Packaging for Ready Meals

Færch Plast is one of the leading manufacturers of packaging for ready meals and convenience products. In Europe, changing consumer behaviour and lifestyles means that the market for these products is expanding rapidly.

There is a wide variety of packaging for ready meals, both as regards heating and preparation. These are usually made from CPET or PP. For information on packaging for ready meals not requiring heating, please see packaging with and without lids.

We have a wide range of special packaging for specific needs. These products are for use in the food industry, retail trade and the pharmaceutical industry, where, due to our high hygienic standards, Færch Plast is an approved supplier. The products are made from CPET, APET, PP, PS and OPS, and range from cheese/sausage containers to a variety of "click-on" lids. OPS is not made at Færch Plast, and other production, sales and hygiene conditions apply.

Packaging for Ready Meals in CPET 
Due to its high-temperature stability, CPET is well-suited as packaging for ready meals, and can be taken directly from the freezer and heated in either a conventional oven or microwave oven. In addition, our CPET containers have a top layer of co-extruded APET, which gives this type of packaging extremely good sealing properties and a superb glossy appearance.

Packaging for Ready Meals in PP
PP is produced in two varieties. Ho-PP is transparent and more rigid than Co-PP, which unlike Ho-PP is contact-clear, and has a softer and more impact resistant structure. The two types of material are used in different temperature ranges. Co-PP can be used below freezing point whereas Ho-PP is suitable for use to a minimum temperature of +  2°C. Both materials are suitable for heating food in microwave ovens.

Properties	CPET	PP
Use	Ready-made meals: Preparation Heating Frozen	Ready-made meals: Preparation Heating Frozen (Co-PP)
Temperature range	-40C° - +220 C°	Ho-PP: +2C° - +121C° Co-PP: -40C° - +121C°
Heating	Conventional oven Microwave oven	Microwave oven
Process	Chilled, hot filling Chilled, pasteurised Chilled, fresh (modified atmosphere) Frozen Hot (takeaway)	Chilled, hot filling Chilled, pasteurised Chilled, fresh (modified atmosphere) Frozen (Co-PP) Hot (takeaway)
Barrier properties	Good barrier against oxygen, water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen	Good barrier against water vapour
Sealing	Extremely well-suited for sealing, both weld and peel seals. (see link to "Sealing films")	Extremely well-suited for sealing, both weld and peel seals.  (see link to "Sealing films")
Lids	Some varieties have lids	Many varieties have lids
Colours	Many standard colours, but can also be supplied in colour(s) of choice	Many standard colours, but can also be suppliedin colour(s) of choice
Material	Dimensionally stable at high temperature Smooth, shiny apperaence. Can be incinerated and re-enter the naturral cycle planet.	Ho-PP is a rigid and transparent material Co-PP is contact-clear, and has a softer, more flexible structure. Can be incinerated and re-enter the planet cycle.
Design	Available in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are more than 175 sizes in the standard range. CPET is also well-suited for special designs.	Available in a variety of shapes and sizes - is also well-suited for special designs