Pakkausmassat

Pakkausmassat refers to the materials used to make packaging for products, encompassing primary, secondary and tertiary packaging that protect, preserve, present and facilitate handling and transport. They are chosen to balance protection, cost, manufacturability and environmental considerations.

The main material groups include paper and cardboard, plastics, metals and glass. Paper and cardboard are common for corrugated and folding carton packaging and are valued for recyclability. Plastics cover a wide range of polymers such as polyolefins and PET, offering barrier properties, light weight and formability. Metals (notably aluminum and steel) provide strength and barrier performance, while glass offers chemical inertness and high barrier properties. In addition, biobased and renewable options—such as PLA, starch-based polymers, cellulose derivatives and other compostable materials—are used for specific applications. Laminates and multi-layer structures combine materials to achieve targeted barriers but can complicate recycling.

Key properties of pakkausmassat include mechanical strength, sealability, barrier performance against moisture, oxygen and aromas, thermal stability, printability and compatibility with food contact where relevant. The choice of material often involves trade-offs between protection, durability, weight, cost and environmental impact. Processing methods vary from extrusion and molding to coating and lamination, and recycling routes depend on material type; monomaterial packaging is typically easier to recycle than multi-layer laminates, while energy recovery may be used where recycling is not feasible.

Environmental and regulatory aspects are central to pakkausmassat, with directives and standards addressing packaging waste, recyclability, and food-contact safety. End-of-life handling includes sorting into appropriate recycling streams, composting where applicable, or waste-to-energy depending on local infrastructure and material composition. The field continuously evolves toward greater sustainability, recyclability and circular economy integration.