How do you draw up specifications for food packaging?

Food packaging: what is the purpose of specifications?

As the first point of contact with future customers and the guarantor of food quality, packaging contributes to your company’s success and conformity. That’s why it’s essential to design your packaging to reflect your image, while complying with current health regulations. For example, an ice tray must respect the cold chain throughout transportation, while a meat tray must be shock-resistant.

But that’s not all. In addition to protection and thermal insulation, food packaging also enhances your product to attract the customer’s eye. Color, material, shape, presentation… are all important decisions to be made. A design brief must set out your needs and objectives precisely. It also provides a deadline and budget for the food packaging project.

Clear, detailed objectives

Clearly define your objectives for this food packaging. Whether you’re aiming for preservation, brand communication, convenience or other criteria, identify exactly what you want from this packaging. Also specify the following elements.

• Type of food products

A pastry will not keep in the same way as fish. Determine all the types of food products you need to protect and market with suitable packaging:

• Meat packaging
• Seafood packaging
• Catering packaging
• Cheese packaging
• Bakery packaging
• Ice packaging
• Fruit and vegetable packaging

• The quantity of food packaging

Indicate the quantity of packaging required for each type of product. This will guide you towards the manufacturing technology best suited to your product. Your needs will also influence the price. We can direct you towards standard packaging or to customized packaging.

• Packaging project budget

When assessing your budget, consider less expensive standard packaging or custom packaging. Custom packaging may require an initial investment in specific tooling, but offers greater customization in terms of shape, size and design.

Don’t forget to specify your product’s time-to-market!

• The characteristics of your food packaging

Detail the physical and chemical properties of your product, including its nature, dimensions, texture, sensitivity to light, humidity and heat. These specifications play a key role in defining your packaging.

• Conditions of use and production process

Include the specific requirements of your production process in your food packaging specifications. Specify the conditions under which your product will be packaged, stored, transported and consumed. Indicate, for example, your requirements for lidding with protective atmosphere packaging, pasteurization, automatic destacking or the use of conveyors. Variations in temperature, exposure to light, humidity and other environmental factors influence the choice of materials and the design of the packaging itself.

• Dimensions and packaging

Specify the dimensions of the desired packaging, taking into account the quantity of product to be contained and its constraints. Also determine the type of secondary packaging required, whether for vacuum packing or for transport to the point of sale. Consider aspects such as the use of cartons or pallets, stacking and stacking capacity, and maximum allowable weights to ensure efficient and safe distribution.