In an era where environmental consciousness is more important than ever, the demand for sustainable and biodegradable products is on the rise. Among the various eco-friendly alternatives available, cornstarch plates and trays have emerged as a popular choice for both consumers and businesses looking to reduce their environmental footprint.

What Are Cornstarch Plates and Trays?

Cornstarch plates and trays are biodegradable and compostable tableware products made from cornstarch, a renewable resource derived from corn. Unlike traditional plastic plates and trays, which are made from petroleum-based materials, cornstarch products are made from natural, plant-based ingredients. This makes them an excellent alternative for those seeking to minimize their impact on the environment.

The Manufacturing Process

The process of creating cornstarch plates and trays begins with extracting starch from corn. This starch is then processed into a biopolymer, which can be molded into various shapes and sizes, including plates, trays, and other forms of tableware.   The result is a durable, lightweight, and eco-friendly product that can break down naturally over time, unlike plastic, which can take hundreds of years to decompose.

Benefits of Cornstarch Plates and Trays

1. Biodegradability: One of the most significant advantages of cornstarch plates and trays is their ability to biodegrade.   When disposed of, these products break down naturally in a composting environment within a few months, leaving behind no harmful residues. This reduces the burden on landfills and minimizes pollution.

2. Renewable Resource: Cornstarch is derived from corn, a renewable resource that can be harvested annually. This contrasts sharply with petroleum-based plastics, which rely on finite fossil fuels. By choosing cornstarch products, consumers support sustainable agricultural practices and reduce reliance on non-renewable resources.

3. Non-Toxic and Safe: Cornstarch plates and trays are free from harmful chemicals and toxins, making them safe for both food use and the environment. They do not leach harmful substances into food or soil, ensuring a healthier option for both people and the planet.

4. Versatility and Strength: Despite being biodegradable, cornstarch plates and trays are surprisingly sturdy and versatile.   They can handle hot and cold foods, making them suitable for various dining occasions, from casual picnics to formal events. Their strength ensures they won’t easily bend or break, providing a reliable alternative to traditional plastic or paper products.

5. Reducing Carbon Footprint: The production of cornstarch plates and trays typically has a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional plastic manufacturing. The use of renewable resources and the ability to compost the products contribute to a more sustainable lifecycle, ultimately helping to reduce overall carbon emissions.

What are they?

Made from corn via biodegradable technology, cornstarch food containers are biodegradable, turning into water and carbon dioxide without polluting the environment, unlike petroleum-based plastics.

Importance

- Reduces plastic pollution as they degrade in months rather than centuries like traditional plastics.

- Conserves petroleum resources by using renewable corn instead of relying on non-renewable petroleum.

- Lowers carbon footprint with lower emissions in production and degradation compared to traditional plastics.

Advantages

- Safe and non-toxic, free of harmful chemicals and not releasing toxins when heated or used for food.

- Durable enough for everyday food packaging despite being biodegradable.

- Versatile, suitable for disposable tableware and can be made into various packaging materials.

- Gives businesses an eco-friendly image, attracting eco-conscious customers as consumers prioritize sustainability.

Aluminum beverage cans are one of the most common types of packaging materials used today. They are used by a variety of beverage companies to hold drinks such as soda, beer, and energy drinks, and they are popular because they are lightweight, stackable, and easy to transport. However, the use of aluminum cans also has some environmental impacts that should be considered.

Firstly, the production of aluminum cans requires a significant amount of energy and resources. Manufacturing aluminum cans involves mining bauxite, refining it into alumina, and then smelting it to form aluminum. This process requires large amounts of energy and creates greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the mining process can be environmentally destructive and can cause habitat loss and soil erosion.

Secondly, aluminum cans can contribute to waste and pollution if they are not disposed of properly. Many aluminum cans end up in landfills, where they can take hundreds of years to decompose. These landfills can also contribute to groundwater contamination and air pollution.

