The Importance of Food packaging Certification

You’ve undoubtedly noticed that food packaging companies, including It’s a Wrap, talk about certifications, but what do they really mean? We’ve put together a handy guide to help you decipher each accreditation and discover their importance to your business.

Why Bother with Certifications?

Your first thought may well be “does certification really matter?” As a food packaging manufacturer that’s proud to meet a host of industry standards, we can’t emphasise their importance enough!

Certification by independent organisations helps to reassure businesses that the manufacturer they use follows best practices, has high quality standards, and is a reliable supplier to work with. More than that, certification guarantees that your packaging is fit for purpose and is safe for its intended use. Imagine buying branded greaseproof paper where the ink transfers onto your food products – disaster!

Certification also matters to consumers. As more and more people become aware of the impact their purchases have on the environment, consumers look for more eco conscious solutions. For many consumers, knowing that packaging meets environmental standards can be a make-or-break factor in making a purchase.   

ISO Standards

ISO standards are mentioned frequently, but what are they? ISO standards are a set of internationally recognised specifications set out by a team of experts and are put in place to ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of products and services.

Manufacturers wishing to gain ISO certification face a lengthy application process as well regular auditing and strict adherence regulations. The very fact a manufacturer has reached ISO standards demonstrates their commitment to providing the best possible products and services and should provide customers with confidence in their purchases.

At It’s a Wrap we’re proud to meet ISO standards for quality management and environmental practices. Our ISO9001 certification ensures we supply packaging to the highest possible specifications and confirms that we run a fully integrated quality management system to continuously drive optimal performance.  Our additional ISO14001 accreditation demonstrates our commitment to meeting the best possible environmental practices. This means we actively look for ways to reduce waste through efficient working processes, we design packaging with minimal material usage, and we use recycled and recyclable materials wherever possible.

FSC and PEFC

These two standards both concern sustainability. Paper and card are a popular choice for packaging materials due to their recyclable nature. However, such materials can be the product of deforestation or poor forestry practices; a threat not only to the world’s forests, but also to brand reputation.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) are non-profit organisations promoting the responsible management of the world’s forests. The presence of either organisation’s logo provides assurance that the materials used come from certified, sustainable forests. For instance, at It’s a Wrap our white paper is PEFC certified, and our brown paper is FSC certified meaning both options are guaranteed to be from sustainably sourced materials causing minimal environmental impact.

ISEGA 

ISEGA is an independent testing and certification institute that confirms the compliance of materials and chemicals used in the production of food packaging. Sounds complicated, doesn’t it?! Basically, the presence of the ISEGA logo on packaging products assures you that the product is suitable to use alongside food and, more importantly, will not transfer any substance to the food within. The use of ISEGA accredited packing is both a reassurance for businesses and consumers alike.

US FDA

Similar to ISEGA, The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the safety of substances added to food as well controlling as how food is processed, packaged, and labelled. The phrase "FDA compliant" means that a material meets the FDA's guidelines for safety. It’s essentially an official way of saying a material is "food grade" and is made of the correct type and quality of material that makes it safe for food contact.

You’ll be pleased to know that all It's a Wrap branded greaseproof papers are US FDA and ISEGA certified and therefore meet food contact standards set out by both agencies. 

EU REG

Companies that supply food packaging must comply with the EU’s food contact regulations. These policies ensure that materials do not release harmful substances into foods and do not change the taste, odour or composition of food.

The regulations also require manufacturers to establish a system that traces food contact materials at every step from production to distribution.

It goes without saying that It’s a Wrap branded greaseproof paper meets all EU Regulation Standards!

Halal

You would be forgiven for assuming that the term ‘Halal’ refers to food only. However, Halal certification can apply to a number of categories, including food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, cosmetic products, and also packaging. The certification as being Halal guarantees that products are manufactured with full compliance of Islamic Law, do not contain any forbidden components and have not been contaminated in any way.  

It’s a Wrap’s Halal certification provides assurance to our customers that not only are all our raw materials, including our paper and inks from approved sources but that the machinery lubricants used in our manufacturing process are also of Halal standard.

Our Commitment to Quality

When working with It’s a Wrap you can be certain of working with a manufacturer that cares, not only about service and quality, but also about the environmental impact of the disposable food packaging industry. We take our commitment to quality very seriously and are proud of our accreditations.

For more details on our accreditation please visit our website or feel free to contact us with any questions!