Liner Basics

For those who are inexperienced, picking a liner material can give you a headache, though this may be one of the more important packaging decisions you make.  A properly sealed liner can ensure freshness of the product and sustain it's shelf life.  Not any one liner can work for all products.  Because the liner comes in direct contact with the product, much attention should be paid to compatibility.  There are many liner types to choose from and from those types (especially induction liners) there can be many options among them.  Since we're starting with the basics, I will give you a rundown of the three most common liner types.  We'll save the specifics for another learning session.

Pressure Sensitive

Composed of polystyrene foam, this liner is pressure activated to seal to the container. Using an adhesive, the liner adheres to the container when the closure is screwed tight.  When the closure is removed, the liner remains sealed the the container.  Mainly used for dry products and can be used on Glass or plastic.

 

F-217

This is a three layer liner with HDPE outer surfaces and a foam inner cushion.  It is commonly used for liquids but can also be used for dry goods and semi-solids (creams).  This liner usually comes inside the closure from the manufacturer and remains in the top inside of the closure when removed from the container.  Because it has the inner foam cusion it presses into the top of the bottle when sealed and prevents leakage.

Heat Induction liners

Heat Induction liners leave a layer of aluminum foil on the container when the closure has been sealed to the container and heated.  It is important to pick an induction liner that is compatible with the material the container is made of.  There are options for how the liner will then be removed from the container such as clean peel, easy entry and tamper evident.  Heat Induction liners can also be used with additional liners such as PE foam or F-217. Since the induction liner is disposed of when the closure is removed, you may need an addition liner which will remain in the top of the closure to ensure a proper seal everytime the closure is removed and replaced.

Simply Beautiful-The Boston Round

Sometimes, in attempt to stand out in the busy packaging design world, you need to get back to the basics.  When custom tooling isn't in the cards, best to stick to the classics.  One of my personal favorites is the Boston Round.  We offer these in many sizes, materials and colors.  The broad shoulders and a sturdy frame will make your product stand out amongst the clutter.  Put it in an Amber colored bottle and give your product an old school apothecary feel.

Why Distributors? Because we've been there--we've done that.

Is there a chance your looking for a 100% PCR HDPE Cylinder? Perhaps a disc top dispensing closure that's stocked in shiny metallic silver? Or maybe a full line of Glass Boston Rounds stocked somewhere on the west coast in multiple colors and easily accessible with short or no lead times?   A distributor is thoroughly acquainted with these sorts of requests.  Chances are most companies seeking packaging call a manufacturer and when said manufacturer doesn't have what they're looking for, they point them in the direction of the nearest distributor. In the five years I've been selling packaging, people have come to me from every industry looking for almost every kind of package.  Most of the time we readily supply the package they're looking for and if we don't, we call everyone we know looking for it (in my case sometimes out of sheer curiosity). Distributors work with a giant network of manufacturers so chances are, we can supply what you're looking for or something a lot like it. 

What is the difference between PLA and PCR?

Post consumer regrind (PCR) is Plastic (mainly HDPE, LDPE and PET) that has been cleaned and reground into pellet or flake form to make a new plastic object (packaging is a big one). So in short post consumer regrind or PCR is recycled plastic.

PLA is short for Poly lactic acid and is one of many bioplastics. This one in specific is made from corn starch. Not sure but I think Natureworks is the main supplier.

The difference? PCR is more stable and has many more uses because the material is just recycled plastic. PLA, because it is made from natural substances, breaks down, melts and losses its rigidity a lot faster and is typically better for one time use. PLA is best used for products that will not have to endure a long shelf life or hold volatile products.

There are many advancements being made to bioplastics/biopolymers that will improve its rigidity, strength and shelf-life. It's hard to keep up! PLA is only one of many biopolymers. They can be made from starches such as potato, pea and corn as well as sugar. But I'm sure there are many more in development!

And now for my shameless plug: Packaging Logistics offers a wide range of beautiful packaging in 100% PCR PET!  The material is FDA approved and minimums start at 50,000 pieces. Consider converting your current PET packaging to PCR PET! You'll be doing the environment a favor!

An Udderly Creative Milk Bottle

Soy milk maker, Soy Mamelle takes Milk packaging to seemingly obvious yet uncharted territory. The unique latex package urges the consumer to see soy milk as a comparable alternative to regular milk.  The closure on the udder shaped package has a hang tab so it hangs in the dairy section to truly resemble that of a cow. The green cow spots reminds the consumer that it is still a vegetable product, and should therefore be a healthier option.  You can you remove the closure to pour like regular milk. The really exciting part is because it's made from natural latex, the soy milk can be squeezed from all three teats at the same time!

Plant a Sneaker and Watch it Grow!

What do you do with your old sneakers? The maker of these shoes ask that you not throw them out but bury them in your back yard.

OAT takes biodegradable to the next level presenting not only a biodegradable shoe but one that will sprout a tree when planted. Dutch shoe company OAT debuted the first fully biodegradable shoe at Amsterdam's Green Fashion Awards and took second place. Made from canvas and cork, the materials are fully biodegradable.  Tree seeds are packed into the lining material so the idea is that when buried deep in the soil, a tree will emerge.

The Green Debate-Glass or Plastic?

There's a debate going on in the packaging world regarding whether glass or plastic is the better "Green" option.  Not just plastic but PET.  PET is wholeheartedly competing for glass business touting, "Anything you can do, I can do better"!

For a long time glass has been considered to be the better enviro-choice for your packaging options.  Glass is made from sand and can be recycled infinitely without affecting the quality of the product.  It's been in the recycling stream for ages and can be recycled and made into another bottle again. Same as it was before.  What people don't realize is that there are few glass manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and therefore it will likely not be made into a bottle again.  A good reason for this is even if a glass facility would like to purchase said recycled glass material, it is very heavy and uses much fuel to transport, oftentimes, defeating the purpose of sustainability.

PET on the other hand is very lightweight and therefore uses much less fuel to transport.  PET is just as common in the recycling stream and as of recently can also be purified to be suitable for food contact once again. PET is offered in as many if not in more colors than glass and is more cost effective. While glass is not a suitable choice for many bathroom packages as it can shatter and pose a risk for injury, PET is nearly shatterproof and therefore is the safer option for the consumer and reduces loss for the manufacturer. Though improvements are being made, PET will still break down and lose quality as it repeats its round in the recycling stream and must be downcycled. For instance, what was once a milk bottle is now a plastic park bench.  There are also barrier issues when it comes to plastic.  Some products can permeate or break down the plastic and PET will melt at high temperatures, making it useless for many sauces and juices that are hot-filled.  There are some Hot-Fill PET offerings, but options are limited and minimums are high. 

Many foods simply taste better from glass.

So what have we learned today? Clearly, there's no definite answer here and it seems to be entirely situational.  What is good in glass is not always good in plastic so perhaps they'll both always have their moment to shine.