On the bright side, aluminum cans are one of the most recyclable materials on the planet. They can be recycled infinitely without losing any quality, and recycling them uses significantly less energy and produces fewer emissions than producing new cans. However, even with the ease of recycling, not all aluminum cans are recycled. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), only about 50% of aluminum cans are recycled, meaning that the other 50% end up in landfills or as litter.

To minimize the environmental impact of using aluminum beverage cans, it is important to recycle them properly. This means ensuring that they are clean and free of any contaminants before placing them in a recycling bin. It is also important to support companies that use sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging materials whenever possible.

In conclusion, while aluminum cans have some environmental impacts, they are still a popular and convenient packaging material for beverages. By ensuring that they are recycled properly and by supporting companies that use sustainable packaging materials, we can reduce the impact that aluminum cans have on our environment.

Aerosol products have four main components, aerosol cans, valves, material, and ejector gas. Due to the differentiation of product formulations, we often need to consider the corrosiveness and pressure resistance between the filled material and the container when choosing the package. We know that there is a water-based aerosol product, which is highly corrosive to the can. So filling water-based aerosol products the key issue is the corrosion of the can, and the quality of the aerosol can directly affect the corrosion resistance. Factors affecting the quality of aerosol cans, from raw materials, can-making equipment and processes to quality testing, there are many, the following brief introduction.

1.The quality of tinplate itself

Tinplate base material used in the manufacture of cans requires high purity, such as impurity content is too high, affecting the ductility, brittleness, hardness and other processing properties and corrosion resistance, at present, most of China's tinplate base material imported from abroad. Some manufacturers in order to reduce costs, the use of low-quality thin tinplate cans, tinplate itself has tiny holes in the sand, resulting in leakage of the cans, the selection should pay special attention to.

2. Can body welding and coating quality

For Aerosol Tin Cans, one of the weaker links is the weld, in addition to the strict requirements of mechanical properties, the weld is easily corroded due to the destruction of the tin layer, and thus the filler coating is a three-piece cans of a key technology, a lot of water-based products leakage cans are due to the filler coating and the contents of the incompatibility caused by. In addition, the current is unstable or unstable quality of copper wire, etc., are easy to product welding, the formation of leakage points.

3.The type of internal coating and densification

Internal coating is one of the effective anti-corrosion method of water-based products (except DME as a propellant), but the quality of the internal coating material itself and the coating process will affect the corrosion resistance of the product, such as the coating of some of the naked eye is not easy to find bubbles, the electrochemical reaction is particularly strong in these places, over time it is easy to corrosion and rust so that wear cans, especially in the top and bottom of the lid and the weld contact with the tank body in the cans are prone to produce damage! In addition, the denseness of the coating is more important, many water-based products leakage of cans are present in this place. Currently used in the internal coating of epoxy a phenolic, imide an epoxy, PVC and other types, the use of more epoxy a phenolic, but the quality of different manufacturers are different, the selection should be good compatibility test.

4.Sealing quality 

Good sealing equipment and process is an effective guarantee of the sealing performance of aerosol cans, volume sealing of the hook and loop is an important indicator of the test, if the control is not good (including production processes and testing), it is easy to seal the imperceptible micro-leakage.

5.Leak detectio 

Aerosol products are mostly flammable and explosive products, each factory aerosol cans must be tested by the online pressure leakage detection machine, while the deformation pressure and burst pressure must be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the sampling to ensure the safety of the product production, storage, transport, use. Some manufacturers in order to reduce costs, not in accordance with the provisions of the leak detection, these cans are very likely to exist in the quality or safety hazards. 

6. Sealant

Aerosol cans and cans between the lid by the sealant in order to achieve the sealing requirements, the choice of a good sealant and coating process is critical to the quality of the can, in addition to the quality of the sealant itself should be strictly controlled, the sealant on a variety of solvents, especially strong solvents, DME and other solvency, dissolution, dissolution of the performance of the strict, long time to carry out the test, otherwise it will appear to destroy the sealant and leakage, there have been some of the can factory to appear such a situation. This situation has occurred in some can factories. When applying glue, the broken glue or uneven distribution, blistering, insufficient amount of glue applied, etc. are prone to problems. Due to the aerosol contents are very different, plus the sealing performance can not be determined within a short period of time, the quality of the sealant can only be guaranteed through the long time production experience of the can manufacturer and strict quality control.

