The way cheese is packed and transported is changing. While reusable plastic crates have been a familiar part of the supply chain for many years, we are increasingly seeing another packaging solution gain ground: cardboard.
Particularly for pre-packed cheese, producers, packers and retailers are increasingly choosing cardboard boxes for packing and transporting their products. This development is also becoming visible in several countries, like the Netherlands, where several supermarkets have already started making the switch from plastic crates to cardboard packaging for certain pre-packed cheese products. But what makes cardboard an interesting alternative? And what could this change mean for your packaging process?
Why choose cardboard?
Plastic crates are strong, reusable and have proven their value within the food industry for many years. At the same time, companies are taking a closer look at their packaging flows, with sustainability, material use, logistics and automation becoming increasingly important considerations.
Cardboard boxes can offer several advantages:
- Widely recyclable
Cardboard fits well within established paper and cardboard recycling streams and can be collected and recycled after use. - Efficient storage
Cardboard packaging is supplied as flat blanks, meaning it takes up relatively little space before use. Large quantities can therefore be stored efficiently close to the production line. - Suitable for transport and handling
A well-designed cardboard box provides the strength needed to transport pre-packed cheese safely through the supply chain. Depending on the design, boxes can also be stacked efficiently for transport and handling. - More than just transport packaging
Cardboard offers plenty of opportunities for printing and branding. Logos, product information and other brand elements can be printed directly onto the packaging, turning a practical transport box into an additional opportunity for brand visibility and presentation.
From flat cardboard to a ready-to-use box
Switching to cardboard is not only about changing the packaging material. How the box is formed also plays an important role in creating an efficient production process. This is where automation comes in.
Cardboard boxes can be delivered as flat blanks and automatically formed directly within the packaging process using a Boix box forming machine. The machine takes a flat cardboard blank and forms and glues it into a ready-to-use box, prepared for the next stage of production. This reduces the need to store pre-formed boxes and allows box forming to be integrated directly into the production line. Saving some space, right? For example, the Boix Q-1800/P offers a flexible solution for automatically forming different cardboard tray formats, with production speeds of up to 1,800 trays per hour and the possibility of automatic height changeovers. Depending on the box design, required capacity and production set-up, Boix offers different machines to integrate automatic box forming efficiently into your packaging line.
A shift that is becoming increasingly visible
The growing use of cardboard packaging is part of a wider development within the food industry. More companies are looking for packaging solutions that can be processed efficiently while meeting the growing demand for recyclable materials. This development can also be seen in Dutch retail. Several supermarkets are already making the switch from plastic crates to cardboard boxes for certain pre-packed cheese products.
For cheese producers and packers, this creates an opportunity to look beyond the packaging itself and consider the complete process around it. Which box design is right for the product? How many boxes are required per hour? How will they be filled and transported? And how can automatic box forming be integrated efficiently into the existing production line?
Could cardboard be the next step for your cheese packaging?
The choice between plastic crates and cardboard boxes depends on the product, supply chain and production process. But as cardboard continues to gain ground in the market, now could be a good time to explore what making the switch could mean for your operation. At Boix, we look beyond the box forming machine itself. Together, we can assess your current packaging process, the required box design and capacity, and the possibilities for automation.
Considering switching from plastic crates to cardboard boxes for your pre-packed cheese? Get in touch with our team. We will be happy to explore the right cardboard packaging and Boix machine for your production process.
