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Beyond Protecting Your Product: Other Ways Packaging Can Work For You

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Brian Porter

You know those times when you hit the beach, and even though you think you’ve applied enough sunscreen, you still get a super-terrible burn? That totally stinks, doesn’t it? Yeah, we hate it, too. Ugh.

Well, according to a recent study conducted in Australia – where skin cancer rates are the highest in the world — specific kinds of packaging are linked to playing a key role in influencing consumers to use greater amounts of sunscreen, leading to much better protection from the sun.

And that better protection against exposure to harmful rays of the sun means better protection against skin cancer. Genius!

The study followed dozens of school-aged kids using sunscreen each day for three weeks. At the end of the period, the researchers ranked users of pump dispensers as the most likely to apply the most sunscreen, with squeeze-bottle users following those, and roll-on applicator users trailing in last.

It’s amazing to think that packaging can have such a great impact on how effectively a product is used! What most people probably don’t think about is how packaging can go beyond the essential function of protecting and transporting products, extending all the way to marketing products and helping to influence how the actual product is used. That’s a pretty big deal!

We at Ernest Packaging are up to date on recent research and and keep on the cutting-edge in our labs. We are finding creative packaging solutions for you and your products.

We’ll go above and beyond to make sure your packaging works for you in the most groundbreaking ways possible. Trust us to do the legwork in staying on the cutting edge and bringing all the latest innovations in packaging to you.

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Retro And Handmade Packaging Design Still Going Strong

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Brian Porter

Like trends in many industries — from fashion to automobiles to home decor, and yes, to packaging — waves of popularity are always evolving but are often overlapping and repeating. And one huge trend in packaging design that continues to go strong is the look of retro and vintage design.

What is it about retro packaging that makes consumers swoon?

Part of it, of course, is nostalgia. People love to reminisce about days gone by, often romanticizing the gloriousness of other eras in time to a fault (Owen Wilson in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, anyone?).

Low-saturation colors with texturizing effects, Old-Hollywood glamour, campy graphics, bold geometric shapes, hand-made designs fashioned from natural materials, and old-fashioned typefaces: These styles get consumers thinking about times like those lovely childhood summers they spent barbecuing and swimming at the lake or of the olden days when stunningly captivating sirens graced the silver screen.

But another reason consumers go crazy for the packaging of yesteryear is that much of it was, and continues to be, just plain good design. “Old design” is not equated with “stale design” — the year the design was created doesn’t directly correspond with how remarkable, fresh and inventive it feels today.

On the contrary: If any retro or retro-esque look stands the test of time and continues making waves while doing a fantastic job of speaking to audiences today, it is truly exceptional.

After all, the packaging that speaks to the consumer is the packaging that makes it into the cart, right?

Have you got a product that would work well with a retro- or vintage-inspired packaging look? Contact Ernest to see what sort of packaging solutions we can come up with to meet your (modern-day) old-fashioned needs.

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Keep Valentine’s Day Pressure At Bay With Innovative Packaging Solutions

Posted on February 14, 2012 by michelle

Ah, Valentine’s Day. It’s one of the most romantic days of the year, full of hearts, flowers, candies and love — and pressure.

Whether you’re a kid trying to impress a long-time crush or a seasoned Valentine’s Day vet finding a gift for your spouse, it’s got to be perfect. Otherwise, you run the risk of landing in the dog house, big time.

For companies — especially those in the business of sweet treats — the good news is that consumer demand for cookies, cakes and other decadent foods is extremely high. After all, who doesn’t love receiving an expression of love in the form of a decorated cookie on Valentine’s Day?

But unfortunately for those business owners, the Valentine’s Day pressure that consumers shoulder can often have an extreme ripple effect on companies providing tasty goods for Valentine’s Day gifts, as well.

Not only do businesses have to create those perfect sweet treats, but they’ve got to be sure that these goods are protected when shipped to the consumer and arrive in pristine condition on the special day. On a big holiday like Valentine’s Day, their reputation and success is at stake.

That’s a bit of a tall order, but Ernest Packaging Solutions has solutions for you.