From the above points we can know, regardless of the production of which aerosol products, the choice of packaging containers is very important, we not only need to consider the corrosiveness of the contents, but also need to consider the pressure resistance of the can, because the aerosol products belong to the pressure of the product, the filling pressure will be too big burst cans, the pressure is too small may not be able to achieve the desired effect of the spray. Therefore, we need a reasonable combination of product characteristics to choose the right aerosol cans!

This blog can give you an insight into the production process of aerosol aluminum cans.

The Raw Material - Aluminum

The production of aerosol aluminum cans begins with high-quality aluminum. Usually, aluminum ingots are the main starting material. These aluminum ingots need to meet certain purity and mechanical property requirements to ensure the strength and safety of the final can.

Raw material—aluminum ingot

Production Process

Fried Slices

Extrusion: The aluminum is put through an extrusion process to form a long cylindrical aluminum tube.

Stamping and Drawing: The aluminum tube is then cut into appropriate lengths and stamped and drawn to form the basic shape of the can body, including the bottom and the side wall.

Trimming: After stamping, the edges and excess parts of the aerosol aluminum cans are trimmed to ensure accurate dimensions and a smooth appearance.

(Internal Treatment)

Cleaning: The inside of the aerosol aluminum cans is thoroughly cleaned to remove any impurities, oils, or dirt.

Coating: This coating is crucial as it prevents the contents of the aerosol from reacting with the aluminum and ensures the stability and safety of the product.

(External Processing)

Printing: The desired patterns, logos, and product information are printed on the outer surface of the can. Advanced printing techniques are used to ensure clear and durable printing.

Varnishing (Optional): Some cans may go through a varnishing process to enhance the gloss and protection of the printed surface.

(Assembly)

The can top is prepared, which often includes a valve mechanism for aerosol discharge. The top is then firmly attached to the can body through techniques such as crimping to form a sealed aerosol can.

(Quality Inspection)

Visual Inspection: Check for any defects in appearance, such as dents, scratches, or improper printing.

Leak Testing: Ensure there are no leaks in the aerosol aluminum can to prevent the aerosol from escaping or air from entering.

Pressure Testing: Test the can's ability to withstand the designed internal pressure.

What performance tests are required for aerosol cans？

1. Appearance Quality

Visually inspect the sample under natural light, including checking for defects, imperfections, and other inspection items.

Testing: The purpose is to record the physical appearance of the sample to determine if the aerosol can is flat and free of rust spots. Aerosol can with internal coating, the internal coating should be uniform and free of protrusions and impurities. The printed graphics and text are clear and complete, with no obvious scratches on the main parts.

2. Size

The height of the can body, total height, crinkle height, the outer diameter of the aerosol can opening, the inner diameter of the aerosol can opening,the outside dia of the double seam and height of the double seam should all be within the specified deviation range.

Testing: You can learn about the specifications of the aerosol cans you produce and whether they meet the technical requirements for sealing samples

3. Integrity of weld coating

The integrity of weld coating refers to the coverage area of the weld coating and the adhesion performance between the coating and the substrate, used to protect the weld and its surrounding areas from corrosion and environmental damage.

Testing: Integrity testing of weld coating can detect defects in both weld and coating, such as porosity, inclusions, cracks, and other defects inside the weld, or defects such as bubbles, peeling, and pitting on the coating surface. If these defects are not detected and addressed in a timely manner, they may affect the sealing and safety performance of the aerosol can, and even lead to serious accidents such as aerosol can explosions.

4. Adhesion of inner and outer coatings of aerosol cans

The adhesion between the inner and outer coatings of aerosol cans refers to the adhesion performance between the coating and the substrate, which is an important parameter of coating performance.

