Types and advantages of Metal Packaging Materials

Types of Metal Packaging Materials

Several different types of metal can be used for packaging. Each type of material has its benefits and drawbacks. One metal might be more appropriate for certain applications compared to another metal, so it’s worth knowing the differences between each one:

Aluminum

People have been using aluminum to package foods and other products for well over 100 years. Some of the more popular uses of aluminum include cans and foil packaging. Some products have been packaged in aluminum for their entire existence. For example, the first rolls of Lifesavers were wrapped in aluminum foil in 1913 The candies are still sold in aluminum packaging today.

Besides Lifesavers candies, another popular use of aluminum is in the form of cans. Aluminum was first used as packaging for beer in 1959 when Coors began selling its product in cans. Half a century later, beverage companies are using aluminum cans to package everything from soda to craft beer to wine. More than 1,700 types of beers are sold in aluminum cans.

Some of the benefits of aluminum include its ability to resist rust and corrosion, its weight and its shelf life. Aluminum is also very easy to recycle. Most of the aluminum cans used today contain at least 70 percent recycled content.

Tin

Tin cans aren’t entirely made of tin. When tin is used in packaging, it’s actually applied as a thin layer on top of steel. One of the main benefits of tin-plating is that it helps to improve a package’s ability to resist corrosion.

Steel

Steel cans are often used for packaging canned foods, aerosol cans and paint cans. When steel is used for packaging foods, it is usually coated with a different metal, such as tin-plate, to enhance its ability to resist corrosion. Like aluminum, steel packaging is widely recycled and is easy to recycle. In 2017, more than six million tons of steel were recycled in the United States.

Steel without tin is one of the strongest packaging materials available. It’s often used to make large barrels or drums that hold items to be sold in bulk or for wholesale. Tin-free steel can also be used to make bottle caps.

Metal Packaging Advantages

Using metal for your products’ packaging offers many benefits to you, your customers and the product itself. Some of the benefits of using metal packaging include:

• • Product protection: Some products need to be stored in dark packaging and kept away from sunlight or other sources of light. Whether you use aluminum or steel, the packages are opaque and keep sunlight from reaching the product inside. Metal packaging can also be airtight, keeping out oxygen that can cause a product to deteriorate.
  • Durability: Some packaging materials break down over time. Paper, for example, will wear thin and is easily damaged by moisture. Plastics break down and become sticky as time goes on. Aluminum and steel are both considerably more durable than paper and plastic. Metal is made to last and to be used again and again. Coating the metal with a lining further enhances its durability.
  • Sterility: It’s easy to sanitize and sterilize metal packaging. You can heat aluminum and steel to temperatures that are hot enough to kill bacteria and other germs. Metal is also non-porous, meaning there aren’t small crevices on its surface where germs can hide.
  • Sustainability: Most types of metal are easily recycled. Aluminum and steel are two of the most recycled materials in the world, and rates of recycling are high for each one. Instead of having to extract new metal from the earth, most companies that use metal packaging use materials that are at least partially recycled.
  • Size range: Another reason you might use metal packaging is that many different options are available to you. Metal packages come in a wide range of sizes and forms. Beverage cans can range in size from six to 20 ounces, for example. Metal cans used to package food can be eight ounces, 15.5-ounces or 28-ounces. Aerosol cans, paint cans and metal tubes are also available in a broad range of sizes.
  • Affordability: Metal packaging tends to be relatively affordable for companies to use, thanks in part to its recyclability and the amount of metal available for use.
  • Safety: Since metal is easily sterilized and non-porous, it is safe for use with food. There is a chance that certain types of metal can leach into certain types of products, such as aluminum leaching into acidic foods. But that can easily be prevented by lining the metal with a coating.
  • Attractiveness: Metal packaging isn’t only practical. It can also look good. Beverage cans can be decorated with a brand’s logo and with multiple colors, making a product stand out on a shelf. Metal tubes used to package lotions or beauty products look shiny and visually appealing, compared to similar products packaged in plastic.
  • Light weight: Some types of metal packaging, particularly aluminum, weigh a lot less than other materials. For example, a six-pack of 12-ounce aluminum beer cans weighs much less than a six-pack of 12-ounce glass beer bottles. The reduction in weight means lower shipping costs for your company, plus increased convenience for the people who buy your products.
  • Small energy footprint: Metal’s recyclability, light weight and durability help to keep its energy footprint small. For example, the carbon dioxide footprint for transporting metal packaging is less than two percen of the total footprint.
  • Storage capabilities: Packaging products in metal containers can extend their shelf life. Canned food, for example, can last for years longer than comparable fresh food products. Since you can usually stack metal cans and containers, it’s also easy to find storage space for your products when they are packaged in metal.
  • Eco-consciousness: Many consumers are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and to live more sustainable, eco-friendly lives. Since metal is widely known to be easy to recycle and known to have fewer risks to people and planet than plastic, using it to package your products can help you connect with consumers who want to go green.