With TempEndure technology, your packaging can be turned into a temperature-controlled environment. This protects the integrity of your cakes, candies, or other products for a prolonged period of time, which ultimately saves you money.

And how, exactly, do you save money? TempEndure cuts down on overall packaging costs by cutting materials and, therefore, shipping weight. Additionally, prolonging the time your product keeps allows you to ship items by ground for much cheaper than with the required overnight air you’d use without TempEndure.

Talk about a great solution! With TempEndure, you can keep your Valentine’s customers satisfied and happy.

If you’re interested in exploring possibilities with Ernest Packaging Solutions, contact us. We’ll be sure to provide you with cool solutions that will keep both you and your customers out of the dog house.

Posted in Bakery Food Processing, Consumer Goods, Dairy Processing, Logistics, TempEndure | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Active Packaging Solutions for Food Processing

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Brian Porter

Food processing packaging is a constant battle against the elements and time: keep oxygen out, keep humidity levels stable and extend the shelf-life of the product as much as possible. For this fight, you need the most up-to-date packaging solutions.

Does your packaging respond to the constant external and internal changes happening during the product life cycle? How does your packaging film react to UV light? How does the seal hold up when oxygen levels drop?

The advent of more advanced active packaging has created a safer food processing world that gets more product to the consumer safely, keeps it fresh and looking tasty, extends the shelf life, reduces bad odors and can even help fight bacteria.

Read: “The Scariest Thing I Ever Saw In Shipping” with Larry French
Read: A World Without Packaging

Active packaging items can vary from country to country, depending on food and safety regulations. Everything from ethanol to silver to sordic acid has been used.

One of the main advantages active packaging is in the battle against E. coli. This bacteria is well-known to any food processor, as it is an all-too-common reason for a product recall.

Contamination of E. coli often occurs in the processing plant when otherwise safe meat and food products come in contact with the surface of a contaminated mechanism. This is important to note because the infestation of E. coli most often begins on the surface of the food and does not come from within.

In that way, fighting pathogens on the surface is a much easier battle to win and can often be fought using active packaging.

In one study, a food chemist at the Fraunhofer Institute found that a sordic acid solution placed on the base film of pork loin packaging could drastically reduce E. coli colonies. E. coli was intentionally placed on pork loins and stored at 8ºC for seven days under the treated base film and after that time the pieces with the active packaging treatment had their E. coli levels cut 75 percent.

Another active packaging solution for food processing is to modify the internal atmosphere of a package with Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP). Removing oxygen and vaccum-sealing the product is one method; however, there are also ways to insert inert gases, like nitrogen, into the packaging or other gases like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

The key for MAP solutions is the right blend of gases and the right packaging film that blends permeability, transmission of water vapor and a tight seal.

In the fight against time, you need to know your food processing solutions meet regulatory compliance, maintain your products color, taste and texture and deliver a safe product to the stores.

If you need help, Ernest has the answers. Contact us today to see what Ernest Packaging Solutions can do for you.

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Spotlight on San Jose State University’s Packaging Program

Posted on February 7, 2012 by michelle

Ah, to be young again.

Some of us here at Ernest have fairly recent memories of what it’s like to be a spring chicken. And most definitely, a large chunk of us are still quite young at heart.

So it is with fond memories, big smiles, and open arms that we embrace the best and brightest up-and-comers in the packaging industry.

And many of those future leaders in innovation and problem-solving might just be coming out of San José State University’s Packaging Program. The program, located at the school in San José, Calif., is one of a small number of programs around the country that offer a degree in packaging.

Read: Spotlight on Michigan State University’s School of Packaging 
Read: One Rule For Hiring a Logistics Consultant

Students at SJSU learn to use their ingenuity and creativity to develop and test their work, to create more effective packaging, to protect the environment, to cut costs, and much more related to the rising packaging industry.

The students in the school also have a Student Packaging Association, which includes guest speakers and extracurriculars, and just sounds overall really rad. One of the association’s favorite projects of the year? Why, the Egg Drop, of course! How cool is that? It’s almost certain that students seeking degrees outside the packaging major have to be pretty jealous of that awesome opportunity.