Testing: Internal and external coating adhesion testing can ensure that the adhesion performance between the coating and the substrate meets the standard requirements, avoiding the occurrence of coating peeling, cracking, or detachment. This can not only extend the service life of aerosol cans, but also improve their safety and reduce potential hazards.

5. Hardness of the outer coating of the aerosol can

The hardness testing of the outer coating is to ensure the wear resistance and scratch resistance of the surface of the aerosol can during use.

Testing: The outer coating hardness test can evaluate the hardness and scratch resistance of the coating, thereby determining the quality and durability of the coating. In addition, the hardness test of the outer coating can also detect quality issues of the coating, such as possible defects such as air bubbles and sagging, which may cause coating detachment or surface damage, thereby affecting the safety performance of the aerosol can.

6.Air tightness performance of aerosol cans

Airtightness performance testing refers to determining the airtightness performance of an aerosol can under pressure differences inside and outside the can by testing its sealing performance.

Testing: Aerosol cans need to withstand a certain amount of pressure during use, so their sealing performance has a significant impact on their safety and service life. If the airtightness performance is poor, it may lead to excessive internal pressure or leakage of the aerosol can, thereby causing safety accidents.

7. Deformation pressure

Deformation pressure testing refers to the pressure testing of an aerosol can to determine whether it can withstand a certain amount of pressure deformation without breaking.

Testing: During use, aerosol cans may be affected by external forces such as collision, compression, etc. If the structure of the aerosol can cannot withstand a certain amount of deformation pressure, deformation or rupture may occur, leading to safety accidents.

8. Burst pressure

Burst pressure testing refers to the process of conducting pressure tests on aerosol cans to determine their maximum allowable pressure.

Testing: During the use of aerosol cans, due to changes in pressure and environmental influences, the internal pressure may suddenly increase, leading to serious accidents such as explosions. Therefore, when manufacturing aerosol cans, it is necessary to conduct a burst pressure test to ensure their safety performance within the normal operating pressure range.

Compatibility and hygiene requirements testing can be conducted based on customer requirements and product properties.

<The more detailed the requirements, the more accurate the quote>

Before the supplier gives the quotation to the customer, if the customer can provide more detailed requirements, the price obtained will be more accurate, the following is the product information that needs to be known before the quotation of aerosol cans (The content of this article will include aerosol tin cans and aerosol aluminum cans):

Product size

Aerosol tin cans and aluminum cans have several fixed diameters.

The diameters of tin cans are 45/49/52/57/65mm, 

Aluminum cans have diameters of 35/28/40/45/50/53/59/66mm.

Each diameter can be customized different heights, customers can refer to the forms below to determine what size to be customized.

About aerosol tin can

About aerosol Aluminum can

Product Use

It is also very important to tell the supplier what the purpose of the cans is, as there are some products which the cans need to be customized with an internal coating (e.g. insecticide spray and air freshener). In addition, there are some regular sizes of products that will be available on the market, standard sizes that are customized by most manufacturers: 45x128mm and 52x130mm for Snow spray, 65x100mm for Air Freshener, 65x158mm for Spray Paint, 65x158mm for Butane gas can (straight wall can)

Quantity Requirement

Different prices for different quantities, generally speaking, we will recommend customers to choose FCL (20'GP or 40'HQ), the price will be more favorable than LCL

MOQ is 7,500-9,000 pcs for aerosol tin can

MOQ is 20,000 pcs for aerosol aluminum can

--Container Size Reference--

Printing Requirements

Aerosol tin can:

3 pieces can——CMYK 4 color/ Panton color, Printing technology is offset printing

2 pieces can——4-6 color outside printing, Printing technology is thermal transfer

Aerosol aluminum can:

clear lacquer/ silk screen printing/ offset printing/ embossment/ vacuum coating

Trade Terms

Suppliers will quote based on the trade terms that the customer wants to do, the following is a concentration of common choices

EXW/ FOB/ CIF/ CFR, etc.

