PACKAGING AND WOODEN PACKAGING

HISTORY
Since ancient times there has always been the need for conservation, from the
heat of our body to that of a house or food. Thus, with the objective of preserving
and protecting from the passage of time, together with the evolution of technology,
innovative packaging has been created based on a more demanding consumer
every day, giving them different uses, always without forgetting their main function:
to preserve The most common thing they used were natural fibers, such as fique,
jute and later wooden boxes and clay or clay vessels. (Castillo, Trejoy Muñoz,
2013)
It has been said that the history of man is the history of the fight against hunger,
and it seems evident that our distant ancestors fed on any kind of natural products
capable of satisfying their appetite. At first, only man had what he hunted or
gathered at the time for food. They limited themselves to eating what they found:
fruits, roots, plants in general and bird eggs. The animals they hunted were only
those they could kill in a rudimentary way, such as snakes, insects, shellfish, and
small game animals. If this was abundant or the harvest was generous, he was
satisfied; If not, they died of hunger. It could be said that primitive man was
fundamentally a gatherer. This led him to perfect techniques to preserve food and
thus be able to have it available in a period of scarcity. That primitive man
consumed raw food until the appearance of fire, which marked a significant change
in his eating habits through cooking. The possibility of roasting and boiling
considerably expanded the range of animals and plants that could be ingested,
since fire favored the destruction of harmful microorganisms contained in meat and
the toxic elements of some plants. He discovered that animal skins – leather or
skin – or salt were elements associated with adequate food preservation. This was
resolved through salt or sugar mines (honey) where the food was submerged,
smoked (covered with ash) or through the action of snow and winter cold (such as
curing sausages). Our ancestors had many problems. when it came to preserving
and transporting food, especially when they needed to travel to the colonies, or
when armies occupied territories with precarious logistical and administrative
support. The history of packaging is linked to how we see humanity and,
consequently, to that of its commercial traffic. Since ancient times, man has
needed to explore, discover, conquer, and trade. Needing to have tools that would
allow you to transport and preserve supplies, as well as protect your merchandise.
(Castillo, Trejo and Muñoz, 2013)
In the year 8000 BC, the use of clay vessels as containers begins the history of
packaging. Since then, its use has been increasing, evolving and diversifying
enormously in recent years, under the protection of new technologies and trying to
satisfy new social needs. (Castillo, Trejo and Muñoz, 2013)
The first packaging known in history dates back to the time of the Greeks and
Romans, from 200 to 150 years BC. Wooden boots and barrels were made,
reinforced with metal parts. These containers were used both for the storage and
for the transport and marketing of products such as oils and wines. In 1809 the first
boxes tied with wire for bulk packaging appeared and it was not until 1825 when
the box closed with wire began to be used. nails, this being the star product to this
day. (UNAM, Sf)

A few years ago, wooden packaging and packaging had been very useful for the
transportation and distribution of products, especially because they were
manufactured by the merchants themselves, in addition to offering great security in
the handling and transfer of merchandise. Currently, the use of wooden packaging
worldwide has decreased due to the ecological situation, and environmental care,
requirements, legislation, health standards and the use of alternative packaging
materials (packaging disposables, rubber packaging, polystyrene packaging,
flexible packaging, cardboard packaging, molded packaging, among others.). They
function more like packaging and are an alternative for the transportation of heavy
products both within the territory of a nation and for export. (UNAM, Sf)

PACKAGING AND WOODEN PACKAGING

Wood is one of the most used rigid materials in the construction of many types of
boxes, drawers, crates and packaging. They are capable of withstanding efficient
handling, but being natural they are prone to attack by insects and fungi.
(Bohórquez, 2003)
Wood is more used in packaging than in the final packaging of products. Examples
of the few applications of wood in the current packaging of final products are
boxes, barrels and cases. (FEDEMCO, 2006-2007)

TYPES OF WOOD

PLYWOOD: also known as multilaminate, plywood , plywood or plywood, it is a

board made with thin veneers of wood glued with the fibers transversely one over
the other with synthetic resins using strong pressure and heat. This technique
significantly improves the dimensional stability of the board obtained compared to
solid wood.
Due to the properties of this type of industrialized wood product, plywood is used
on a large scale due to its uniformity of measurements and its ease of obtaining.
Packaging made with plywood is solid, rigid and at the same time light.

