Types of Stretch Wrap Film

Here we have explained different types of stretch wrap film.

Stretch wrap, also known as stretch film, is a highly stretchable plastic film being used to wrap around the products to keep them in place. It is widely used in both packaging and shipping.

Thanks to the elastic properties that keep the item tightly bound. Apart from being used to secure the pallet, the wrap is used for bundling smaller items. This way, they minimize product loss, load tampering and worker injury.

Stretch films vary based on the qualities like widths, thickness and types of stretch film. They are chosen for the particular products on the basis of such qualities. For example, how thick or wide film you need is determined by load size, type, budget and performance requirements.

Also Read: Effective Label Designing Tips for Products

Here we will walk through the different types of stretch wrap films.

1. HAND STRETCH WRAP FILM

Also known as hand film, hand stretch wrap or manual pallet wrap, hand stretch wrap film is used in lower capacity packaging. It is the most basic type of a stretch wrap. They are used to hold items together in packaging and pelleting operations as well. These films are typically applied by the hand or a hand wrapping dispenser.

2. MACHINE STRETCH WRAP FILM

As the name implies, machine grade stretch film is applied with a machine. It is also termed as a packet wrapper. It is quicker, effective, cost effective and safer than a hand film. The common machine stretch film types include blown machine film, colored machine grade stretch and cash machine stretch film.

3. PRE STRETCHED FILM

They are a standard gauge film stretched to their maximum stretch point or breaking point before being wound onto rolls. The film doesn’t need much stretching energy compared to the standard stretch film. A standard 80 gauge stretch film becomes a 37 stretch after getting stretched up to 90%.

They account one half of the cost of traditional stretch films, helping you save money on the films.

4. EXTENDED CORE STRETCH FILM

With an extended core stretch film, you don’t need a dispenser as it offers an easy to grip extended core. It is generally used to wrap pallets. The extended core makes it easy stretch film application for holding items together or wrapping pallets.

Also Read: Types of Edible Food Packaging to Watch For

5. SPECIALTY STRETCH FILM:

These films are useful for very particular packaging requirements that are not catered by general stretch wrap types. Color stretch films, for example, are used in warehouse for color coding or dating inventory. UVI or ultra violet films are used for the packaging to be stored outside or at outdoors.

Top packaging mistakes to avoid and save money

Remember, designing packaging is not like designing your interior. Keep it customer specific. It should be attractive and easy to notice. Before designing packaging for your product, ponder over your customers with these considerations…

Who are they? How your product can help them? Are they kids? Are they woman or someone age 55+?

For example, bright and pinkish packaging with cursive font may not appeal an auto mechanic. Tiny fonts may not be readable for your elderly audience.

Not Being Easy to Use, Store or Carry:

Make sure your product is easy to use, store and carry. The more functional the packaging, the more sales it gets. The packaging can be in the tube or dispenser for the same shampoo brand. Or it can be in a sachet and bottle for a ketchup brand. Again, read your target audience and their habits. It will give you a better idea about this aspect.

Not Delivering What You Promise:

While the label of packaging should be sale oriented, avoid excessive bragging or exaggeration. If a customer just finds out simple cookie in your packaging showing a chocolate-drenched cookie, it would be a sheer disappointment and annoyance as well.

Eventually, you end up with poor sales and shattered brand image. Remember, deliver what you can promise.

Also Read: Effective Label Designing Tips for Products

Not Having Clear Typography:

Be clear with your fonts and graphics as they impact the buyer’s decision. The letter should be readable and legible as well. Too much fancy letters are difficult to read in one go.

Not Reading Your Competitors:

Do you know about the trendy packaging in the market right now? Do customers love your competitor’s packaging? What elements successful brands use in their packaging?

By eliminating these packaging mistakes, you can impress customers to boost sale and elevate your reputation as a business.

Also Read: 5 Product Packaging Tips for Startups

Effective Label Designing Tips for Products

Did you know? Over 90 percent new products fail just because most customers don’t have the energy or time to assess the pros and cons of the products on the shelves. Here comes product’s labeling.