And the folks in this packaging program seem to be genuinely fun to be around and have an excellent sense of humor, too! Under the “Current Students” page of the SJSU Packaging Program website is the hilarious–yet accurate!–declaration, “You Won’t Disappoint Your Parents!” Truer words have never been spoken (erm, typed).

Posted in Bakery Food Processing, Consumer Electronics, Consumer Goods, Dairy Processing, Logistics, Warehouse | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is Zero-Waste Packaging Possible?

Posted on February 2, 2012 by michelle

You may have read our post from a few weeks ago about the perils of A World Without Packaging. Well, that logistical nightmare is trying to be realized by a Austin startup in.gredients.

in.gredients plans to create an organic-and-natural food grocery store that is package-free and zero-waste. As entrepeneur.com points out a “zero-waste” grocery store cannot be fully achieved, as “Most manufacturers will still ship goods in some kind of container–they’re not going to open the back of a truck and just let tomatoes spill out.” They will also be subject to food-hygiene laws.

However, this company, which is trying to raise startup money from IndieGoGo, does bring up an interesting point for the larger packaging and distribution world, even those who cannot achieve package-free.

An estimated 30-40 percent of landfill waste is made of food packaging products. It is true that the term “waste” isn’t as definitive as one might think. A package that extends the shelf life of a food product, thus making it more likely to be consumed before going bad, is still considered “waste” even though it serves a more sustainable purpose.

In that way, it is better to think of packaging not in terms solely of where it ends up when it is done, but all it accomplishes (and how many times it accomplishes it) during its lifecycle. Design should be effective and environmentally conscious; a smart design can have enormous positive impacts.

As an industry, we in packaging are often focused simply on protecting product and reducing weight when we are creating shipping solutions. What more can we do to think of sustainable options?

The Ernest Innovation Lab is leading the industry in creating green solutions for the packaging industry. We don’t just protect your product, we can make it more environmentally friendly with:

  • Lighter shipping options, which require less energy to transport and use fewer raw materials
  • Corrugated stretch wrap that can be reused
  • Closed-loop reusable systems
  • Using recyclable materials
  • And lots more

If package-free isn’t a reality for your business, be sure you partner with a company that knows the importance of environmental design, a company like Ernest Packaging.

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Blown Away By Ernest Packaging Solutions — Again

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Brian Porter

Sometimes, you’ve got to risk life and limb — and in our president’s case, noggin — for your cause. Especially when it comes to packaging.

Our fearless president, Tim, has bravely faced terrifying encounters both with a ready-to-hatch carton of cobra eggs (!), with the tusks of an aggressive elephant hungry for a salty snack (!!) — and all in the name of packaging (!!!). What a valiant guy!

Is there anything that Tim, along with the engineers in Ernest’s Innovation Lab, won’t do to ensure the safety of packaging contents? We think not.

This time, our plucky president has been charged with the challenge of preserving the integrity of an antique hurricane lamp in the face of — you guessed it! — the howling gale-force winds and torrential rains of a hurricane (not to be confused with a tropical storm).

Tim heads into the Innovation Lab, and the team gets to work on safe, secure packaging with water-resistant and waterproof materials.

Then he’s off to an undisclosed beachy area rife with hurricanes to test the packaging solution. He and the package fly through the black skies, getting pummeled with wind and rain. The storm subsides, and as the sun comes out, it’s time for the big reveal.

So did Tim and the Innovation Lab team pull it off and keep the hurricane lamp safe? Find out below.

Having the ability to protect a precious antique lamp during a severe storm isn’t the only solution the brains at Ernest Packaging have up their collective sleeve. Ernest is up for any and all challenges, no matter how weird, you can bring to the table. Contact Ernest now, and see what we can do for you.

Posted in Dairy Processing, Distribution, Logistics, TempEndure | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Is It The Size That Counts? When Cost-Cutting Goes Wrong

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Brian Porter

No one wants to hear that their package is too small, especially in the consumer goods market. We all know the story of David and Goliath, but we all know that story because it is the exception to the rule, and most of the time, the Goliath wins the battle.

