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Types of Food Trays

Cost, sealing, and product fit are something that buyers are placing increasing value on. These things must be considered when choosing a tray packer machine. Read on to find out more about the benefits and drawbacks of different tray types so that you can make the best choice for your business.

A tray packer machine can be divided into 3 groups depending on the materials they are made of.

There are:

  • Aluminum trays 
  • Plastic trays 
  • Plant-based trays 

What Are the Types of Trays?

The types of trays used in the food industry can be placed in a tray packer machine that ensures they get processed to end up preserving the food fresh. This article will focus more on aluminum trays, as these are difficult to dispose of and the most used in the industry. 

1. Tray Types 

Aluminum Trays

Whether you're ordering takeout or bringing your work lunch, aluminum trays that went through a tray packer machine are commonplace in both domestic and commercial settings. That means that they must be kept and recycled in an efficient manner after use.

In the manufacturing and packaging sectors, aluminum trays are the most common kind of recyclable material. Fortunately, recycling them is a breeze. Aluminum is commonly regarded as the most recyclable since it's easy to recycle it forever. In the meantime, it doesn't lose any of its properties.

In keeping with the name, aluminum trays are formed of a certain thickness and made from aluminum foil. A cardboard or paper lid can be placed on some of these containers.

Slabs of molten aluminum are put in a rolling machine to manufacture aluminum trays and foils. Depending on what the final product for the tray packer machine should be, the thickness of the slab can vary. 

To avoid breakage, slabs are chilled before they get delivered to a cold rolling mill where they get rolled to their necessary thickness. After, the foil is formed into trays and baked.

Trash cans using recyclable materials can hold aluminum trays without any problem. That eliminates the requirement for having a separate container for this kind of garbage. However, some businesses choose to separate their garbage into individual containers (metals, glass, plastics). 

You should, however, keep in mind the following while disposing of aluminum trays. 

Before throwing anything out, be sure you properly wipe it to get rid of the food and liquid residue. Cross-contamination is less likely as a result. Recyclable trash wheelie bins, for example, are used to store any type of rubbish. 

Once the aluminum trays have been remelted, they are recompressed or compacted once again. As the melted aluminum can then be utilized to build another thing, this effectively resets the lifespan of an aluminum product. 

Studies suggest that the recycled aluminum trays might be back on the shelf within a month after being recycled. 

When aluminum trays have been cleaned and dried, they can be reused in several ways, even though most of us are eager to discard them. Scrunched-up aluminum, for example, may help you get rid of tough grease stains from kitchenware and utensils that have built up over time.

Aside from storing food, trays for a tray packer machine may be used for other purposes. Aside from keeping your silverware in good condition, aluminum may help it last longer by slowing the pace at which the material deteriorates. That is especially true for expensive cutlery, which can benefit from being wrapped in aluminum between uses.

Aluminum trays have a high recycling and disposal cost, which is far lower than you would expect, given that it is a simple metal to recycle. It can be recycled with the rest of recyclables and doesn't need any treatment like hazardous garbage. Only a licensed trash carrier and the proper containers must be used before pickup to assure the proper disposal of this type of garbage. 

Plastic Trays

As a result of the single-use issue with plastic, end-consumer communities have adopted hushed tones while using plastic. However, although single-use plastics are increasingly being substituted, recyclable and recycled plastics provide the greatest opportunity for a genuinely circular economy. 

Plastic trays for a tray packer machine are:

  • C-PET Food Trays That Can Be Recycled
  • C-PET trays have a wide range of applications and are capable of handling raw, frozen, and cooked foods

C-PET trays work perfectly for meals that can be heated and eaten right away. They're perfect for multi-temperature applications, such as pre-made meals. The tray packer machine through which it is put needs to have the option of changing the temperature when operating.

Plant-Based Trays

Packaging that can be composted is becoming more and more common. Compostable items have a high level of customer confidence, even if the process of composting products is not taking place.

The contrast between commercially compostable packaging and the home compostable option is an important feature to look for. Compostable packaging for commercial use is a fantastic step toward sustainability, yet there still are relatively few links between end-users' garbage bins and commercial composting operations.

It is preferable to use packaging that's labeled "OK HOME Compostable," which indicates that it has been accredited. 

2. Why is Tray Packaging Efficient?

Packaging that can be composted is becoming more and more common. Compostable items have a high level of customer confidence, even if present composting of products is not taking place.

The contrast between commercially compostable packaging and home compostable packaging is an important feature to look for in compostable packaging. Compostable packaging for commercial use is a fantastic step toward sustainability, and there are presently relatively few links between end-users' garbage bins and commercial composting operations. 

The tray packer machine processes the trays to load them with food and products. Before using it, it’s important to have it cleaned and sterilized. 

It is preferable to use packaging labeled "OK HOME Compostable," which indicates that it has been accredited.

3. How to Dispose of Food Trays? 

It is possible to recycle plastic food containers, trays, and tubs using a transparent bag or a recycling bank if they are sanitized beforehand. Smaller plastics, such as lids, complicate the sorting process and should not be thrown in with other recyclables.

Final Thoughts on Food Tray Types

While there are 3 types of food packing trays that work in the tray packer machine, the aluminum ones are the best option because it’s easy to recycle them and they can be reused forever. Besides, the food tastes better when kept in aluminum. Aluminum works in the microwave or the oven, whereas plastic doesn’t. 

Using that all-around option will be the boost to your business you were looking for.

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