Traditionally, moulded fibre egg boxes have been bearing the weight of eggs since 1911, until the recent advent of the plastic egg tray. However, switching to a new packaging material comes with its own sense of hesitancy. Insha Naureen, explains here, some facts to help food business operators make an informed decision.

Egg packaging is a risky business. Sturdiness, convenience, ease of stacking and durability are key factors while deciding what your precious eggs will be stored in. Love and concern for our very own Planet Blue has often driven humans to venture into the world of recycled materials to reuse material that can be restored to its original glory whilst being useful.

Traditionally, moulded fibre egg boxes have been bearing the weight of eggs since 1911, figuratively and literally! No other material had the mettle to face them head-on until the recent advent of the plastic egg carton.

The demand for post-consumer PET egg trays has the potential to increase in the imminent future. The factors contributing to this shift are the rising interest in sustainability, the intriguing concept of circular economy, and vigorous efforts to create a greener environment.

rPET, i.e. recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate, which boasts of a myriad of benefits like strength, visibility and recyclability, is on the rise for the manufacturing of egg cartons. The demand for post-consumer PET egg trays has the potential to increase in the imminent future. The factors contributing to this shift are the rising interest in sustainability, the intriguing concept of circular economy, and vigorous efforts to create a greener environment.

Switching to a new packaging material comes with its own sense of hesitancy. To help food business operators make an informed decision, here are a few reasons why plastic egg boxes might be the answer to their egg packaging woes:

  • They are reusable and washable, which makes them maintenance easy.
  • They are fungus and mould-resistant. Adios health, quality and safety issues!
  • Convenience for consumers as transparency enables egg visibility without the hassle of opening the lids. Broken eggs can be spotted too! No more angry returning consumers. Phew!
  • Broken eggs dry out inside the packaging itself, preventing microbial growth. It keeps the hygiene quotient of the egg carton intact.
  • They are water-proof, preventing unsightly soggy containers.
  • Packaging protects and SELLS! Clear, transparent surface allows you to go all-in with your creativity using colours, inks, designs, brand logos, and fonts to make your product stand out from the rest. It attracts consumers without hurting your product’s quality.
  • Egg breakage is minimized since the packaging is sturdy and fairly resilient to shocks.
  • It allows for inspection of eggs without the need for handling or touching them.
  • Recycled plastic ensures that it spares the oceans and landfills and circles back to the recycling process after a single cycle of use. It reduces pollution, which is an evil the world tries to fight together and protect the planet.
  • Manufacturers may opt to collect back the containers from consumers after use to be melted and moulded again into new egg trays.
  • Plastic egg trays are versatile and can be used to make ice cubes.

While trying out something new, apprehension is normal. However, if that had stopped Edison from inventing the light bulb, you would be reading this in utter darkness! The choice is yours. Poke, scratch, delve deep into it and then decide your next course of action.

Recycled plastic egg tray might help realize your dream of packaging your eggs safely, keeping the consumers satisfied and saving the planet along the way.

                Have an egg-tastic day!

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Author is a Mumbai based food technologist.