A guide to food and drink transit packaging
The food and drink sector is the largest manufacturing industry in the UK, contributing £38 billion to the UK economy and making a record of almost £25 billion in exports in 2022. It also plays a crucial role in the Irish economy, providing employment for 112,100 people and generating an export value of €17bn in 2024.
This multifaceted industry encompasses a wide range of activities, including agriculture, food manufacturing, retail and food service operations, therefore faces diverse challenges in its supply chain.
In this blog article, we will review the role of packaging within the food and drink industry, looking at its key sectors and challenges the market is confronting today. We will also explore some effective transit packaging solutions that can help address these challenges while ensuring optimal product protection and minimising packaging-related expenses.
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The role of packaging in the food and drink industry
Packaging plays a crucial role in the entire food and beverage sector. It guarantees product protection throughout the supply chain, safeguarding goods from damage in transit, drops, spills and temperature variations.
The food and drink industry is made up of five main sectors, each with its own diverse packaging requirements:
- Distribution and logistics product handling – Packaging solutions for growers and food manufacturers, such as corrugated trays for fruit, vegetables and herbs as well as fruit punnets and produce bags, B2B packaging requirements, end-of-line solutions and distribution
- High street retail – Stock distribution, store replenishment, palletisation and Free-Standing Display Units (FSDUs)
- Online retail – Recipe boxes, online butchers, temperature-controlled packaging,
- Beverage industry – Stock movement, bottle protection, gift and retail packaging
- Gift market – Hamper packaging, gift and retail packaging
Key challenges the food and drink sector faces today
Due to its intricate structure and the variety of its supply chain and packaging demands, the sector is facing many challenges related to the current economic climate and environment pressures.
Some key issues it needs to address include:
- Rising costs of raw materials and energy – the industry has been impacted by rising production costs which are expected to increase by further 2.9% by September 2025. It has also been heavily affected by surging energy costs, stemming from its dependence on natural gas and electricity needed in food production and associated activities.
- Disruptions in supply chain -geopolitical tensions, post Brexit market changes, ingredient shortages and rising transportation costs are all factors contributing to supply chain disruptions and leading to increased expenses.
- Regulatory challenges – the food and drink businesses must be aware of packaging-related regulations, such asthe Plastic Packaging Tax, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Not for EU labelling for goods destined for Northern Ireland and the Deposit Return Scheme, and account for any additional expenses and compliance demands these may entail.
- Safety standards – in addition, they must also stay informed about any relevant food safety standards and make sure they follow BRC requirements to ensure their packaging is suitable for use with food products.
- Sustainability demands – the regulatory implications along with rising consumer expectations for sustainability, improved transparency and clearer labelling require a shift towards more recyclable and compostable packaging options. Reviewing and optimising your existing food and beverage packaging can help improve sustainability and save costs in all your packing processes, tackling some of the key challenges the industry has been facing.
You can improve the sustainability of your packaging by:
- Minimising material use – Review and cut down on the amount of packaging material you use per pack. This needs to be done carefully to ensure you don’t compromise functionality of your packaging. For high packaging users, this could potentially eliminate tonnes of unnecessary material from your operation.
- Simplifying packaging structures – Stay clear of multi-material laminates that are difficult to recycle and consider colour options on products which could create difficulties in the recycling process. For example, most recycling facilities use near-infrared (NIR) scanners to identify plastics but black pigments absorb the light, making it hard to detect and sort them correctly.
- Switching to recycled content – Where possible, consider a switch to recycled content packaging. This will help to divert waste back into the supply chain and reduce the need to manufacture virgin materials.
- Implementing clear and consistent labelling – Use On-Pack Recycling Labels (OPRL) to help inform consumers on how they can responsibly dispose of their packaging. Although mandatory labelling has been removed from the Statutory Instrument (SI) for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Defra remains committed to implementing a mandatory labelling system in the future.
Food and drink transit packaging solutions
If you are transporting fragile or perishable food and drink goods, below we put together some transit packaging solutions to help ensure your products arrive at their destination in pristine condition.
Bottle packaging solutions
- Flexi-Hex® Bottle Packaging – made from a unique honeycomb structure, Flexi-Hex bottle packaging is a sustainable and recyclable solution for protecting bottles in transit. Choose from options for one, two or three bottles.
- Airsac® bottle packaging – Airsac® offers inflatable protective sleeves made from high recycled content combined with sturdy boxes. Available in a wide range of designs for wine, beer and spirit bottles, as well as different case configurations.
- UPS Approved Bottle Packaging – tested and certified by UPS, this bottle packaging is ideal for packing spirits in unusually shaped bottles, as well as traditional wine bottles.
Chilled packaging solutions
- RecycoolMe – a great sustainable packaging solution for shipping temperature sensitive goods that is comprised of an outer box with recyclable paper-based liners.
- RecyCold® Climaliner™ – an advanced thermal packaging solution designed to provide superior insulation and temperature control for sensitive products during shipping.
- Coolimate® – this innovative shipper combines a double wall cardboard box and metallised bubble liners to keep products at the perfect temperature throughout their journey.
- Ice Sheets – also called ice packs, provide an effective solution to keep your products at the desired temperature throughout the shipping process.
Ecommerce and postal packaging
- eCommerce Boxes – designed to convey your brand and demonstrate the value of your products, ideal for retailers and third-party logistics companies.
- Crash Lock Boxes – quick to erect and fast to pack. The smart base pops open for easy assembly, eliminating the need for tape
- Geami WrapPak® – a perfect example of protection and in-box appeal for great customer experience. It consists of a die cut FSC Kraft paper and tissue interleaf paper, making it an effective eco-friendly packaging solution.
Bulk distribution
- Packing Tape – a perfect packaging solution for packing, sealing and marking. Choose from plastic packing tape as well as self-adhesive paper tape and gummed paper tape.
- Cartons – double wall cardboard boxes are a durable packaging solution that offers enhanced strength for heavy or delicate products. Available in over 30 sizes to choose from.
- Strapping & Pallet Banding – strapping is perfect for securing pallets or bundling products to ensure they’re sealed or contained in transit and in storage. A wide range of hand applied and machine applied strapping is available, along with an extensive selection of buckles, seals and tools to secure your banding.
- Stretch Wrap – this packaging solution is crucial for securely shipping palletised goods, including bottled drinks. Choose from a wide range of versatile stretch films in various thicknesses, including clear and black pallet wrap, hand applied films and machine film.
Help finding the best packaging solution for your products and needs
If you need help choosing the best packaging solution for your food and drink products, Macfarlane Packaging is here to help. We offer a comprehensive range of stock packaging options for food and drink businesses and can also provide custom solutions to meet your specific packaging needs.
From eCommerce and bottle packaging through to chilled packaging and bulk distribution solutions, we have everything you need to transport your food and drink products with peace of mind.