7 Surprising Ways Plastic Packaging Trays Outperform Cardboard Packaging

In the world of packaging, ensuring the safety and integrity of products is paramount, and the choice of packaging materials can significantly impact a product's protection, durability, and presentation.

Thermoformed plastic trays offer an innovative and versatile solution with many advantages over traditional cardboard packaging. From impressive durability to unmatched customization options, plastic packaging trays are revolutionizing the way products are packaged, transported, and displayed.

1. Plastic Packaging Trays Offer Unmatched Rigidity, Strength, and Stability

Crafted from robust materials like High-Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) or PET, thermoformed trays have a level of strength and stability that cardboard cannot match. Their enhanced rigidity plays an important role in providing superior protection for delicate or fragile products.

Thermoformed trays with custom-molded designs allow the tray to closely hug every contour of the specific item being packaged. High rigidity ensures trays can withstand external pressures and impacts, offering stable movement prevention during transport and reducing the risk of damage to the packaged goods.

In contrast, cardboard crates are often unable to provide the same level of precisely fitted support, letting packaged contents shift and making them more vulnerable to damage.

2. The Ultimate Barrier: Reliable Moisture Protection of Plastic Packaging Trays

Plastic packaging trays offer a reliable moisture barrier that ensures products stay dry and well-protected during shipping and storage. Thermoformed trays are made from materials that are non-porous and resistant to moisture — a quality that’s essential for items susceptible to damage from humidity or wet conditions, such as electronics, food, or pharmaceutical products. Moisture protection is crucial in packaging for products such as perishables, which can spoil, or electronic components, which can malfunction.

3. Staying Clean and Clear with Excellent Contamination Protection

A significant advantage of thermoformed trays is their non-porous, smooth, uninterrupted surface, which lends itself to easy cleaning and sterilization, ensuring products remain hygienic and free from contaminants.

The resistance of thermoformed trays to moisture accumulation plays a significant role in preventing the growth of mold, mildew, or bacteria — an important attribute when dealing with food and medical products. These trays provide a sanitary barrier that safeguards against contamination, ensuring products arrive in pristine condition at their destination.

4. Plastic Packaging Trays Have Great Impact Protection

Superior impact protection from thermoformed plastic trays safeguards delicate or fragile products and keeps them secure.

In situations where your products face the risk of rough handling or transportation-related accidents, thermoformed trays excel in maintaining their shape and integrity. This is particularly important for industries such as electronics, automotive, aerospace, and medical equipment, where precision and protection are paramount.

5. The Infinite Reusability of Recycled Plastic Materials

The ability to recycle plastic trays is an eco-friendly solution to packaging waste, contributing to a more sustainable future. It’s true that paper is also recyclable, although it can sustain fewer cycles before the quality degrades. Compared to cardboard packaging, the infinite reusability of recycled plastic materials makes thermoformed trays a superior recyclable packaging option.

The process of recycling plastic trays involves collecting and sorting used trays, followed by cleaning, melting, and reforming them into new products. This closed-loop system ensures that plastic materials are constantly repurposed, rather than ending up in landfills or polluting our environment.

6. Plastic Trays Offer a High Degree of Customizability and Precision

One standout advantage of thermoformed plastic trays is their unparalleled customizability and precision. Designed to cater to a wide range of product sizes and dimensions, these trays ensure every item finds its perfect fit, offering great protection and effectively utilizing space during transport and storage.

The process of creating custom-molded trays begins with designing compartments, recesses, or inserts tailored to the exact measurements of the items they will hold. This precision fitting minimizes movement and enhances product presentation, ensuring each item is securely placed in its designated location.

7. Superior Organization: Pocketed Trays Help Better Organize Your Products

Pocketed trays serve as an effective organizational solution for products that require individual compartments, giving both security and visual appeal. Made from thermoformed plastics, these trays feature custom-designed pockets that snugly accommodate items of various shapes and sizes.

This level of organization not only ensures the safety of delicate or fragile items but also makes it easier for customers and end-users to interact with the products. Explore our catalog of Ready-Made Plastic Trays to discover all of your options and find the right trays for your products.Ready Made catalog