For export, this material is used to make reinforced boxes with or without angular
uprights. These boxes are made up of six panels reinforced with bars that are
nailed or preferably stapled along their edges.

Some of the special forms of packaging made with plywood are: Cuñetes, Barrels,
Small Boxes and Framed Boxes. (UNAM, Sf)

CHIPBOARD: Wood chipboard is a material that is sold in boards and is

composed of wood particles of different sizes, joined together by some type of
resin, glue or other material and subsequently pressed at controlled temperature
and pressure forming the board. The origin of the wood particles and the joining
materials varies and hence it is more or less ecological.

Chipboards are the cheapest woods because they are made with shavings left
over from cutting other natural woods or leftover wood scraps from sawmills.
It is called chipboard because it is built with the aggregation or agglomeration (or
union) of several particles, in this case wood shavings. (Technology, Sf)
ROUGH WOOD: Wood in its natural state as cut and harvested, with or without
bark, round, split, squared, raw. Covers all wood harvested in and out of natural
forests and industrial plantations during the calendar year, and includes saw and
veneer rounds, pulp rounds and other industrial roundwood. Firewood and particle
chips are included. waste or industrial waste suitable for the manufacture of boards
and pulp. (FAO,2005)

BRUSHED: It is one that is brushed on all four sides. (Infojardin

2012-2013)

EXAMPLES OF WOODEN PACKAGING AND PACKAGING

BOXES: Used for transporting heavy products. As a container or for certain

traditional high-end products ( cigars , alcoholic beverages, etc.). However, its
greatest use is found in the fruit and vegetable sector . (FEDEMCO, 2006-2007)

BASKETS: Used for packaging as a sales unit to the consumer. (FEDEMCO,

2006-2007)

PALLETS: Pallets or pallets are platforms for transport, on which a certain amount
of goods or load units are accommodated, and which for handling purposes are
moved with mechanical devices such as forklifts, skids, forklifts, etc. They are
made up of two planks joined together by separating crossbars. There are
combinations such as the pallet with box in which the pallet can replace the floor of
the box and become a direct part of the packaging; The pallet can be combined
with wooden, metal or cardboard boxes forming a single unit. (UNAM, Sf)

HUACALES: Wooden crates or cages that are used as packaging for protection,
handling, transportation or storage of merchandise , equipment or some objects
that are difficult to handle, heavy or bulky. (UNAM, Sf)

ADVANTAGES OF HANDLING WOODEN PACKAGING AND PACKAGING

  Wooden packaging continues to enjoy a good image among consumers,
perceiving it as a hygienic product with high quality connotations.
 Industrially produced material. (Proexport Colombia,2003)
 The production of wooden packaging and packaging is easy and does not
require special equipment. (Proexport Colombia,2003)
 Easy to handle and stow (Perez, 2012)
 They resist damage caused by the impact they can have on the load
compared to other materials such as cardboard ( Pérez, 2012)
 rigidity (Pérez, 2012)
 They can be cut, drilled, profiled, nailed or screwed, even recycled ( Pérez,
2012)

DISADVANTAGES OF HANDLING WOODEN PACKAGING AND PACKAGING

 Compared to other types of packaging, they can be more expensive,

given the volume of wood they require. (Proexport Colombia,2003)

 They can be reusable, but require more work and storage space.
(Proexport Colombia,2003)

 The wood swells with the sun's rays, which causes it to split. (Perez,
2012)

 They rot in moisture, causing fungi and worms to contaminate the cargo.
(Perez, 2012)

 They require special treatment and compliance with official regulations,

especially phytosanitary. (Perez, 2012)

 bulky, heavy and flammable. (Perez, 2012)

APPLICATIONS OF THE HANDLING OF WOODEN PACKAGING AND

PACKAGING

 They function more as packaging especially in wine and other glass-

packaged food industries. (FEDEMCO, 2006-2007)

