From Mesh to Smart: The Packaging Revolution in Potato Marketing
With rising costs, labor shortages, and shifting consumer preferences, the potato sector is under increasing pressure to streamline packaging operations. Intelligent handling and packaging solutions are emerging as vital tools to boost productivity, minimize waste, and protect product quality across every stage of the supply chain.
Traditionally, potatoes have been packed in mesh bags or bulk sacks—solutions that, while cost-effective, often result in bruising, moisture loss, and spoilage. In contrast, carton and punnet packaging now offer a more advanced, retail-ready alternative that combines durability with improved presentation.
Corrugated and cardboard containers provide robust protection during storage and transit. Designed with optional ventilation holes, these containers help regulate humidity and airflow to preserve freshness and reduce rot.
Punnets—typically made from recyclable PET or molded fiber—are ideal for pre-weighed, consumer-ready products. Their clamshell design offers branding opportunities and helps reduce damage caused by manual handling.
In response to environmental pressures and regulatory mandates aimed at reducing plastic waste, demand is growing for biodegradable and recyclable packaging. Many suppliers now offer FSC-certified paperboard and compostable fiber options, aligning with broader sustainability targets set by producers and retailers alike.
The Way Forward for Potato Packaging
Automation is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity, especially in secondary packaging where production speed and accuracy are critical. Hygienic design and moisture resistance are essential features for equipment operating in wet or cold environments. This presents challenges for carton closers and case packers, which must accommodate a wide variety of packaging formats without extended downtime.
Delicate products, such as baby potatoes or pre-cut wedges, also require gentle handling in primary packaging, making speed and precision equally important.
Flexibility is another core requirement. As processors juggle multiple SKUs, packaging formats, and retailer-specific demands, quick and seamless changeovers—between corrugated boxes, paper punnets, and plastic clamshells—can be the difference between hitting or missing narrow production windows.
Sustainability adds another layer of complexity. Brands and regulators are pushing for reduced material usage and recyclability, which intelligent systems must now accommodate through optimized designs and efficient substrate handling.
Integration is just as crucial. Industry 4.0-driven control systems are replacing isolated machines with interconnected lines, allowing palletizers, fillers, closers, and carton erectors to communicate and coordinate operations. This improves efficiency and supports traceability—an increasingly important element of food safety and supply chain transparency.
To navigate these demands without compromising reliability, processors are turning to systems equipped with servo-driven alignment, adaptive format switching, and hygienic design. These features help future-proof packaging operations while preserving margins.
You can read the rest of this article in Issue 1 of the Potato Business Digital 2025 magazine, which you can access by clicking here.
