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| Lunch Box Meal |
NZ Organizations
Organizations such as Plastics New Zealand, and Sustainability NZ, are useful resources for current and future development in regards to plastics. This can include recycling, environmental life cycles, training, future technology and other information. For example the Plastic Identification Codes for different plastics such as Polypropylene and Polyethylene indicating their common food applications and subsequent recycled products. The NZ Packaging Council, another resource web site also has information on recycling, waste strategies, education, with related information to other agencies, such as: Beverage and Juice Association. NZ Trade and Enterprise, Paperboard and Packing, and Ministry for the Environment.
Consumer food safety, guidelines, auditing, certification, latest trends, research, industry news, training, and standards, are also important. Informational web sites such as the Food Works Directory, Standards NZ, and NZ Food Safety Authority can be resourceful avenues.
Container Types and Composition
Food and liquids can be stored or served in a range of plastic designed containers, styles and shapes (bins, crates, pottles, bottles, lidded small box, clam shell, hinged lids, round, rectangular, etc), sizes, end use (e.g. for bulk bin chiller storage, pallet movement/strapping, microwave heating, freezing, vented, stackable, etc) and material types, blends, and co-polymers. This includes High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), and Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE).
There are also Bio-Plastics material, e.g. Polyactic Acid (PLA). These are made from starch based produce, e.g. corn or sugar cane, which are renewable resources. Thus materials made from plants rather than oil, to produce eco friendly Bio-Polymers. NatureWorks LLC in the USA, produce innovative plastics from their green chemistry Bio-refinery manufacturing facility.
Technical Information
Perhaps search online for product/brand name, or general search for product, data/properties, and material/chemical specification and application sheets for various plastics. Often available in PDF download files from major industry distributors and petrochemical/petroleum producers, e.g. Plastics International has a spec sheet for LDPE. Global producers such as Exxon Mobil, Ineos Group, Dow Chemical, and Reliance in India may have a download section for their raw materials, i.e. plastics, polymers, co-polymers, and any related brand names.
Videos of Plastics Definition and Different Manufacturing Processes
| Basic Compostion | Manufacture Methods |
NZ Suppliers and Manufacturers
Storage Box (http://www.storagebox.co.nz/)
Stores throughout NZ that sell storage box, including plastic fish bins, cubes, and under bed boxes, approximately 30L to 52L. Also kitchen bulk stores boxes (about 4L to 12L in volume), bowls, and tumblers. Their are other storage items/solutions such as racks, rubbish bins, compartment boxes, baskets and more for using around the home.
Sistema (http://www.sistema.co.nz/)
Producers of quality products that include 3 pack cups, tumblers, bowls, and plates, drink bottles (nice colors), which I recognize from our local Payless store in Manukau. Many other stores stock their products, e.g. The Warehouse, Bunnings, Farmers, Foodtown, Kmart, and other stores. Also supply dishwasher and microwave safe "KLIP IT" space saving container storage solution. Good selection of lunch boxes, e.g. three pack, folding, and their KLIP IT to Go brand.
Click Clack Storageware (http://storageware.clickclack.com/)
Provide airtight attractive durable, kitchenware airtight boxes, canisters, including sets, in volumes of about 0.4L to 6.0L. Products include cube styles, air tight store all, accents, stack and seal, and Michael Graves pantry/canister range. Perhaps view their online catalog or view at NZ retailers such as Briscoes, Bunnings, Mitre 10, and Storage Box.
M.T. Containers (http://www.buckets.co.nz/)
Plastic Injection Moulders, with examples of fish bins (e.g. 33L and smaller), lids, and storage bins of which you can contact them for custom needs, that includes virgin or recycled materials. Also buckets, pails, bowls and other items.
Bonsons (http://www.bonson.co.nz/)
Specialists in injection moulding of Polypropylene food containers and disposable food service items. Large range of products, of which you can view serving capacities, volume, and diagrams with descriptions. Serving capacity volumes are around 300ml to 1000ml. Includes square, rectangular, round, wide base (with raised lids) and their Clear Vision and Homeal brands. Items are Microwave safe, to easily heat and prepare meals, and with good presentation from the clear -view construction.
Provide bowls, plates, portion cups, including colored on request. Their Savpac range includes biodegradable utensil items, made from sugar cane pulp and corn starch. This includes bowls, plates, cups, lidded boxes, and cutlery. Also provide rigid foam compartment meal packs, burger boxes, hinged lidded containers and other variants. Their policy documents e.g. Food Safety - HACCP, and Environmental, can be viewed on their web site.
Snell Packaging (http://www.snell.co.nz)
Their site mentions being NZ's largest packaging and safety distributor, and you can see that from their range of product categories. This includes local and imported products (e.g. 3M, Cater Holt Harvey, Amcor, Ansell, Box NZ). The Company also provides technological, packaging, safety, and supply solutions and savings. The catering and hospitality category includes catering accessories, and for containing food: food wraps, baking paper, beverage cups, plastics (selection of round, rectangular, with pricing), foam, foil, and sho-bowls.
But also supply Polythene bags, stretch wrap, shrink films, Kraft bags, bin boxes, fiber boards, tapes, carton boxes, and machinery/securing accessories (e.g. carton sealers, heat shrink, strapping and wrapping items and tools). Also stationery, hygiene, and safety products. Thus a one stop shop for packaging needs and solutions.
Flight Plastic Packaging (http://www.flight.co.nz/)
Manufacturer's of thermoformed plastic containers from polyesters and other polymers, e.g CPET, APET, PP, and HIPS. Provide standard thin walled stock items, and can design and produce custom designed products for the food industry. Can select packaging for seafood, meat, fruit, produce, bakery, and horticultural categories. Packs include a range of dimensions and styles for punnets (e.g. for strawberries), clam-shells, trays (e.g. for meat), vacuum-trays, pocket-packs, cake domes, hinged sandwich packs, muffin packs, family packs, including square, pie, and rectangular shaped containers.
Stowers Containment Solutions (http://www.plastic.co.nz/)
Select from a vast range of plastic storage bin styles, or you can contact them for specific product or solution to suit. View a diversity of containment and related products within categories of light and bulk materials, waste and recycling (e.g. wheelie bins), packaging/dispensing, handling equipment, and their Logisticx range. Many products are food grade approved. Select from Food boxes - approx 1L to 16L Polypropylene/Linear Low Density Polyethylene; Polystyrene boxes - approx 3L to 71L, Low and high density round containers/baskets; PET jars, pots, jugs, pails, jerrycans, drums, barrels and many other styles and designs. Also accessories such as funnels, bungs, shovels, scoops, paddles (food grade), and more.
For bulk food storage and/or handling/transfer, view images on their website, and select from various crates (stackable, nesting, specialty). Examples include bread, prawn, vented design, roller organizers, fish crates, and many others. Plenty of pallets - including hygiene grade, general, lightweight, export, "v-pallet", drum, collapsible box pallets, insulated box, and other it seems, user specific designs. Also can supply pallet trucks, table lifters, stands, trolleys, dollies, and drum carriers. Thus a good spread of plastic products for food movement, and containment within NZ and for export.
