Packs that keep on giving
In part six of our World Behind the Pack series, we follow the journey of a carton pack from filling plant and retail shelf to consumer and beyond
In part five of our World Behind the Pack series, we looked at how a flat SIG carton sleeve becomes a filled pack in a matter of seconds. So, once a packaged product has been created, what happens next? What’s the typical life and journey of a carton pack after it leaves a filling plant?
Distribution made easy
Once a filled pack leaves a filling machine, it’s moved onto tray-packers and palletisers, ready for distribution. Thanks to their square formed footprint, carton packs can be stacked together closely with minimal wasted space. This gives them the highest possible pallet efficiency, making transportation easier and more cost effective compared to other types of packaging. In fact, a full trailer of filled cartons transports around 95% content and just 5% packaging.
Offering more with less
We’re constantly looking to improve the logistical benefits of our cartons. So, over the past 20 years, partnering with our paperboard suppliers, we’ve cut the weight of our cartons by more than 23% without compromising performance. This means customers need less fuel to haul the weight, which further reduces the overall carbon footprint of a carton pack throughout its lifecycle.
Shelf safe and stable
Aseptic packaging also offers the added benefit of ambient transportation, storage and display. Since no refrigeration is needed – and therefore no energy to drive chillers – there are no carbon emissions or costs resulting from chilling. And once on the retail shelf, an aseptic carton pack gives a product a shelf life of up to 12 months, retaining nutrients, flavours and colours – meaning consumers get a safe and great-tasting product every time.
A billboard for brands
The benefits of cartons don’t stop there. Our packs also create a 360° billboard effect with large, flat and smooth printable surfaces. With all this surface area, producers have more space for brand communication, design possibilities, promotional messages, and also information on sourcing and ingredients. And with a wide range of formats, shapes and volumes, carton packs are a great way for brands to differentiate themselves in a crowded retail space.
Making the right impact
Whether at home, work or on the go, our carton packs are designed to offer a smooth and convenient experience for consuming food and beverages. And once used, all materials in our packs can be recovered and recycled. In fact, independent lifecycle assessments show our cartons offer a significantly better environmental performance than alternative packaging for a range of products, including long-life food, UHT milk and non-carbonated soft drinks.
See the journey
Want to know more about the lifecycle of cartons? Then watch the film below to see the journey of our renewable and recyclable packs.
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- abril 30, 2020