It is more than a wrap up or the banner of a product. You need to make it attractive, informative to draw the customers near to it. Here are the tips to make effective label for your products.

1. Keep it Clean and Simple:

Don’t clutter the label with excessive images, fonts and graphics. Make it easy to read as possible so that they can get the information in one go, even from the distance.

2. Choose Colors Carefully:

Colors are vital elements on the label as they help grab attention. Therefore, they should be used strategically. Keep the complimentary colors that will go together. One more thing—use the colors according to the products. Pick feminine colors like pink for your woman products while grey or metallic shades will go best with the tech products.

3. Choose the Right Font:

Don’t use too many fonts. Just pick any two to keep your label consistent and easy to read. Besides, fonts should be readable to your target audience. Use clear and bold typography for elders. When you sell sophisticated product, avoid using the fonts or designs that make consumers think about their senior’s garden.

4. Try Unusual Shape:

Nonstandard shapes are likely to catch the customers’ attention as they pass by. Make sure the shape fits the container size properly.

5. Add Your Contact Information:

You don’t need to list your headquarters or factories address. Make sure to provide brief details. Don’t forget to add your social media accounts and website address. It would be better if you provide QR code

Don’t lose out on these sales opportunities simply because you forgot to include contact information on the label.

Order for Custom Label Printing

Bottom Line:

It would be better if you choose the elements according to your target market and your competitors’ practices as well.

Inspirational product packaging quotes from industry experts

If you are an avid reader of our blogs about packaging, you must understand how packaging can influence your branding. In fact, it is the first face of any product being placed on the retail store’s shelves. 70% customers admit that they buy the product just because of its packaging. 63% customers say that packaging is as important as the brand itself.

A packaging tells the story of your product, encouraging the people to buy your products.

Here is a rundown of interesting product packaging quotes from industry experts that will encourage you to give your packaging an edge.

“Packaging can be theater, it can create a story”

1. Steve Jobs(the late CEO of Apple)

“A hen’s egg is, quite simply, a work of art, a masterpiece of design and construction with, it has to be said, brilliant packaging!”

2. Delia Smith (an English cook and television presenter)

“In the absence of any other Marketing messages, our packaging – comprised of the trademark, our design, color and information – is the sole communicator of our brand essence. Put another way – when you don’t have anything else – our packaging is our Marketing.”

3. Philip Morris(An international cigarette and tobacco brand)

“Good design is all about making other designers feel like idiots because that idea wasn’t theirs.”

4. Frank Chimero(A designer, author and illustrator)

“From packaging materials, through fibers, foams and surface coatings, to continuous extrusions and large-scale moldings, plastics have transformed almost every aspect of life. Without them, much of modern medicine would be impossible and the consumer electronics and computer industries would disappear. Plastic sewage and water pipes alone have made an immeasurable contribution to public health worldwide.”

5. Norman C. Billingham(a British Chemist working in the field of polymer chemistry)

“Simple is good.”

6. Jim Henson(Iconic American Puppeteer and Founder of The Jim Henson Company)

“Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that’s why it is so complicated.”

7. Paul Rand(an American art director and graphic designer, popular for his corporate logo designs)

“Good design is obvious. Great design is transparent.”

8. Joe Soprano(Graphic Designer For Oxide Design Co)

“If design isn’t profitable, then it’s art.” (a Graphic Designer)

9. Henrik Fisker(a Danish automotive designer and entrepreneur residing in Los Angeles, California.)

“Design is intelligence made visible.”

10. Alina Wheeler(Design Coach and an Author of the Books Like Designing Brands Identity and Brand Atlas)

“Considering clean packaging in the context of enabling clean food, it’s an opportunity for all brands large and small to tell better stories and demonstrate that the well-being of their customers is a top priority. That all depends on a brand’s customer base though, and how much it values clean packaging. For example, Panera’s website features a section called “food as it should be,” which has a link to information about clean food, therefore Panera customers are more likely to respond to clean packaging messaging because they’re aware of the clean food movement.”

