The recyclable paper-based tray system uses 90% less plastic than conventional plastic-based trays.

A product’s packaging and labeling contribute significantly to a product’s success or failure. Frequently small and medium-sized meat processors pay a lot of attention to the ingredients used in a product and the way the product is manufactured and fail to pay enough attention to how the product is packaged and labeled. 

Form-fill-seal has moved steadily over the years to become a major packaging force for retail proteins. “It’s only rivaled by shrink bags,” declares one packaging veteran. “Certainly in North America it’s dominant largely on the flexible side.”

I recently spoke with a packaging executive whose fingers are in the tray sealing and the thermoforming markets both abroad and in the U.S. I came away from our conversation with a clear appreciation that, with a few exceptions, thermoformed trays have a place in protein packaging; it’s just not first place.

If you hosted or attended any holiday gatherings as 2016 came to a close, chances are good you enjoyed the ultimate convenience: a ready-to-serve party tray.

Shoppers browsing the fresh meat cases in their local supermarkets have little idea of the influence they exert over the case-ready tray packaging displayed there.