 Barrels for fermented beverages such as wines and beers. (FEDEMCO,

2006-2007)
  Round boxes for cheese and dairy products. (FEDEMCO, 2006-2007)

 Cases for nougat, confectionery. (FEDEMCO, 2006-2007)

 Large boxes for hams and sausages. (FEDEMCO, 2006-2007)

 Fruit and vegetable packaging. (FEDEMCO, 2006-2007)

 Containers for fish and seafood. (FEDEMCO, 2006-2007)

 Boxes and cases for cheese, confectionery. (FEDEMCO, 2006-2007)

LEADING COMPANIES AT A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

 MADEPAL

Colombian Industrial Packaging Company: Coils, Reels, Pallets, Huacales

(Storage Box). More than 20 years of experience.
ISO 9001 - ISPM15 (ISPM 15).

http://madepal.com/madepal/quienes-somos/

 MADEPARK

COSTS

Below we present a series of food packaging made from wood, by the company
CAJAS & EMPAQUES DE COLOMBIA which was established in 2007 in Medellín.
This in order to approximate the prices that are currently being managed in the
country's wood packaging sector.
 LIQUOR BOX

12CM X 11CM X 22CM HIGH

PRICE: $22,800

WOODEN BOX

32CM X 31.5CM X 7CM HIGH

PRICE: $11,500

WOODEN BOXES

PRICE: $9,000
 WOODEN BOX:

25CM X 17.5CM X 8.5 HIGH

PRICE: $9,000

WOODEN BOX

10CM X 10.5CM X 8.5CM HIGH

PRICE: $10,700

WOODEN BOX WITH 4 DIVISIONS

14.5CM X 14.5CM X14.5CM HIGH

PRICE: $19,100
 PRODUCTS OBTAINED FROM RECYCLED WOOD

Wooden pallets and packaging are easily repaired with wooden spare parts, they
can be recycled to obtain wood shavings or sawdust, which are used to make
chipboard boards , packaging and protecting packages, as well as as insulation
material. , compost in gardening, bedding for pets or livestock and for the
production of "Dolls for Old Years" or for the manufacture of other products.
(FEFPEB, 2013)

When wood reaches the end of its useful life, it can be used as a renewable fuel
because forests act as enormous carbon sinks since when trees grow, they absorb
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, approximately one ton of carbon dioxide. for
every cubic meter of wood produced. (FEFPEB, 2013)

USEFULL LIFETIME

The manufacture of wooden containers is based on raw materials from controlled

forestry operations of pine, poplar or another tree that meets the needs of the
container. For the manufacture of pallets, coils, boxes and other large containers
and packaging, pine is mainly used, while for food product packaging, the use of
poplar is growing.

Like any other type of packaging, its useful life ends once the product it contains
has been used, sold, distributed in new formats, etc. and, then, the dilemma arises
of what to do with that waste.

In the case of large stores, distribution centers, etc. and, if there is a reclaimer
nearby, it is possible to send the used packaging to them for recycling. Otherwise,
the container will inevitably end up disposed of with the rest of the MSW, that is, in
a controlled landfill or incinerated.

If the wooden container reaches the final consumer, it will always be in really small
quantities compared to the rest of the containers and, despite the fact that the
ECOEMBES SIG includes this container in the selective collection circuit using a
yellow container, none of the plants Existing recyclers in Spain recover this
material, mainly due to its low presence, with which the packaging will ultimately
end up being disposed of with the rest of the urban solid waste. (Ambientum
Magazine, 2004)

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
It mainly affects the environment due to deforestation; which is the process by
which the earth loses its forests in the hands of men.
Man in his search to satisfy his personal or community needs uses wood to
manufacture many products. Wood is also used as fuel or firewood for cooking and
heating. On the other hand, economic activities in the countryside require areas for
livestock or to grow different products. This has placed great pressure on forests.
When a forest is cut down, the organisms that lived there are left without a home.
In many cases animals, plants and other organisms die or have to move to another
forest. Destroying a forest means ending many of the species that live in it. Some
of these species are not known to man. In this way, many species are being lost
day by day and disappearing forever from the planet. (Muñoz, sf)

