost

Though cost is not the most important factor, it is a factor that you have to consider while selecting dairy packaging. You want to make sure that the cost and quality of the packaging are in sync.

It is not advisable to go over the budget while selecting the packaging, but it is also important to remember that most customers associate good packaging with a premium product. On the other hand, you should also keep in mind that premium packaging will not help in the long run if the quality of the product is poor, to begin with.

The good news is that there are packaging options like, zipper pouch and stand up pouch, which is cost-effective to manufacture and also cut down on shipping and storage costs. You can further keep the packaging production cost down by selecting packaging material that is available all year round.  

Packaging That Helps in Branding and Marketing

It is imperative to select packaging material that allows high-quality printing on its surface. Your product has no chance on the crowded supermarket shelves if it has poor quality graphics printed on it. With so much competition in the dairy market, you need to make sure that your packaging stands out.

You can do this by opting for graphics that make the packaging more appealing. Furthermore, you need to opt for packaging that is shelf-ready. This simply means that the packaging should allow the product to be stacked in such a way that they are visible and appealing to the customers. For example, stand up pouches are easier to stack on the shelves and are more attention-grabbing than the laydown pouches.

Convenient for the Consumers

Packaging that is convenient for the customer to use is always a sound choice. Adding spill-proof lid, spouts, or easy to remove covers make it easy for the consumers to use the product. When consumers find it convenient to use a product, it improves the brand’s image and helps create a loyal customer base.

With proper packaging, you will be able to establish your brand image, improve your marketing strategy, and generate a neat profit along the way.