packaging materials
A number of things have to be considered when choosing packaging materials:
- chocolate is very sensitive to taint (it picks up other flavours and odours easily)
- the packaging comes into direct contact with the product and so must be safe
- many chocolate products can pick up moisture and become sticky
- others lose moisture, dry out and become tough
- wherever possible the materials must be recyclable
A range of different materials are used:
- Paper is used for labels, wrappers, liners and in laminates. Paper may be finished with grease resistant, wax, plastic film or emulsion treatments
- Board is used to make boxes as it is stiff and can be coated, laminated, treated and printed to change and improve the way it looks
- Traditional plastics
- Bioplastics (cornstarch)
When packaging is being designed, production techniques must be taken into consideration. Modern high-speed packaging lines can work to very specific requirements.
