Packet (container)

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A packet or sachet is a small bag or pouch, made from paper, foil, plastic film or another type of packing material, often used to contain single-use quantities of foods or consumer goods such as ketchup or shampoo. Packets are commonly opened by making a small rip or tear in part of the package, and then squeezing out the contents.

Uses

Condiments distributed in packets include ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, salad cream, HP sauce, relish, tartar sauce, vinegar and soy sauce. They provide a simple and low-cost way of distributing small amounts of condiment with ready-to-eat packaged food such as hot dogs, French fries, or hamburgers, and are common in fast food restaurants. The packets produce less contamination and mess than freely available condiments dispensed into small disposable cups or other containers, especially if the food will be in transit before dining. Potpourri fragrances are also sold in sachets. Potpourri sachet envelopes are filled with scented herbs and flowers or use vermiculite containing aromatic fragrance oil. These are known as potpourri wardrobe sachets. In Argentina and Uruguay, milk and yogurts are also sold in packets.

In 1983, the Indian company Cavin Kare began selling shampoo in small plastic packets instead of large bottles in order to make it more affordable to the poor.{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/mar/22bspec.htm|title=The inspiring success story of CavinKare|date=22 March 2007|publisher=Rediff-India}} Sale of small amounts of shampoo and detergents in plastic packets is very popular throughout the Philippines, India and other Eastern countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/full_story/packaging_preferences1|title=Packaging preferences|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301112838/http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/full_story/packaging_preferences1|archive-date=2012-03-01}} In 2011, 87% of shampoo sold in India was in sachets.{{cite news|title=Now aiming at the high end|url=http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/cavinkare-working-towards-a-global-presence/1/19204.html|newspaper=Business Today|date=30 October 2011|location=India}}

File:Ketchuppacket.jpg|A packet of ketchup, opened with the contents squeezed out

File:Butter single portion in container.JPG|A packet of butter

File:Shampoo packet, single-serving.jpg|Shampoo packet

File:GD Guangdong Pearl Hotel Starlake Duanzhou Zhaoqing paper pack toothpicks July-2012.JPG|Toothpick's paper packet

File:HK CWB 香港怡東酒店 Excelsior Hotel Brown Sugar bags Dec-2011.jpg|Sugar's paper packet

File:Embalaje monodosis de medicamentos.jpg|Pharmaceutical packets with text and bar code identification

File:Maaloxx Old Package.JPG|Tear open pouch

Porous pouch

File:Fruit box with pouches.jpg pouches placed inside fruit-packing boxes kill pathogens but don’t damage fruit. {{cite journal

| last = OBrian

| first =D

| title =Chlorine Dioxide Pouches Can Make Produce Safer and Reduce Spoilage

| journal = AgResearch Magazine

| publisher =USDA Agricultural Research Service

| date =2017

| issue = July

| url =https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2017/chlorine-dioxide-pouches-can-make-produce-safer-and-reduce-spoilage/

| access-date =June 21, 2018

}}]]

Some packets are made of materials with known porosity to allow vapors from the pouch to escape. These pouches, also called sachets, can be placed in other packages to help control the atmosphere. Uses include: volatile corrosion inhibitors,

desiccants, oxygen scavengers, etc.

History

Benjamin Eisenstadt invented a machine that produced the modern sugar packet after a failed endeavor to package and sell tea bags, later packaging other items, including sauces.{{cite web|url=http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/ive-always-wondered/why-are-ketchup-packets-so-unsatisfying|title=Why are ketchup packets so... unsatisfying?|work=marketplace.org|access-date=2015-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812191622/http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/ive-always-wondered/why-are-ketchup-packets-so-unsatisfying|archive-date=2015-08-12|url-status=dead}}

Variants

The Sanford Redmond designed the no mess dispenSRpak for one handed operation. Introduced into Australia in 1990, it is used in other countries, but the design has not been widely licensed in the USA.{{cite web |url=http://www.sanfordredmond.com |title=Sanford Redmond |publisher=Sanford Redmond |access-date=2012-11-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421022859/http://www.sanfordredmond.com/ |archive-date=2013-04-21 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/30/business/business-man-behind-the-butter-pat-now-lets-you-hold-the-mayo-one-handed.html | work=The New York Times | first=Amanda | last=Hesser | title=BUSINESS; Man Behind the Butter Pat Now Lets You Hold the Mayo, One-Handed | date=2000-07-30}}{{cite web|url=http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=117506 |title=91/50 Packaging, (2), food, tomato sauce, plastic, 'Masterfoods Squeeze Mate', Australia, made by Conoflex packagiing, designed by Sanford Redmond, 1990 - Powerhouse Museum Collection |publisher=Powerhousemuseum.com |date=2012-01-31 |access-date=2012-11-13}}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/16/nyregion/about-new-york-of-metaphysics-and-the-making-of-useful-things.html | work=The New York Times | first=Douglas | last=Martin | title=About New York; Of Metaphysics And the Making Of Useful Things | date=1989-12-16}}

In 2010, the H. J. Heinz Company designed a new ketchup packet. The new design was made with a cup and easy tear, thus making it easier to dip food without a plate along with holding three times as much ketchup.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9743988 |title=New Ketchup Packet Allows for Dunking or Squeezing |publisher= ABC News |date=2010-02-04 |access-date=2010-07-08}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/video/old-ketchup-packet-heads-for-trash/0D739D4A-B5D6-4883-8283-055F6E3B9EA8.html|title=Old Ketchup Packet Heads for Trash|date=19 September 2011|work=wsj.com}} It has not been widely adopted.

= Water sachets =

Records

In Collinsville, Illinois, the largest ketchup packet was created by H. J. Heinz Company for a fundraiser for the Collinsville Christian Academy. People could buy a bottle of ketchup for $1 to add to the ketchup packet. After it was filled, it weighed 1,500 lbs. and it was {{convert|8|x|4|ft|abbr=on}} across and {{convert|9.5|in|abbr=on}} thick.{{citation|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/services/business-services/4523671-1.html |title=Heinz Ketchup Packet to Squeeze Into Guinness Book History |work=Business Wire |date=July 27, 2007}}{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2007-07-28-ketchup-record_N.htm |title=Ill. town creates record ketchup packet |publisher=Usatoday.Com |date=2007-07-28 |access-date=2010-07-08}}

Annual production of ketchup packets by Heinz alone is 11 billion.{{cite web|title=Trivia|url=http://www.heinz.com/our-company/press-room/trivia.aspx|publisher=Heinz|access-date=26 January 2016|archive-date=24 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324001822/http://www.heinz.com/our-company/press-room/trivia.aspx|url-status=dead}}

Pollution

Plastic sachets are a major contributor to litter and pollution, especially in low-income countries where many more household goods are sold in sachets in small quantities.

In June 2022, a Reuters report revealed that Unilever had lobbied the governments of India and the Philippines to stop legislation which would ban the sale of cosmetics in single-use plastic sachets, despite vowing in 2020 to stop using them.{{Cite web |last1=Brock |first1=Joe |last2=Geddie |first2=John |date=22 June 2022 |title=Unilever's Plastic Playbook |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/global-plastic-unilever/ |access-date=23 June 2022 |website=Reuters}} The design of these sachets had been called 'evil' by Hanneke Faber, Unilever's President for Global Food and Refreshments, 'because you cannot recycle it'. The bans were then dropped by lawmakers. In Sri Lanka, the company pressed the government to reconsider a proposed ban on sachets, and then tried to manoeuvre around the ban after regulations were implemented. Unilever sells 40 billion plastic sachets each year.