Plastic Containers: Should You Choose Flexible or Rigid?
19 Jan 2020
Plastic containers are used for a huge variety of different products, from electrical goods and toys to food and drink. It offers manufacturers and consumers a range of benefits and has become the material of choice for the majority of companies. When designing new plastic containers, plastic pallet manufacturers need to decide whether to use flexible or rigid plastic containers. These both have distinct benefits, as well as disadvantages, so it’s important to consider the right one for the job.
Flexible Plastic Containers
A flexible plastic container is a cost-effective choice for a variety of products. This type of plastic is now starting to gain ground in the rigid packaging market, as it offers a more convenient and sustainable solution.
They can be produced at a lower cost than rigid containers and help to protect goods from dust and dirt. However, they don’t offer the same amount of protection during the transportation process as a rigid container would. They’re not the best choice for products that require additional protection, such as delicate items and those that are likely to become damaged by goods being stored on top of them.
The benefits of this type of packaging, though, still make it a good solution for a range of consumables. It is extremely lightweight and there are no issues for the end user in terms of disposal. It is also considerably easier to add labels and decoration to flexible packaging. This can all be incorporated into the production process, speeding up the manufacture of goods and reducing the risk of delays occurring. There is a wide range of decorative options available, and it’s quick and easy to change the design if required.
Rigid Plastic Containers
In some instances, flexible packaging is not the right choice. The other alternative is to have some form of rigid plastic packaging. This can be used for products that require additional protection throughout the distribution process, as well as industrial plastic boxes. Rigid plastic offers a greater degree of stability and security for goods. However, this does come at a cost and rigid packaging is a more expensive option than a flexible plastic container.
One of the disadvantages of rigid packaging is the increased cost of transporting goods. The inflexibility of this type of packaging means that the products it contains take up more space within shipping containers. This increase in volume, as well as weight, leads to higher costs across the supply chain.
As technology and manufacturing processes become more advanced, we will see an increased use of innovative plastic packaging. It offers manufactures a reliable and convenient solution for securing their products. Both flexible and inflexible plastic packaging has a place in the market, with both materials offering their own advantages and disadvantages depending on the requirements of the company.
Plastic Container Shapes & Lids
As well as coming in both rigid and flexible materials, plastic containers come in a range of different shapes which are suitable for storing different things. They also come with a wide variety of different lid options.
Plastic Container Colours
Furthermore, plastic containers can also come in a range of different colours. This can help improve internal processes, storage organisation and supply chain management. It’s quite common for businesses to utilise these different colours to represent different types of stock. So the contents are easily known without a close up look. Plastic Food Storage Containers
Plastic containers are commonly used in different food industries as they’re typically more hygienic and user-friendly than alternatives. For instance, you can purchase special meat containers which are highly hygienic. Furthermore, you can also use special plastic bread tray containers.