Selecting packaging materials can involve balancing multiple requirements, including product protection, mechanical and barrier performance, processing, appearance, regulatory requirements, sustainability and cost.
Our packaging specialists combine materials expertise with laboratory testing and technical consultancy to help compare material options, understand trade-offs and generate evidence to support material selection and specification.
Supporting packaging material decisions
Projects can include:
- Comparing existing and alternative packaging materials
- Evaluating material properties against required pack performance
- Assessing recycled, lightweight or alternative materials
- Investigating the effect of material changes on packaging performance
- Evaluating compatibility with packing and production processes
- Supporting material specifications and supplier comparisons
- Assessing performance through storage, distribution and intended use
- Supporting decisions where food contact or other regulatory requirements need to be considered
Testing programmes can be tailored to the material, pack and application, drawing on wider Smithers capabilities in Packaging Materials Testing, Distribution Testing and, where appropriate, Food Contact Testing and Regulatory Consultancy.
Sustainable packaging materials
Changes intended to reduce packaging material, increase recycled content or introduce alternative materials can affect performance elsewhere in the packaging system.
Smithers can provide comparative testing and technical assessment to help understand these trade-offs and support material decisions based on both sustainability objectives and required packaging performance.
Where relevant, our specialists can also support packaging development in response to requirements under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
From material selection to pack performance
Material properties cannot always be considered independently of the finished pack or production process. Our specialists can help evaluate how material choices affect pack functionality, manufacturing performance and interactions with packaging machinery.
Where required, this can include further investigation through our Pack and Machine Interaction services.
Talk to an expert about your packaging material requirements
Talk to our specialists about the materials you are considering, the performance you need to achieve and the testing or technical assessment that could support your decision.
Download a brochure for more information:
- Instrument Design and Fabrication
- Pack and Machine Interaction
- Packaging Design for Fragile Goods
- Packaging Lightweighting and Cost Avoidance
- Packaging Materials Selection
- Packaging Structure Identification
- Packaging Supply Chain Audits
- Packaging Taints and Contaminants | Taint Testing
- Product Characterisation and Verification Testing
- Safety of Recycled Packaging
- Shipment Damage Prevention