The food packaging industry has undergone many changes since the advent of the first metal packaging. Industrialization was initially the driving force behind the choice of metal for mass food production. Here are some key milestones in history, dating back to the Industrial Revolution, that have driven the demand for aluminum and other metal packaging.
Early Industrial Packaging Methods
Following the American and French Revolutions, modern packaging methods began to emerge. The 19th century saw rapid advances in factory equipment, which helped speed up the packaging process. In the early 1800s, commercial food containers were made from materials such as ceramic, glass, and tinplate. The first commercial canning factory was established in England in 1813. Canned foods during this period included oysters, meats, fruits, and vegetables.
Decorated tin boxes began to become widespread as early as the 1830s, used for cookies and cakes. The patent for the first machine to stamp cylindrical tins was granted to Allan Taylor in 1847, while other new processes helped speed up production. Eleven years later, inventor Ezra J. Warner obtained the patent for the can opener, which was then widely used by U.S. military personnel during the Civil War.
In 1875, the first conical cans appeared and were quickly adopted for canning corned beef and sardines. Alongside the many modern inventions that began to emerge in the 1880s, the first automatic canning machine was developed. One of the most unique developments in packaging to emerge during that century came in 1899, with the patent for aerosol cans, granted to the team of Helbling and Petsch. Aerosols allow liquid or gaseous contents to be kept under pressure in containers so they can then be sprayed as a fine mist. A more modern version of the aerosol was introduced a few decades later.
One of the main factors that revolutionized the meat-packing industry in the United States was the famous 1905 novel *The Jungle* by investigative journalist Upton Sinclair. Although a work of fiction, the book exposed and raised awareness of the unsanitary conditions in American meat-packing plants and food contamination, which led to the enactment of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. This legislation ultimately led to the creation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Metal Packaging in the 20th Century
The early 1900s saw even more inventions, heralding the consumer society as we know it today. Canned tuna first appeared in 1909 on the West Coast of the United States. In 1914, tunnel ovens began to be used to dry the ink on tin packaging. Bayer introduced small boxes for its aspirin in 1917. That same year also marked the debut of coffee cans with key-operated lids. Here are a few other key developments in the food packaging industry duringthe 20th century, prior to World War II:
- 1926 - "Spam" canned meat is introduced
- 1931 - The electric can opener is introduced for the first time
- 1935 - Krueger launches the first canned beer
Immediately after the war, the first aerosol can was mass-produced in 1945. In the 1950s, as the world entered the Cold War era, metal can manufacturers tested their cans to see if they could survive a nuclear explosion and still provide food safe for consumption. The results were positive. In 1957, cans became even more durable when aluminum began to be used as a material for cans. The first all-metal beer can appeared a few years later. Next came the first pull-tab beverage can in 1962.
The Age of Sustainability
The launch of Earth Day in 1970 marked the beginning of a new era, which inspired the recycling of metal cans. Can manufacturers began to pay closer attention to sustainability principles, creating lighter cans that used fewer materials. By the mid-1980s, aluminum cans had become the container of choice for beverages. Aluminum is one of the most sustainable materials, as it is strong enough to have a long service life and can be recycled indefinitely without any loss of quality.
Another striking example of an innovative concept inspired by sustainability goals is the introduction of tab openings in 1989. By leaving the tab attached to the can instead of tearing it off, waste is reduced, and the aluminum remains intact, allowing for more metal to be recycled. During the 1990s, the size and circumference of the cans were reduced, making them even more efficient and sustainable.
Conclusion
The food packaging industry has used a variety of materials since the last century, but metals such as aluminum and tinplate have proven to be the most successful due to their strength and durability. History has shown that when it comes to storing food for long periods of time, metal cans are the most suitable option.