Red and Yellow Biohazard Bags: How to Use Them Correctly?

Medical waste, as the name implies, is the waste generated by healthcare facilities like hospitals, clinics, blood banks, and clinical laboratories. The waste is contaminated by blood, body fluids and other potentially infectious materials. For example, used and discarded needles, syringes, human tissues, blood and bodily fluids, and hospital radioactive waste belong to the category of medical waste.

According to one study, healthcare facilities in the USA produce 5.9 million tons of medical waste annually, which is a 14.75 percent of the total waste produced (250 million) in the USA in a year.

A report published in NCBI states that 28.8% of the total waste comes from private hospitals while state hospitals have 57.9% share in biohazard waste production.

Considering that the waste is contaminated with bodily fluids, bloods and infections, medical waste can pose threat to the lives and environment as well. An improper medical waste disposal can lead to the risks like:

Syringes are going to the seashores
Infectious blood dumped inside landfill ruining soil for miles
Pathogens contaminates potable drinking water supplies and air
Human and animal can get deadly diseases after coming into contact with medical waste
Sharps can lead to injuries

And it can’t be sidelined that improper disposal can attract legal penalties for your healthcare facility.

Red and Yellow Biohazard Bags Simplify Your Medical Waste Disposal:

Red and yellow biohazard bags are the common way to segregate the medical waste. If you run a small healthcare facility like dental clinic or GP clinic, these are affordable and simple ways to dispose of your biohazard waste. Red and yellow biohazard bags are made to store the types of medical waste separately from each other. However, some healthcare facilities often mix up the wastes due to negligence or lack of awareness.

So, it is essential to know what goes into a red bag or what is meant to be placed in a yellow bag.

Red Biohazard Bags:

Red biohazard bags are used to collect anatomical waste including human body fluids like semen, saliva, tissues, organs and animal carcasses. They are also used to dispose of the medical apparatus, specimen swabs, blood soaked drapes, gloves and anything that is visibly contaminated with blood or bodily fluids.

What Should You Never Put in Red Biohazard Bags?

Only biohazard waste like blood contaminated objects and pathological waste go to the red bag. You should never put other clinical waste like chemicals, alcohols, solvents, radioactive waste, lead, pharmaceutical waste, apparatus, tubing, food wrappers and beverage containers. Don’t throw the things in the bag unless visible blood is present on them.

Yellow Biohazard Bags:

Yellow biohazard bags are used to dispose of clinical waste like swabs, dressings, tissues, soiled gloves, aprons, pads and nappies. Besides, these bags can be used to collect IV lines and fluid bags used for pharmaceutical medicines, disposable metallic parts and syringe bodies.

What Should You Never Put in Yellow Biohazard Bags?

Yellow bags should be used only for disposal of clinical and infectious waste containing chemicals and pharmaceutical medicines. Don’t dispose of pathological waste, anatomical waste, domestic waste, non-infectious waste and placental waste in yellow clinical waste bags.

Do’s and Don’ts While Handling Red and Yellow Biohazard Bags:

Label the bags with biohazard symbol
Seal the bags properly
Always wear gloves, apron, face mask or eye protection while handling, changing or shifting the bags
Line your medical waste container with the biohazard bags
Don’t dispose of them in municipal or city waste bins. Such wastes are collected by only licensed medical waste contractors.

Packaging in 2019: What to Expect?

Here is how packaging industry will behave in 2019.

1. Plastic Packaging in Cosmetic Market:

From bottles, tubes and jars, cosmetic industry has been relied predominately on plastic containers. According to some reports, the plastic packaging will have a growth of 12% by 2019. Bottles are commonly used across the industries. However, cartons are gaining a steady momentum in cosmetic industry as they rose from 9% in 2010 to 19% 2016.

