| If you've ever wondered how the packaging used for | | | | extreme popularity were cereals - especially once |
| your food has been developed, you're in for a surprise. | | | | popular types of cereal were introduced by the |
| The story is complex and multifaceted - and very | | | | Kellogg's company. |
| interesting. Below, we take a closer look at the | | | | Plastic Changes The Food Packaging Game - |
| evolution of food packaging. | | | | While paper could arguably be considered the first |
| Paper: From Wrapping Food To Boxing It Up - | | | | mainstream kind of food packaging and is still widely |
| The origins of paper date back to the days during | | | | used as such today, there's no question that the |
| which time 2nd century BC Chinese began to wrap | | | | introduction of plastics in food packaging during the late |
| their food in mulberry bark. This probably marked the | | | | 1970s and the early 1980s changed things a lot. Plastic |
| first time in history that people chose not to eat their | | | | only became widespread in the late 20th century even |
| food as soon as they came across it, choosing instead | | | | though it was discovered a century earlier. In addition |
| to save it for later. The Chinese perfected an efficient | | | | to plastic containers, cellophane and other types of |
| process for producing paper soon after. Years later, in | | | | transparent film are commonly used to package food |
| 1310, paper making took hold in England. This paper | | | | and are made out of plastic, too. |
| was made out of cellulose which was usually found in | | | | Interestingly enough, plastics are being given a run for |
| linen. | | | | their money by the paper packaging industry once |
| In 1867, paper making became much easier when | | | | more as more and more people become concerned |
| people discovered that cellulose could be found in | | | | about the environment. While plastics certainly aren't |
| wood pulp. Paper use exploded, and it began being | | | | going anywhere - they will continue to be popularly |
| used in a lot of different food packaging applications. In | | | | used in food packaging - it's likely that more companies |
| England, the ever-present paper bags segued around | | | | will eschew it in favour of paper wherever possible. |
| the year 1840 into popular and multipurpose cotton | | | | There's no question, though, that plastic creates the |
| flour sacks. During the 1870s, cartons were first | | | | perfect packaging for a broad array of different food |
| invented and came into popular use. The main food | | | | products. |
| product that propelled cartons and cardboard into | | | | |