Food Packaging Material Selection Guide: Which Materials are Safer and More Durable?

Paper Packaging Materials

Paper packaging is one of the most traditional and environmentally friendly choices in the food industry. Common paper packaging materials include white cardboard, kraft paper, and corrugated cardboard.

White Cardboard: Due to its clean and smooth surface, it is often used for packaging high-end foods such as chocolates and pastries. Its advantages include good printing quality, allowing for beautiful patterns and colors, while also possessing a certain degree of stiffness and protection. However, white cardboard that comes into direct contact with food must be made of food-grade material; avoid varieties containing fluorescent whitening agents.

Kraft Paper: Favored for its natural and rustic appearance, it is often used for packaging bread, dried fruits, and other foods. Unbleached, unbleached kraft paper is the safest, although printing quality may be limited by its color. Kraft paper has good durability, making it particularly suitable for packaging requiring a certain level of moisture protection.

Corrugated Cardboard Boxes: Primarily used for outer packaging and transport packaging of food, its excellent cushioning performance effectively protects the contents. When choosing, pay attention to whether the inner layer material meets food contact standards.

Plastic Packaging Materials

Plastic packaging plays a vital role in food packaging due to its lightweight, waterproof, and cost-effectiveness. Common materials include PET, PP, and PE.

PET (Polyethylene terephthalate): High transparency, commonly used in beverage bottles, transparent pastry boxes, etc. Its advantage is good barrier properties, effectively preventing oxygen from entering and extending food shelf life. PET material is recyclable, but it may release harmful substances at high temperatures, making it unsuitable for hot food.

PP (Polypropylene): Good high-temperature resistance, suitable for microwaveable food packaging. More flexible than PET, commonly used in yogurt cups, fast food containers, etc. PP material is relatively safe, but may age and become brittle with long-term use.

PE (Polyethylene): Divided into HDPE and LDPE. HDPE is harder and used in milk bottles, while LDPE is softer and used in cling film. PE material is low in cost and has good safety, but its barrier properties are relatively poor.