2. Packaging Industry to Touch 14 Billion USD by 2022:

According to theResearch and Markets, the revenue of packaging industry will cross USD 14.64 billion by 2022. Furthermore, the CAGR is expected to be up 12.0% from 2017. The study further says that plastic packaging will remain the largest packaging industry. Besides, Consumerreports.Orgstates that $150 billon is being spent on product packaging globally. According to Smithers Pica, the world packaging industry’s market value will be $1 trillion by 2020.

Also Read: 5 Product Packaging Tips for Startups

3. Rise of Digital Printing:

Digital printing has been influencing today’s packaging. It lets packagers to be more creative with their packaging compared to typesetting. Most packaging companies have opted for digital printing over the decade. The industry was estimated to be valued at over US$ 11 billion in 2016. A new report by Future Market Insights claims that digital printing in packaging market my exceed US$ 52 billion in revenues by 2027.

4. Personalized Packaging:

Coca Cola printed people’s name on their bottles. Frito Lay printed faces on their potato chip packages. This is how packaging is being personalized. In 2019, we can see new heights of personalization in packaging. After all, personalization lets a business promote their name and brand in more compelling way.

Also Read: What Drives the Growth of Green Packaging Market?

So these are the trends and happenings that are expected to take place in packaging industry in 2019. What do you think? Please share your thought with us by commenting below.

5 Product Packaging Tips for Startups

Being a startup, you must be focused on the aspects like productivity and marketing to grow your business. Have you ever thought about the packaging of your product? If you think that packaging is nothing but a wrap or label, you need to think again.

Here is an eye opener:

70% customers admit that they buy the product just because of its packaging. 63% customers say that packaging is as important as the brand itself.

This is because the packaging is the first thing a customer sees. In fact, it is the “first face” of your product kept on the grocery store’s shelves. If it is attractive, a customer is likely to buy it. Otherwise, poor packaging is a huge turnoff.

For example, Tiffany’s robin’s egg blue box is more recognizable than the jewelry itself. Think of Apple’s clean and minimalist packaging. In a nutshell, attractive packaging is a way to make a customer fall for your brand which in turn increases the sale.

So if you need to give your startup a boost, make sure to take care of your product packaging. Here’s how…

1. Identify Your Customer:

Who is your customer? Who are they? How your product can help them? Are they kids? Are they woman or someone age 60+?

This is an important thing you should ponder over while deciding the packaging.

For example, a packaging with colorful typography or pink colors won’t attract the technicians. If you have a cosmetics line for young girls, then color psychology and ultra-feminine appeal can work. A box of candy for kids and a pack of bone supplements for elders will have different packaging. For example, the young audience can easily open a complicated packaging, a senior may have trouble to open it.

2. Consider the Functionality:

Is your packaging functional? Is your product easy to use, carry and store?

For example, most ketchup brands are available in a large bottle and a tiny sachet for household and on the go consumers respectively.

Researching the market will give you a better idea. Besides, you can find out the ways to improve the functionality the packaging of your products.

3. Don’t Mislead the Customers:

Make sure your packaging doesn’t mislead the customers. It should display the content what it contains. For example, a biscuit brand packaging shows “cookie drenched in chocolate syrup”for their simple chocolate flavored biscuit. While this type of exaggeration makes packaging attractive, many customers can find it annoying as the product is not what is being promised by the packaging.

Honesty is the best policy. Consumers won’t have any prejudice against simple and inexpensive products, as long as they are aware of what they are buying.

4. Smart Typography:

Make sure to choose the right fonts and graphics. The letters should be legible and readable as well. For example, most customers are not able to read the fancy letters in a single glace or from a distance. One more thing—the color of the fonts should complement the overall appearance and the color of the packaging as well.

5. Creativity:

Use your creativity to make your product packaging stand out. For example, some packages have the shape of the actual product. Make sure the “creativity” doesn’t lead to confusion.

So these are the products packaging tips for startups. Keep in mind that great packing helps your product sell. What do you think? Do you have other ideas to share? Let us know by commenting below.

