Tag Archives: Packaging Material

Earth Day and Environmentally Friendly Products

Protecting the environment of planet Earth is a job for all people across the globe no matter what country they reside in.  It is the most valuable resource mankind has, and steps can be taken by both individuals and businesses to limit the harm done to the environment on both micro and macro levels. To call attention to the potential hazards to the Earth and the environment, Earth Day is celebrated around the world each April the 22nd.

Earth Day

Earth Day is an event that started in 1970 as a way to demonstrate support for environmental protection.  The goal of the day and the events around it is to bring attention to the vital importance of protecting our planet and to bring people together while doing it.  The campaign for Earth Day 2017 is Environmental & Climate Literacy.  Because education is the foundation for progress, the best way to foster change is to teach people about the concepts of climate change and make them aware of the potential threat to our planet.  Environmental groups around the world will be hosting events to educate their community on the things they can do to limit the pollution they contribute, and the steps they can take to make a positive impact on the environment.

At Cheever Specialty Paper & Film we recognize that many of our customers would like to take steps to help the environment whenever possible.  Many times this can mean using products and materials that are environmentally friendly or green.  With our over 75 years of experience designing, and sourcing specialty paper, film and tape for the manufacturing and packaging industries, we have the experience to get you the products you need.  Our capabilities allow us to provide products like papers or tapes that are made of recyclable materials of various percentages to help you lessen your negative impact on the environment.  Our team can also work with you figure out the best materials for your projects requirements that are cost effective while still being environmentally friendly.

For more information on how we can assist you with your paper, film, and tape needs, please contact us.

Corrugated Packaging Stops Bacteria

One of the most popular forms of packaging for food items are returnable plastic containers or RPCs.  They are widely used in the food industry because the plastic used to make these containers creates a durable packaging option that can be used multiple times, while keeping the food items inside fresh.  Recently new scientific research has been done that shows evidence that a better packaging option to keep food fresh is corrugated packaging.  The findings from this study could lead to a shift in the packaging of choice for food storage and shipment.

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A research study conducted by a research team at the University of Bologna’s Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, and published in Frontiers in Microbiology, had results which showed corrugated containers keep fruit and vegetables fresh up to three days longer than RPCs. The study showed that bacteria or microorganisms would get trapped in the paper fibers and die due to lack of water and nutrients.  Without the corrugated material to trap them, bacteria would survive much longer on plastic surfaces.   The goal of this study was to study microorganisms that could cause foodborne illness and see how they reacted when exposed to both plastic and corrugate packaging materials.  While the study was carried out with both materials under the same environmental and correct storage conditions, it was clear that the corrugated packaging material was able to stop bacteria and keep food fresher longer.

At Cheever Specialty Paper & Film we strive to satisfy our customers by exceeding to meet their needs and expectations.  We offer numerous commercial packaging supplies including items such as bubble wrap, stretch film, dispensers and tape among many other products.  Our team will work with you to put together a full packaging solution that will meet your needs and fit your budget. Contact us for more information on who we can help you with all of your packaging needs.

Many Choices of Packaging Film for the Baking Industry

When it comes to the baking industry, there is a long history of different films being used for packaging going back years.  Waxed paper was the initial wrapping material of choice for many decades with paraffin wax serving as the exclusive coating material for bleached paper stock of suitable weight.  As the years went by other types of films were introduced to the baking industry including cellulose film and plastic polyolefin films.  Below we explore some of the films being used in the baking industry today, and the characteristics that make them popular choices.

Packaging Film for the Baking Industry

 

Cellulose (Cellophane):  Plain cellulose is a glossy transparent film that is odorless and tasteless as well as biodegradable.  Easy to tear, it also is tough and puncture resistant which is important for the baking industry.  The folding properties of cellophane make it suitable for twist-wrapping, but it is not heat sealable.  Ideally it is used for foods that do not require a complete moisture or gas barrier like fresh bread and some types of sugary sweets.

Polyethylene:  Commonly less expensive than most films, low-density polyethylene is heat sealable, odor free and a material that shrinks when heated.  While it is a good moisture barrier, it is a poor odor barrier since it is relatively permeable to oxygen.  Generally it is used for bags, coating papers and as a component in laminates.  High-density polyethylene is stronger, thicker and less flexible than low-density polyethylene and is often used for bread bags and bulk bun wrappers.ldpe_film

Polypropylene: Used widely to pack baked foods, biscuits, snack foods and dried foods, polypropylene is a clear glossy film with good puncture resistance and a high strength.  It stretches and has a moderate barrier to moisture, gases and odors, while not being affected by changes in humidity.  In Europe it is used to wrap baguettes and rolls.

Coextruded films:  A common choice for baked foods, confectioneries and cereals, coextrusion is the simultaneous extrusion of two or more layers of different polymers to make a single film.  Compared to other types of film these have very high barrier properties, and are thinner than laminates and therefore easier to use on filling equipment. A coextrusion typically has 3 layers including an outside layer with high gloss and printability, a middle bulk layer, and an inner layer for heat sealing.