From a purely shipping and transportation side of the argument, it makes sense to minimize your size. Added weight, bulk and materials all add up to increased expenses. But how small is too small?

When you’re competing for shelf space as well as consumer eyes and attention, you can’t always adhere to the “less is more” philosophy. Sometimes you need to wow them.

Many shoppers are in a hurry and would prefer to spend their time at home with their friends and families, rather than deciding which granola bar to buy while jazz-trio versions of rock songs play over the loudspeaker.

You’ve to get their attention, get your message to them and get in their cart. And when you’re trying to break into a new market, then that first step can make or break your products’ success.

Find the balance between message, marketing and shipping. You need a package design solution that will be successful throughout the entire lifecycle of the package, from line to warehouse to truck to shelf to cart to consumers’ homes.

Cutting costs in one area may negatively affect another.

If you need to reduce costs, Ernest can help find ways that don’t always include shrinking your package. Our Innovation Lab engineers and designers can find solutions that fit just right for you, including shipping containers and pallet design, corrugated shrink wrap, temperature-controlled solutions and many, many more.

Contact us today with your package needs, and we’ll find a solution that works.

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Spotlight on Michigan State University’s School of Packaging

Posted on January 24, 2012 by michelle

Here at Ernest, we appreciate innovation and advances–especially those spiked with plenty of personality–in the packaging industry. And because of that appreciation, we’re sure not to overlook the great ideas and creativity generated by up-and-comers in the field

After all, those young, fresh faces represent the future of packaging.

That’s why we’d like to put a spotlight on the big, bad O.G. in packaging education: Michigan State University’s School of Packaging. MSU’s school was the first and is largest in the U.S.

It was founded in 1952 and has since expanded the program’s offerings and opportunities significantly, all while conducting countless research projects, upgrading facilities and resources, supporting faculty members in textbook-writing endeavors, and much, much more. Hey, that’s a lot!

To learn more, check out this video featuring students from the legendary MSU.

The young folks enrolled in Michigan State University’s world-class packaging school are making such waves in the industry, in fact, that not so long ago, the History Channel’s Modern Marvels visited the school to get the low-down on what students were getting up to and then shared the report with the world.

Curious? Check out the snippet below.


To date, the School of Packaging has awarded about 7,000 degrees, and more than half of all packaging graduates employed in the U.S. got their degrees from MSU. Currently, the school has roughly 500 undergrad students, 70 Master’s students and 30 Ph.D. students.

There are also other fantastic packaging schools in the US that we will be profiling the future. Tomorrows packaging leaders are learning their trade in these schools today and the future looks bright.

 

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The Ernest Challenge: Protecting Your Priceless Vase (And Your Peanuts, Too)

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Brian Porter

At some point or another in life, many of us will encounter some pretty weird challenges involving transporting a Certain Odd Something from Point A to Point B. And sometimes, the mode of transportation for that Certain Odd Something isn’t immediately and abundantly clear.

Whether its getting a carton of cobra eggs to its final destination or something entirely different, it’s a good thing Ernest Packaging is here to help.

So here’s the situation: You’ve been entrusted, for some reason or another, with shipping a priceless, fragile vase — pronounced “vahz” so you know it’s expensive– to Africa.

Also it’s filled with peanuts. Of course.

This sounds easy enough. But guess what? There are wildly aggressive elephants in Africa. Guess what else? These barbaric elephants like their peanuts and will stop at nothing to get them. This is about the time you’re starting to wonder why your lovely mother-in-law can’t just buy a new vase in Africa, rather than having this one shipped.

What to do?

Well, your predicament sounds like a challenge Ernest Packaging would love to tackle. In fact, our president, Tim, already has your solution. Tim headed into the Innovation Lab to wrangle up your best shipping options, then went on ahead and tested the strength of the materials, too. Trust him. He’s risked life and limb to get you the answer!

No big deal. Charging elephants, pointy tusks, peanuts in danger — all in a day’s work at Ernest.

Below, check out a reenactment of Tim’s treacherous tango with an African elephant.

At least the vase comes out unscathed.

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