Wrap, Pack, Print – Versatile Plastic Packaging

Plastic packaging has become such a part of our lives that it’s hard to imagine being without it. Not only is it convenient to use for the people packaging up goods to sell, but for those who buy, it offers security as the goods can be shrink wrapped or heat sealed against external contamination. Transparent food plastic packaging allows the purchaser to visually inspect the items before they buy to make sure they are what they want and that they are fresh and undamaged. For small retailers selling fruit and vegetables it is quite easy to buy in bulk, and then sell the items by the kilogram on polystyrene trays securely wrapped in clear plastic film.

There are very few other packaging mediums that are as versatile as plastic. Plastic film can be purchased in various sizes on rolls in industrial quantities for businesses that need to keep goods in storage. Even large sized goods that need to be kept dry and free from insects can be wrapped in oversized sheets of plastic and stored on racks or shelves in a warehouse situation.

The process of making plastic is quite fascinating, starting with melting plastic resin and pushing it through a spherical disc to create a continuous plastic tube which is cut to length while still hot. This tube is then stretched and shaped to suit then moved through a cooling process before being flattened and rolled. This plastic film can be used as is, or fed through a machine to an appropriate size, heat sealed and cut to make clear polythene bags of any length as required.

Manufacturing companies specialising in printed packaging take this plastic and create the plastic bags we are all familiar with as consumers. Shopping carry bags and plastic food packaging bags are two of the most common items that we all handle every day. The types of food delivered to us through supermarkets and shops that are protected by these plastic bags include bread, vegetables, ice, fruit, biscuits, pet food, snack food, nuts, health food, fast food and diet food.

These companies have designers who can design and produce artwork for clients on request or simply use the artwork and logos provided by the client’s marketing experts. They print the designs onto the plastic packaging or plastic bags and we as consumers see these designs every day on ordinary food items. The ability of plastic to protect food from contamination but at the same time be transparent makes it unique as a packaging material.