How to Reuse Your Plastic Grocery Bags?

An average American family uses nearly 1,500 plastic grocery bags annually, meaning that the total US population uses over 102 billion plastic bags a year. These plastic bags are thrown away after a single use.

And only 0.6 percent of them are recycled. Rest goes to landfills and oceans, which eventually leads to the pollution threating environment and life. Plastic bags take some 1,000 years to decompose while recycling consumes lots of water and petroleum.

The optimal solution to deal with this problem is to reuse the plastic bags as possible. It will keep the plastic waste percentage lower in landfills.

Here we have come up with some amazing ideas to recycle your plastic bags for your home and arts.

1. Use Them to Protect Your Fruits:

Do you have some fruit trees in your garden? In this scenario, a plastic bag can be useful for you in many ways. You can tie a plastic bag around the branch when the ripe fruits are about the fall. It will catch your fruit and avoid them hitting on the ground. Besides, it will protect your fruits from bug bites and frost damage.

2. Make a Rope Out of Them:

You can make a durable and fancy rope out of the plethora of discard plastic grocery bags at your home. All you need to follow these simple steps:

Cut your bags into long strips.
Tie the strips together at one end.
Wrap the strips around something solid, for example a back to the chair or table legs. It will hold the strips while you braid.
Start braiding the strips together.
After your final braiding, tie the end knot too.

3. Use Them to Polish Your Furniture:

Plastic bags come handy if you don’t have gloves while applying waxes, creams or polishes to the furniture. Just wrap them around your hand and secure around the wrists for a perfect makeshift. You can use more than one plastic bag to do the polishing firmly on the surface.

4. Protect Your Paint and Paint Brushes:

Paint tends to dry out fast. A leftover on your paintbrush can spoil them. Your plastic bag can help you. Place your plastic bag over the top before resealing the can with the lid. It will prevent any dry paint flakes on the lid falling into the liquid. Use plastic bag to cover the paintbrushes if you want a break from painting for a while.

5. Weave a Bag or Basket From Plastic Bags:

If you are good at weaving, there is an exciting way to use them. You can weave a bag using the breaded ropes (like the second point in this blog). Or a cool and more durable shopping bag is possible with the weaving of these breaded ropes.

6. Stuff Your Cushions, Pillows and Punching Bags:

Stuff your cushions, pillows and punching bags with the plastic bags to give them a new life. It is also a clever way to make a house training pet pillow by stuffing an old pillow case tightly with plastic bags.

7. As Your Gardening Knee Pads:

One more fantastic idea to use plastic bag in gardening—cut the bottom of two plastic bags and slip them over your legs to get a waterproof kneepads. It will protect your knees from getting dump or muddy. Besides, it will minimize the use of your expensive kneepads every now and then.

8. Protect Your Car’s Side View Mirrors from Being Frosted:

Avoid getting frost on your car’s side mirrors while you leave them outside for longer in colder months. In this way, you don’t need to scrape off ice later. Just remove the bags and place them in the glove compartment ready for next time.

So, these are some simple ways to reuse your grocery plastic bags, instead of throwing them in the bins after a single use.

Spread such ideas to reuse plastic grocery bags to more people so that our landfills can have less burden of the waste.

7 DIY Ideas from used bottle for Christmas decoration

Decorating Christmas tree is one of the most exciting things you ever do during the holiday season. Why not make a healthy change this time?

Before you get confused you need to know that humans buy about 1,000,000 plastic bottles per minute in total. And just 23% of those are recycled within the U.S. What more horrifying is that the waste, including plastic bottles, washes into the ocean and kills 1.1 million marine creatures annually.

Wondering what this has to do with Christmas?

Well, any time of the year is the right time for recycling. And this time you should recycle for the Christmas holiday too. Simply putting, instead of spending a lot of money and buying new decorations you can craft it with recycled materials. Yes, you don’t have to purchase any expensive and fancy decors. With little efforts and lots of used plastic bottles you can make your own Christmas ornaments.