INNOVATIVE NEWS REGARDING WOODEN PACKAGING

HYGIENE. WOODEN CONTAINERS FOR FISH, TRADITION ADAPTED TO
NEW TIMES
This news presented by FEDECOM (SPANISH FEDERATION OF WOODEN
PACKAGING AND ITS COMPONENTS) at the beginning of January 2014,
presents us with a new perspective regarding the use of wooden containers for
food preservation, contrary to the present one, where The use of this type of
packaging tends to be rejected for foods that require high degrees of safety, such
as fish.
In the first instance, FEDECOM explains the main advantages of wooden
packaging, these are “its ecology, its conservation capacity, its hygiene and image
of freshness.” To which in order to confirm these attributed properties, two studies
are presented that refer to the importance of good manufacturing practices and the
antibacterial properties of wood.
Regarding good manufacturing practices, reference is made to the doctoral thesis
carried out at the Autonomous University of Barcelona in 2010 on the evaluation of
hygiene in fishing markets, which concludes that the greatest hygienic incidence
occurs due to the facilities, the personnel and handling (68%), and to a lesser
extent due to the hygienic nature of the wooden packaging and ice (13%).
Regarding the antibacterial properties of wood, reference is made to research
carried out by the Danish Technological Institute, where bacteria similar to
Salmonella, Camphylobacter and Listeria were used in different species of wood
(fish packaging and food packaging), verifying the effect bactericidal that wood
possesses is superior to that of smooth materials, this is due to certain molecules
and chemical composition of wood, which allows them to stand out.
This is of great importance since it raises the possibility of studying different types
of wood, finding in each of them particularities that allow it to adapt to different
foods and improve their quality, such as pine, which in this research was found to
be It has antibacterial extracts. (FEDEMCO,2014)

RESEARCH AT A SCIENTIFIC LEVEL REGARDING WOODEN PACKAGING

1. FORBIOPLAST PROJECT

The Forbioplast project (2008-2012) was initiated by an initiative of 16 partners

from nine countries (Norway, Belgium, Germany, Romania, Greece, Hungary, Italy,
Latvia and Spain), financed by the VII Framework Program of the European Union.
The final objective of this project was to obtain different types of materials with
characteristics similar to plastics or polyurethane foams, but made up totally or
partially of forestry and paper industry waste.
It is from the growing acceptance of derivatives of forest by-products that the
researchers of this project sought to give new value to these wastes by using them
in the manufacture of automobile components, food packaging, chemical and
cosmetic products, as well as different products for agricultural use.
In the case of food packaging, it is from wood fibers obtained from the waste of
sawmills and paper factories that biodegradable plastic for food packaging has
been developed. The plastic is made of 25% wood fibers, its main characteristic is
biodegradability. Tests have also been done with up to 40% wood fibers that have
not worked satisfactorily because the material can become too fragile.
The process used begins by selecting the best materials with the best technical
requirements, these were used to manufacture the different products, and once the
most suitable materials for each application were established, prototypes were
generated and evaluated by end users. Companies from the automotive (FIAT),
packaging and agricultural sectors intervened in these final phases. (ECOTICIAS,
2011)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bohórquez Díaz, Óscar Alejandro. Guide for post-harvest and marketing of

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Castillo Zavala, Alejandra; Trejo Gil, Christian; Muñoz Brandi Victor Manuel.
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[Online]. 10 of January 2014. [Retrieved February 22, 2014].
http://www.fedemco.com/ficha_noticia.html?cnt_id=12073

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Infogarden. [Online]. 2012-2013. [Recovered February 22, 2014]

http://www.infojardin.net/glosario/loam/madera-cepillada.htm

Muñoz Guadalupe. Deforestation. [ Online]. Yes [Recovered February 21, 2014]

http://www.monografias.com/trabajos14/deforestacion/deforestacion.shtml

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http://www.ambientum.com/revista/2004_01/ENVMADERA_imprimer.htm

Technology. Agglomerate. [Online]. Yes [Retrieved February 21, 2014]

http://www.areatecnologia.com/videos/AGLOMERADO.htm

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embalaje.htm