 

At Cheever Specialty Paper & Film we are experienced with working with the baking industry to find the best films that will meet your needs.  Working with well over 100 variations of films and siliconized release films, we are an experienced release liner source that understands the requirements of our customers. Contact us for more information.

The Benefits of Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Tapes For The Packaging Industry

The packaging industry is a growing field in much demand as it becomes easier and easier to ship items around the world.  Proper packaging is vital in this field to make sure that item reaches its destination in the same shape it was sent out in. Packaging engineers are always looking for the best ways to meet their packaging challenges, and one option is double-sided pressure sensitive adhesives.

Pressure sensitive adhesives do a great job in making sure that the packaging remains in place until it reaches its final destination.  While it is available in many different variations, some of the common types are silicone based, rubber based and acrylic based.  A common tool for packaging engineers , it has a few important advantages that make it a great choice for the packaging industry.

Various Pressure Sensitive Tapes

Advantages of Double-Sided Pressure –Sensitive Adhesives (PSAs)

  1. Flexibility: Using pressure-sensitive adhesives gives you the ability to package products quickly because they do not require heat during application. They are also safer than glue sticks, and less obtrusive than traditional tapes. These characteristics allow you to package products quickly, without blocking any branding or logos on the packaging which helps maintain brand awareness.
  2. Instant Bond: Pressure- sensitive adhesives will help you increase your packaging speed due to its instant bonding capability. No time is spent waiting for the adhesive to cure, it will bond instantly as soon as you apply it and add pressure to it. This a huge benefit for high volume packaging operations.
  3. Variety of Applications: Versatility is important, and pressure-sensitive adhesives are versatile due to their ability to meet many different packaging requirements. From bonding metalized PET or being removable for consumers, PSAs are available in many different sizes and tack levels to fit your packaging needs.

At Cheever Specialty Paper & Film we can supply you with the pressure-sensitive adhesives that will meet all of your packaging needs. We also supply many other packaging materials including specialty paper and specialty films. For more information about our products and the services we offer please contact us here.

The Growing Demand for Adhesive Tapes in the Medical and Packaging Industries

The global adhesives and tape market is growing rapidly. By 2020, over 53.78 billion square meters of different bonding products will be created and used by numerous industries. However a close breakdown of the numbers shows that applications in healthcare and packaging outnumber the consumption in other sectors by a definitive margin.

Silicone Adhesive Tape

Adhesives & Their Components:

A good adhesive is not only durable with high bonding strength, it is also flexible and doesn’t corrode the surface to which it is applied. Both the medical industry and the packaging industry have different demands so the right category of tape is found by experimenting with carrier, the adhesive and the release liner.

Why are Adhesive Tapes so Popular?

Adhesive tapes offer significant non-intrusive benefits that mechanical fastening options do not. They typically remove the need of screws and non-structural substrates that are risky to handle and can’t be used on surfaces like sensitive human skin. Also adhesive tapes are cost effective, they are flexible, and their disposal doesn’t pose environmental hazards.

Use of Adhesive Tapes in the Medical & Packaging Industry:

In the medical industry adhesive tapes are generally of two kinds:

  • Structural tapes are chemically cured and used to hold together surgical instruments, rubber bumpers on crutches and figure prominently in the manufacture of IV tube sets.
  • Pressure Sensitive tapes which necessitate the application of higher pressure to forge the initial bond. Found in acrylic, silicone and hydrogel variants, these adhesives are extremely flexible and can hold together plastics, uneven surfaces with dips and bumps and even human skin.

The packaging industry relies on adhesive tapes to secure carrier boxes that store goods and perishables. Because of the rise of e-retailing and drop shipping, there is an inherent need to ensure the safe transit if often delicate and fragile items. Adhesives play a major role in this regard, especially in the food and beverage sector where the goods might be rendered unusable if they are jostled or exposed to the elements.

At Cheever Specialty Paper & Film we are specialists in tailored adhesive tapes and films. We take the time to understand our client’s needs, and then use our years of experience to get the best product for their application to them.  In the past we have served the pharmaceutical and medical industry by providing products for wound care, surgical drapes and gowns and medical devices.  Contact us for more information about our products and services.

The Next Step in Food Packaging

Food is one of the vital requirements of the human race.  We would not be able to survive without the nourishment that is provided by food.  As technology has improved, it has become easier to ship food across long distances.  To do this successfully though, it is important that the food products are packaged correctly to prevent spoiling and ruin.