Also Read: Benefits of using plastic gift boxes

Below are listed some easy and inexpensive way to prepare décor items from plastic bottles. Have a look:

Leafy Chandelier:A chandelier plays an important role in adorning your home. But these are quite expensive, right? Why not make a beautiful chandelier at home using old bottles? You can create something similar and use it for an evening outdoor party or inside your space.
Candle Sleeve: Let’s add more light to your home using this super cool, beautiful idea. You can be your own a decorator and create this pillar candle. In fact, you can use it as an outstanding gifting option for your table decorations.
Spring Wreath: Pick some colorful bottle and you can prepare a bright-colored wreath. It is really beautiful and you don’t need to worry for the tear and wear.
Table Décor: When you are on a lookout for a simple and cute decoration, this can solve your purpose. Use it for your child’s room or the living, it will add in more colors to the space.
Parrot: You can give it a try to have an eco-friendly parrot at home. This project can be taken by the kids too. It is a super cute parrot which can be used for all sorts of party decorations.
Airplane Bank: While you will be able to put in a cute décor item inside your home, you can give a message to your kids to save more. With this creative idea you won’t be spending any big amount for buying a new piece, on the other hand you will get into habit of saving.
Bottle Flowers: Bring back the springtime using these flowers made out of water bottles. These can be used for merry time and even after.

Aren’t these pretty?

These are just examples. You can always add up your own creativity and imagination to bring out something exclusive. Merry Christmas!

Paper Based Packaging: Holding Grounds in Plastic Dominated Era

“Plastics are the future, right?”

Do you remember this iconic dialogue by Dusting Hoffman in “The Graduate” movie? Well, it sounds sarcastic in the movie. On a very serious note, this movie quote indicates towards the dominance of plastics in the years to come. Today, plastic is everywhere, especially in packaging. Or you can say that plastic is ruling the packaging industry.

Dominance of plastic in the packaging industry led to decline of paper based packaging over the years. In 2015, there was a decline in the demand for graphic paper worldwide for the first time.

But that doesn’t mean that paper based packaging will soon become a history.

The paper packaging industry is growing at a slower pace than before. In fact, it is going through significant transformation.

According to recent Paper 2017 organized by Paper American Forest and Paper Association, the demand for paper based packaging is going up due to the ecommerce boom and the environmental issueslinked with plastic packaging.

Why Paper Based Packaging is Still Surviving?

Here are some top reasons that paper packaging is still thriving in an era dominated by its plastic counterpart:

Being Eco-Friendly:

People are more environment conscious than before. This is why they prefer eco-friendly products like paper carry bag and packaging. Since paper is produced from wood pulp, it is bio gradable and easy to recycle than plastic.

Easy to Recycle:

Did you know? Out of 27 million tons of waste being sent for recycling, 71% is paper based packaging waste. Unlike plastic, paperboard can be recycled multiple times.

Easy to Handle:

Paper packaging is a versatile and budget method to transport and preserve most of the items. For example, paper cardboard is strong yet lightweight. Another type is corrugated boxes which are used to ship and move electronics, glassware, perishable goods, medicine and toiletries.

What are the Different Types of Paper Based Packaging?

Paperboard or Boxboard:

It is a thick, paper-based material that is denser than ordinary paper. Paperboard is ideal to store milk cartons, shoe boxes and frozen food packaging.

Corrugated Boxes:

Such boxes are lightweight and versatile yet durable. It is widely used to make boxes, displays and containers. It is made from worn out fibers, old paper containers, boxes and newspaper.

Paper bags:

Paper bag is a common paper based packaging type and available in various shapes and sizes. They come with or without handles for carrying. Generally paper bags are printed with store and logos. Paper bags are made from a single or multiple layer of paper.

Paper Shipping Sacks:

Paper shipping sacks or multi-wall paper sacks are used to ship materials like animal feed, sand, dry chemicals, cement and fertilizer. Generally, they are made from combining several layers of sack Kraft paper that is known for elasticity and resistance.