Banana Leaf Textures

To have a variety of packaging forms and sizes, the thai meal will be a meal for one. I will use a traditional thai green curry:

Net for Inside Packaging

This net is practically identical to the one of the free sample I got. To make life easier rather than drawing up a net from the sample, I will just use the one below for the inside packaging:

I will be producing 3 of these. 1 larger one for the rice and two slightly smaller ones for the main dishes. These will then have some kind of printed label or band which i'm currently in the process of working on. I will also need some kind of packaging for the spring rolls. All the packaging will then stack up inside the main box I have designed.

Whilst I will only be imitating the texture for my packaging, here is some natural materials which have been used in japanese packaging:

Sushi Pack

Like before, so I can get nutritional information, ingredients etc to go on my packaging, I'm going to take an existing sushi selection purchased from Tesco to propose as the contents of my pack. As I have focused already on a meal pack for two, my sushi pack is also going to be a pack to share. 

I thought of using the name 'sushi to share' however the larger sushi pack I found in Tesco already had this name so i will probably reconsider this (the brand is obviously still Chop Chop):

Sushi Packaging Nets

Here is a net I posted a while ago which I mentioned would be good if I were creating something like sushi. Now that I am expanding the brief into other packaging, this net would be a great one to use:

I think it would work well as it suits the shape and layout sushi is presented in and also the rounded shape to the packaging will work well next to my chow mein meal pack.




Similar to above, this next net fits the theme well with the rounded shape of it. This would be good created for a larger scale sushi pack as it has handles to carry it. I am currently unsure on the scale I will be producing this at yet. Although as my chow mein meal is a meal for two, it might be nice to produce a japanese meal pack rather than just sushi.

(add image of it built together)

Existing Sushi Packaging

Not sushi packaging but I really like the textured print on the label of this. I want to keep with the theme of natural patterns for the background so a bamboo leaf texture would be great to use for sushi as it is a traditional material used for packaging in japan. Or I could use a seaweed texture as this is what many type of sushi are rolled with.

Meal Pack - Stock Research

I've been doing some research into the different types of stock which is used commonly in food packaging.

Carton Board -

Duplex Board

FBB Board -

Kraft Card -

Liner Board -

Ready Meal Inside Packaging

Currently I have been focusing on the outer design for my meal pack but now I have a pretty good idea of how this will take form, I'm moving onto the inner packaging. I've done some research into existing packaging for ready meals and have found most tend to come in a standard black microwavable plastic packaging with a clear film lid. They tend to lack in any form of surface design as the design mainly takes place on an outer box or sleeve made from card.

Many oriental take aways are purchased in the cardboard noodle boxes, however as my product is being sold in supermarket, it will be sat on a shelf for a while and so plastic will need to be used for the risk of the food product leaking, and also to keep freshness.

Anything like the above images will not work for my meal pack concept,  firstly because these plastic containers are too standard, plain and unattractive to even consider using alone and secondly, producing some kind of outer printed sleeve for them would be pointless as my pack already has its main outer packing. 

There is the option (examples above) that I could print onto the film tops of the packaging but i'm not too sure how I would go about doing this.

My next option is a form of packaging i've discovered which combines the use of cardboard and plastic:

I think something like this is a perfect option for my concept. The cardboard tubs instantly make more attractive packaging for the contents of the meal pack and also allow me to produce a printed design straight onto them, whilst the plastic layer inside prevents any leakage from the food and the lid will also keep the freshness whilst still allowing the contents to be shown. I would also produce some kind of labels for the lids and also the ingredients and nutritional information would possibly need to feature somewhere.

I've actually found a website where i've ordered a few free samples so I can have a look at how the net works in order to produce my own.

Initially created by a company called Alexir, this idea had been used by stores such as Tesco and Eat:

"The new “alexipack”® board tray system from Alexir packaging was the chosen option for Tesco’s chilled ready meals in their re-launched “Healthy Living” range. The tray is leak resistant with 75% of the tray being made from a renewable resource, board. It is ideally suited for chilled ready meals, and with the 35% reduction in packaging weight when compared against the same product used in 2007 meets with Tesco weight reduction programme giving it environmental benefits."