Packaging Supplies

According to a study commissioned by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations called “Global Food Losses and Food Waste” one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted around the globe.  This amounts to approximately 1.3 billion tons of food per year that is lost or wasted.  To cut back on this extremely high number of food that is not able to be consumed, new packaging and distribution methods have been explored, as the current methods contribute to increased pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Demand has been growing for food barrier-packaging solutions that are recyclable and biodegradable and would shield and protect the quality of extended shelf-life foods.  One potential solution to this problem is to use paper.  Technical advancements in ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) technologies allow the paper industry to create packaging that safeguards food quality and at the same time minimizing spoilage and waste.

EVOH is a high gas barrier thermoplastic that is used in household food packaging for products like shredded cheese and baby foods.  It contains a semi-polar, semi-crystalline molecular structure that provides an excellent barrier against gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.  The gas barrier protection it offers is between 10,000 and 25,000 times more than the low density polyethylenes found in common plastic bags.  Since it shuts out oxygen, it slows the microbial degradation of the food from the ingress of oxygen over time, and ensures flavor is maintained while protecting vitamin content.

PVOH is a synthetic resin that has been used historically to coat paper for sizing, strengthening, and as a carrier for pigments and optical brightening agents.  Similar to EVOH, it has a low permeability to oils, greases, oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, but under dry conditions surpasses EVOH’s barrier performance due to its higher polarity and crystallinity.  It is considered to be the one of the highest barrier polymers available, and will greatly improve paper-based food packaging.

The food market wants to preserve foods for longer periods of time while using packaging that will not have a negative effect on the environment.  Paper packaging meets these demands, and the inclusion of EVOH and PVOH coatings and technology can help packaging manufacturers meet their goals.  At Cheever Specialty Paper & Film we can provide you with the film or paper that will meet your packaging manufacturing needs.  Contact us to learn more about how we can help you.

National Safety Month 2016 & Cheever’s Safety Products

Every day thousands of people are injured in the US, and many of these injuries are preventable. Some happen at work, some happen on the road and some happen during recreational activities. Many of them are traumatic, often leading to serious injury, a life time of disabilities or even death.

The National Safety Council has realized that constant reminders and reinforcements are needed to bring about the desired mindset shifts. To do this, National Safety Month was created to be the flagship effort in this direction. Celebrated over the month of June, it offers individuals and organizations:

  • Free resources to boost safety best practices at work, on roads and in homes
  • Free webinars and instructional videos tackling specific safety concerns like emergency preparedness
  • Free online trainings on First Aid, CPR and AED
  • Promotional material to generate safety awareness

Cheever’s Contribution to Safety:

Cheever Specialty Paper & Film supplies industries with quality specialty paper and film products, while providing excellent service to our customers. Over the past 75 years it has done its bit in boosting safety with:

Labels, warning characters

  • Safety Tapes or barricade tapes that are chemical resistant and tear proof. With these products different types and categories of hazards can be cordoned off and passersby’s can be warned of their presence preventing mishaps and accidents.
  • OSHA, ANSI and ISO compliant safety labels that can be customized in terms of the substrate, language of instructions, size and template. With these products workers and handlers can be made aware of the dangers of using certain tools and chemicals. Often safety labels also contain information related to storage of intended items.
  • Packaging material to protect goods from jostling and exposure ultimately ensuring their fitness for consumption and application, depending on the industry concerned.

At Cheever Specialty Paper & Film, our goal is to make sure you get the products you need for your desired application.  Our wide range of product options, and the ability to work with you to find custom solutions for your needs make us the best option to assist with your safety needs.  Contact us here for more information about how we can help you.

Corrugated Packaging Stops Bacteria

One of the most popular forms of packaging for food items are returnable plastic containers or RPCs.  They are widely used in the food industry because the plastic used to make these containers creates a durable packaging option that can be used multiple times, while keeping the food items inside fresh.  Recently new scientific research has been done that shows evidence that a better packaging option to keep food fresh is corrugated packaging.  The findings from this study could lead to a shift in the packaging of choice for food storage and shipment.

Corrugated Packaging

A research study conducted by a research team at the University of Bologna’s Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, and published in Frontiers in Microbiology, had results which showed corrugated containers keep fruit and vegetables fresh up to three days longer than RPCs. The study showed that bacteria or microorganisms would get trapped in the paper fibers and die due to lack of water and nutrients.  Without the corrugated material to trap them, bacteria would survive much longer on plastic surfaces.   The goal of this study was to study microorganisms that could cause foodborne illness and see how they reacted when exposed to both plastic and corrugate packaging materials.  While the study was carried out with both materials under the same environmental and correct storage conditions, it was clear that the corrugated packaging material was able to stop bacteria and keep food fresher longer.

At Cheever Specialty Paper & Film we strive to satisfy our customers by exceeding to meet their needs and expectations.  We offer numerous commercial packaging supplies including items such as bubble wrap, stretch film, dispensers and tape among many other products.  Our team will work with you to put together a full packaging solution that will meet your needs and fit your budget. Contact us for more information on who we can help you with all of your packaging needs.