When a new customer choose cosmetic or skin care products, many customers are often hesitant to purchase it as they are uncertain how their skin will react to the product formulation and whether this product is worth to be purchased. Skincare sample can solve the customer's concerns very well. Customers can try skincare sample to judge the applicability of the product.

The more attractive the packaging, the greater the chance that customers will choose it. The mylar bags are smell proof and moisture proof. it is very suitable to pack skin care products, such as face cream, lotion, face oil, shampoo and so on, high quality bags can protect inside cosmetic product.

Cheerful Packaging can provide professional flexible packages, we offer customized skin care and cosmetic sample one stop packaging solution. 

Custom Candy / Chocolate Packaging 

From custom candy bags to chocolate wrappers, The Cheerful Pack can custom print a flexible packaging solution for a wide variety of confectionery products. We offer stand up pouches for gummy packaging, pillow bags, chocolate aluminum foil wrapper, paper box, paper wrapper ect. All of our flexible packaging are custom printed packages with food grade, this ensures your stand up pouches and wrappers are safe for direct contact with the candy product.

Custom Stand Up Pouch For Candy  / Chocolate 

Custom Candy Pillow Pouch 

Pillow pouch: a pouch that is sealed on one side （TOP/BOTTOM），and filled throuch the other, closed with a seal on the back. lf you're on the hunt for the perfect custom pillow bags, these pouches are often used for single-serve snacks and grab-and-go-type products.

Colorful Aluminum Foil Wrapper 

Aluminum foil can protect the chocolate from being broken or torn during long trip. There have over 9 colors for chosen, Cheerful Packaging accept customization. 

Why choose aluminum foil wrapper? 

1. Good heat-shielding performance

2. Protect the chocolate in order not to break or tear during long trip

3. More appealing packaging design

4. Eco-friendliness

Plastic containers have become ubiquitous in our daily lives, particularly in the realm of food storage and packaging. However, concerns about their safety, especially in relation to food contact, have prompted discussions and inquiries into the safety of these materials. Among the various types of plastic containers available, food grade plastic containers are often marketed as safe options for storing and transporting food products. But are they truly safe? Let's delve into this topic further.

Food grade plastic containers are specifically designed and manufactured to meet stringent regulatory standards set by health authorities. These containers are typically made from plastics that have been deemed suitable for contact with food, ensuring they do not leach harmful chemicals into the stored food items. Common types of food grade plastics include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polycarbonate (PC), among others.

One popular type of food grade plastic container is the food grade plastic tub. These tubs are commonly used for packaging various food products such as sauces, condiments, and deli items. Their sturdy construction and sealable lids make them convenient for both storage and transportation.

Another noteworthy variant is the IML plastic tub for margarine, often used for packaging margarine and other spreads. The IML process involves integrating labels directly into the plastic container during the molding process, resulting in a seamless and durable labeling solution. These tubs are designed to maintain product freshness while providing visual appeal on store shelves.

Additionally, food grade plastic buckets are widely utilized as food grade ice cream storage tank in commercial and household settings. These buckets are engineered to withstand freezing temperatures without compromising the integrity of the stored food. Their food grade certification ensures that they are safe for storing perishable items such as ice cream.

While food grade plastic containers are generally considered safe for their intended use, it's essential to follow proper handling and storage practices to minimize any potential risks. Avoid exposing these containers to high temperatures, as excessive heat can accelerate the breakdown of plastics and increase the likelihood of chemical leaching. Similarly, refrain from using food grade plastic containers for purposes other than food storage, as they may not be designed to withstand harsh chemicals or extreme conditions.

In conclusion, food grade plastic containers play a vital role in modern food packaging and storage. When used appropriately, these containers offer a safe and convenient solution for preserving food freshness and quality. However, consumers should remain vigilant and informed about proper usage guidelines to ensure the safety of their food products. As with any food-related item, exercising caution and mindfulness is key to enjoying the benefits of food grade plastic containers safely.