Edible packaging is a new type of packaging that’s recently come down the pipeline. It’s packaging that people can eat, so for those food items that are in it, they can have the food and the packaging as a treat too.
But it’s more than just something that can enhance a customer’s experience. While ice cream cones are a tasty treat and are technically a form of edible packaging, they’re also more sustainable. You get the item, rather than having to get a plastic lid, or even a paper lid.
The food and beverage industry is one that is revolutionizing, and with the advent of edible packaging, you’ll be able to further revolutionize in a manner that’s benefitting for everyone.
It’s a good way to reduce single-use plastics, providing edible alternatives to each of your needs.
What goes into Edible Packaging
Edible packaging has to be, well, edible. Paper is a bland type of edible packaging, but there are certain foods, such as plants and the like, that can be a great addition to edible packaging.
Seaweed is a popular one. Overly abundant in our oceans, it can be used for packaging, in order to offer a nice little container for those who are involved. It's a great addition, and a treat that will provide a lot of options for customers.
Rice paper is another. Popular in Asian candies, this is a great container that will house the items that you have, giving you something that’s edible, hygienic, and safe to consume.
Another one is gelatin. This is a clear, flavorless type of element that can be manipulated to be used for packaging. Used to cover the food in a coating, it doesn’t enhance or take away from the food, but keeps it safe and sustainable for everyone who is interested in having it.
Again, these are all packaging items that are edible. However, considerations for texture, flavor, and safety when creating this edible packaging need to be kept in mind. you don’t want the item to taste bad, nor do you want people turned off by the texture of the item. Safety is another, as many people don't want to have a foreign element that will taste bad.
Benefits and Drawbacks
There’s a lot of fun that can be had with edible packaging. It is a viable solution that can effectively provide those who have this type of food a packaging experience that will be worthwhile.
Some people are all about sustainability, but with edible packaging, they get just that. It can open the door to so many new types of food packaging and revolutionary additives.
However, there are some drawbacks that come with it. shelf life is a big one, for a lot of times these foods taste good, but come with the problem of it does go bad after a little bit. The other one is food safety, since there is a limit to how much this protects the items that you’re having.
Finally, there is also the consideration of consumer acceptance. While edible packaging has come a long way, not every customer’s into it, so it may impact the overall feelings and opinion on the food safety of these items.
Bearing all this in mind is imperative. Providing your customers with these means to have sustainable packaging is great, but you need to be mindful of how consumers might react. With more and more people gunning for this type of packaging however, there’s more and more innovations in edible materials coming down the pipeline, which are more cost-effective and versatile compared to other packaging types.
