SQF, or Safe Quality Food, is a rigorous certification program in the safe handling of foods for manufacturers and distributors that is recognized all over the world. It’s not new - it’s been around for over 20 years, and is designed to be used in all sectors of the food industry including farming, manufacturing, packaging, warehousing and even food for our pets. This certification minimizes the incidence of unsafe food reaching the market place and involves training a SQF practitioner, possibly contracting a consultant, getting a program written, passing a desk audit and then, at last, passing the on-site certification audit. It takes a good amount of perseverance to get this certificate, but fear not! There are some great benefits to this effort. Here are 5 compelling reasons to implementing an SQF program:

When it comes to void fill for shipping protection, air pillows are effectively the 'new guy in town'. The ecommerce giant Amazon has led by example and made the switch to air pillows thanks to their ease-of-use and low cost, not to mention they are more environmentally-friendly when compared to alternative forms of void fill. Consumer frustration over complex, bulky and difficult to open packaging is another reason that air pillows are growing in popularity. Your warehouse, plant floors, and production KPI's will also find the small footprint of storing pillows to be an added benefit when space is limited. We’ve listed the top 4 reasons why air pillows can benefit businesses of all sizes.

The products you manufacture for consumer purchase must be designed with proper planning and research to provide the most value with the lowest cost of production. This means that the packaging you go to market will require attention to detail in order to gain visibility in the marketplace as well as to convey the value that the product holds. The packaging materials themselves and the visual appeal are vital in grasping consumer’s attention, making the sale, and gaining repeat business. Think more of product packaging as an investment - rather than an added cost.

As it stands in 2017, we can’t avoid plastics – they’re everywhere in our lives from our kitchen appliances to the doctor’s office. Contrary to popular belief, all plastics aren’t the same. There are many types of eco-green packaging options comprised of sustainable plastics available today for all types of products, and they can hold the opportunity for huge savings in your business operation.

As a Brand Manager, Packaging Designer, or Production/Plant Manager, your primary focuses are safe and effective packaging as well as your bottom line. Packaging affects so many aspects of your product line, and with that, your business. Growth, revenue, and reducing costs can all be tied directly into the way you package and ship your products. So, while your industrial packaging products need to adhere to certain standards of quality and safety, how efficiently they are executed is just as important to your business.

When it comes to packaging your products, shrink wrap, aka shrink film, is often the ideal type of material for meeting quality and protection needs while remaining cost-effective. But, what is shrink wrap, and what is it that makes it so versatile for multiple packaging applications? How can you use it to your brand's advantage and make a positive impact to your total cost of packaging? Why is a packaging specialist important? I've broken up the answers to these questions below: