History of packaging: Centuries of discoveries and innovations by scientists and artisans from different parts of the globe mark the history of food and beverage packaging around the world. Throughout history, various materials have been tested, and today much of the knowledge of the ancient world is being reused in a trend that demands sustainability through more conscious and circular packaging systems for food and liquid preservation.
History of packaging: introduction
The packaging history is as old as the dynamics of logistics that involve the packaging and transportation of food and beverages.
When it all began, were used gourds, leaves, hollowed-out logs as containers for transporting what we would later consume.
Packaging systems was developed because of its function and need. Through history, many interesting facts can be pointed out that refers to the origins of packaging according to the materials used and the purposes of the various types of packaging. In this article, we will share with you some of these facts.
Egyptian and Mesopotamian, the origin of glass containers
During the prehistoric period habited by nomadic tribes, food and drink were consumed directly at the place of origin, without much concern with their transportation or storage. The humans were traveling in search of food, not being fixed in only one place.
As humans were becoming more sedentary, the need to pack food and drink increased, whether for transportation or storage and preservation.
Before the creation of glass, gourds, and other materials borrowed from nature were used. In addition to gourds were also used leaves, hollowed-out logs, and animal skins.
The Egyptian and Mesopotamian elders, approximately 3,500 years ago, are recognized as the pioneers in the creation of glass and later packaging through the invention and use of water containers.
The creation of the first glass container dates from 1500 BC by the ancient Egyptians and Mesopotanes, recognized as the first to industrialize glass.
The first glasses were colored and thus remained for a long time. Only at 1,000 B.C., the first transparent glass containers were developed.
At the State Collection of Egyptian Art in Munich, you can see the dainty goblet made of pale blue glass, the oldest dated glass object that is an important pice of the history of packaging.
The Chinese and the first flexible packaging
Paper is known as the oldest flexible packaging in history. Its origin reports to China. The paper development process began around 200 B.C. with the use of mulberry bark. It was used by them to transport food.
Later this use was perfected by extracting cellulose fibers from the plants, which then gave rise to paper.
This technology reached Europe only around 1,310, first reaching England. Only centuries later was the technique brought to North America, early arriving in Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1690.
The Napoleonic Invasion Period and the Emergence of Canned Packaging in History
Napoleon commanded his troops, invading various territories of Europe. To feed his troops more practically, effectively, and economically, he launched a contest offering the 12,000 Francs prize for who presented innovative solutions that could be implemented to improve their troop supply and supply system during wartime.
Nicholas Appert, the Parisian chef, and confectioner won the prize offered by Napoleon by proving that foods could be preserved and extended through a process of boiling it at high temperatures and then sealed in glass containers. Because of this, Nicholas Appert became known as the “Father of Canning”.
Years later, British inventor and merchant Peter Durand applied this idea to tin can by registering the first patent for tinplate in the history of packaging.
Frozen food preservation Clarence Birdseye
A century after Napoleon, Clarence Birdseye, during his work and research season in Northern Canada, discovered with the Inuit tribe. The technique of freezing food, that is so popular with us today also is part of the history of packaging.
Although the origin of technique reports to the mentioned tribe and other populations in cold climates that have been using it for centuries, this technique was modernized in the 1920s through Clarence Birdsey research, who became known as the “father of frozen food. “
Plastic packaging
Around the 1800s the first plastic substances began to be discovered. However, in the 19th century, with the invention of cellophane, plastic began to be used as packaging.
At the beginning of its development, plastics were mostly used by the military during the war.
In 1946 the first plastic bottle for a spray deodorant was created. The “Stopette” was one of the primary commercial packaging made of plastic.
In 1977, the first PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic bottles reached the market, where they remain until today.
Sustainable Glass Packaging by Hello-Bottle
This article presents a summary of recent packaging transformations due to their functions and materials according to the historical moments that marked their evolution. Today, after years of various developments and innovations, the packaging industry is seeking for a return to ancient knowledge and the first materials with which the primary packaging was built.
This return is due to consumer’s call for more sustainable, naturally sourced materials that can be reused and recycled multiple times, such as glass.
As we have seen, glass was the first material created for the specific purpose of packaging food and beverages. Over the centuries, glass containers continued to be used by different industries.
These are some of the reasons why Hello-Bottle has invested in selling various glass containers that can be used in the perfumery, food, and beverage industries.
Hello-Bottle offers glass containers in various colors, green, amber, flint, extra flint, and others. We offer Wild Glass, a line of containers made from 100% post-consumer recycled glass. And the Pearl, a sealable glass jars collection that is perfect for storing drinks and food.
Visit our catalog and learn more about all our products. If you have any questions about the glass container manufacturing process and our products, please contact us. We will be happy to answer you as soon as possible.
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