The importance of good packaging material cannot be overruled in any business. Regardless of the purpose, choosing a packaging material is necessary for a myriad of reasons. For example, good material protects the products from harmful environmental degraders and keeps it fresh and in good shape for the consumer to use.

Besides, every packed product seems more captivating when it comes in appropriate packaging. For example, candies and packed snacks come in printed packaging which is highly lucrative to the buyers. Similarly, different products come in different packaging.

At this note, it makes sense to know the types of materials that can be used. For this reason, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular packaging materials used in the industries for transporting products.

1. Plastic

One of the most popular and widely used packing materials in a plethora of industries is plastic. Its high resistance to loading and extensive durability are amongst the leading reasons for its widespread use. Besides, plastic can also be easily molded into different shapes and sizes as per the requirement, making it one of the most economical materials as well. Some of the industries that regularly make use of plastic packaging include food and beverages, chemical and textile industries, and many more. Plastic could be seen around wrapping almost every product, either at the exterior or in direct contact with the product. For example, clear plastic bottles are used for packing soft drinks and other beverages. And the primary reason for this is to improve the visual appeal of the product. Likewise, most of the electronics come wrapped in bubble wraps or plastic sheets for additional protection against moisture and transitional bumps.

2. Tin

Another common material for packing products is tin. You must have seen it being used for packing soft drinks and hot and cold beverages. Bears, coca-cola, and other beverages could be easily found packed in tin cans. Apart from this, ready-to-eat meals are also quite popularly packed in tin cans. The widespread popularity of this material is because of its high resistance to allergens and atmospheric contamination. Besides, high-pressure packaging is also highly supported by this material. This is also the reason why most of the ready-to-consume packed food items come in tin packaging.

3. Corrugated Paper

Plastic and tin are both responsible for environmental pollution to a large extent. According to a study, if all of the plastic waste is to be mounted, the pile would rise as high as ten times the height of Mount Everest. Strange! Isn’t it? To replace some of these issues and offer a more environmentally friendly solution, the paper is now being widely used as packaging material. And surprisingly, the paper is also highly durable, or at least is comparable to plastic to some extent. For example, Gaylord boxes, which are made out of corrugated cardboard sheets, are strong enough to bear hundreds of kilos of load in one go. Experts at TheGaylordBoxExchange.com explain that boxes made out of corrugated cardboard do not pollute the environment. Additionally, these paper boxes can be reused several times before they can be discarded.

4. Glass

Though not as popular as plastic or paper, glass is still used for packing around one-third of the total FMCG products. The reason why glass is preferred for packing these products is its high resilience to chemical disturbances. In other words, glass is chemically inert and does not change the chemical properties of the products packed within. High chemical resistance also makes it highly suitable for packing medicines and laboratory chemicals. The only problem with glass is its fragile nature, which is also the reason they need to be handled with extra caution.

5. Wood

Last but not least, wood is also one of the widely used packing materials. It is highly durable, environmentally friendly, and is also sourced naturally. Moreover, wooden packages can be reused several times before needing major repairs. However, wood is mostly used only where protection against bumps and accidental hits is needed. For example, when moving bulky furniture from one place to another, wooden boxes are usually used to brace the furniture together and keep them safe from breaking during the transit.

There are many other packing materials such as fiberglass, felts, and even cloth bags which are now gaining traction in the market, rapidly. However, these materials would still be the leaders, mostly because of their economic feasibility and high durability. That being said, the industry insiders believe that there are still more innovations to appear in the field of packaging materials. And surprisingly, these innovations are to be witnessed in both the existing and new technologies. Only time will tell, what the future holds for industries and what new materials would come up.