You’ve produced a fantastic-tasting and unique beverage composition. Congratulations! But now comes the difficult part — deciding how to package and offer your fantastic drink to your customer.
Things to Consider on Beverage Packaging
Finding out what packaging materials are available to you
First, you will need to pick how you want your beverage to be displayed on the shelf—specifically, what type of container you want to use. While there are many possibilities, you will need to balance your vision with the realities of cost and availability. You’ll also need to consider whether your pick is compatible with your drink’s specific formulation, processing and labeling standards.
The material you choose impacts characteristics such as weight, durability, shelf life, shape retention and temperature resistance, among others. We’ll discuss the three most prevalent types of packaging herein: plastic, glass and metal. But you should do your research to determine the best solution for your product.
Choose a satisfactory co-packer
You’ll need to identify a contract manufacturer—also known as a co-packer—who can meet your needs and pack your beverage after you know what type of procedure and packaging your drink requires.
Consider the following factors while choosing a co-packer:
What kind of processing power do they have?
What is their minimum volume of production?
What kinds of packaging can their lines handle?
Do they have the necessary licenses or certifications?
Are they adhering to current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)?
Is the facility subjected to an annual third-party inspection? How did they fare?
Regarding your distribution area, where are they located?
Be aware of your labeling requirements
After you’ve decided on a container type, a co-packer, and label application for your beverage, you’ll need to create a template for the space where the label artwork will be placed. The place where you purchase your beverage containers will usually provide you with templates.
Remember the implications of transportation
Because all beverages are perishable to some extent, climatic extremes, humidity, light, pests, and other environmental elements must be considered in your packaging. After all, the packaging is your product’s first line of defense. When choosing the correct packaging, keep in mind how you intend to transport and preserve your goods.
When selecting your freight carrier, you’ll need to consider proximity as well as their shipping capabilities:
Is it necessary to keep your finished product refrigerated?
Is it possible to ship products on a shaky train car?
Is there a problem with pressure?
Is it possible to create in a certain area, if your product must be transported such a long distance?
For example, if you’re carrying wine, you don’t want it to exceed a certain temperature—but trucks can become really hot. You’ve got the heat generated by the truck moving, as well as the outside elements to contend with, plus it’s unlikely that you’ll be in an air-conditioned room. If the temperature rises too high, the corks will pop and the product will spill.
Select the appropriate warehousing solution
When choosing a warehouse or storage facility, there are various factors to consider, just as there are when choosing a transportation provider:
Do they have temperature control?
Are they humidity-controlled?
Do they use product stacking?
How often do they check for bugs and mold in the facility?
Is your product inspected on a regular basis?
The conditions in which you store your goods can affect the quality of your beverage and cost you money in the long run if you’re not attentive. Placing merchandise in a hot warehouse, for example, may hasten the aging of your beverage and reduce its shelf life; an extremely humid warehouse, on the other hand, may corrode your beverage’s packaging. Overall, allowing a product to sit without examination may allow for a variety of minor issues to escalate into major issues.
Partner with the right packager
As you can see, there are many things to think about when it comes to beverage packaging, including transportation and warehousing. Working with a bottle provider like BPS Glass will speed up the process of discovering solutions for your company and save you time and money in the long run by lowering your risks.
More information can be found at the BPS Glass website or by calling +1 470 864 3065.
