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Herb & Spices: Packaging
Storage and packaging is essential to
maintain the freshness of herbs&spices. Before packaging,
herbs&spices pass through the drying process, in which humidity
is absorbed. Herbs&spices remain fresh under the driest condition.
As a result, packaging materials must prevent moisture from
penetrating through.
Commercial Packaging:
| 1. Jute
Sack: Capable of packing a large quantity of herb
& spices. Jute sacks are cheap and provide good ventilation.
However, this type of sack is prone to humidity, and the
jute easily disintegrates during shipping. With the soft
and shapeless material, jute bags provide little protection
against physical damage during shipping. |
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2. Plastic Sack: Made
from woven Polyolefin plastic strips, plastic sacks are
also capable of packing a large quantity of herb & spices.
Because the plastic strips are coated with either Polyethlene
(PE) or Polypropylene (PP), the sacks provide more protection
against humidity. The coating also protects the sack from
disintegration during the shipping process. Moreover the
plastic sacks are lightweight and, therefore, convenient
for export production. |
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| 3. Plastic Bag: Commonly
sold in local markets, plastic bags come in various shapes
and sizes. Made from Polyethlene (PE) or Polypropylene
(PP), plastic bags protect herb & spices against vapor
and humidity. However, the plastic bags are shapeless.
Fully-packed plastic bags may not remain stacked on top
of each other very well during shipping. |
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4. Corrugated Paper
Carton: Widely used in export production, corrugated
carton provides a layer of protection against damage during
shipping. The carton has various degrees of strength,
depending on how many layers are formed. With a rigid
shape, corrugated carton can be stacked high on top of
each other. However, the carton cannot protect herb &
spices against humidity. As a result, herb & spices are
usually packed in plastic bags and placed into the carton.
After each usage, the carton can be recycled. |
In practice, herb & spices manufacturers
mainly use jute sacks to distribute the products to wholesalers
or retailers. For exports, the packaging material must provide
a good amount of ventilation. In this case, exporters use
jute sacks for packaging. But packing for export requires
that herb & spices are very well stuffed into the bag. Each
stuffed herb & spices weighs approximately 30-180 kg.
Only a small number of manufacturers and
exporters pack herb & spices with corrugated paper carton,
plastic sack, or plastic bag. Although these materials provide
a good protection against humidity, they are relatively expensive.
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