AN OVERVIEW ON PLASTIC PACKAGING

Plastic packaging is a reliable source of packaging which has an essential role in our daily life. The items wrapped in plastic are free from any contamination or damage as they are protected from moisture, humidity, insects, light, microorganisms, and gases. The products remain preserved in plastics for a long time, which is beneficial to transport them from one place to another. Plastic packaging keeps the product safe and secure, as it is sturdy and durable. It is also used globally because it is elementary in handling because of its lightweight. All the display information like nutritional content or precautions could be advertised on the plastic package as well.

HISTORY

• Alexander Parkes introduced the first plastic at the Great International Exhibition London. This first bio-based plastic called Dubbed Parkesine was extracted from cellulose. It could be configured when heated and retain its form when cooled. 
• In the early 1900s, Dr. Jacques Edwin Branden Berger, a Swiss textile engineer invented the first completely tensile, water-impermeable plastic pack, which was a transparent layer of packaging for any item, Cellophane. 
• A young 3M engineer, Richard Drew, in 1930, discovered Scotch® Cellulose tape, which was renamed as Cellophane tape, became an innovative way for bakers and grocers to sell the products.
• Polyvinylidene chloride plastic was miraculously formulated by a Dow Chemical lab worker, Ralph Wiley, in 1933. It became a tremendous tool for maintaining the freshness of food at home as it could cling into bowls, dishes, pots, or even for itself.
• Earl Silas Tupper developed Tupperware® in the USA, a line of polyethylene food containers, through a network of homemakers as a source of making money. These airtight seal plastic containers became the most notable products in plastic packaging history.
• In the same year 1946, Dr. Jules Montenier invented the first commercial plastic spray bottle, “Stopette” which was dispensed by squeezing the plastic bottle.

VITAL USES OF PLASTIC PACKAGING

The essential uses of plastic packaging is:

• FOOD PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION: One of the primary purposes of plastic packaging is food packaging. Plastic packaging preserves the food for a long time and keeps it secure with a variety of sealing techniques. Plastic packaging suppliers globally deliver the packages for the wrapping of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and all the cupboard essentials. It maintains the nutritional value and taste of food.

·         SAFE AND HYGIENIC PACKAGING FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES: Plastic packaging could easily be sterilized, which makes it hygienic for the packaging of medical equipment like bandages, plasters, and swabs. They are also available in child-resistant lids as well.