Glassine vs. Cellophane

The packaging process is nothing less than a mystery novel: the more you dig into it, the more questions you have in your mind. However, you will want some solid answers when you make buying decisions. That becomes truer when you are buying food packaging materials. In this article, we will compare glassine and cellophane.

Glassine material

Glassine is a glossy bakery paper that is resistant to air, water, and grease. After being pressed and dried into sheets, this paper undergoes another procedure called super-calendaring. This procedure involves the flattening of paper once more using a set of rollers. As a result, all paper fibers face the same direction.

The final product, which is the glassine paper, has a translucent look, tending to showcase the baked goods. While these sheets are usually available in white color, other color variants are also available.

The production of glassine doesn’t use any wax or chemicals. This material is fully recyclable and biodegradable. It is also a compostable material.

Cellophane material

Cellophane is a transparent film that is adequately resistant to oil, grease, air, and bacteria. It can be affected by water, but you can use lacquer to protect it. You may have seen or handled this material while buying cookies or crackers. This material is also used in the packaging of gift baskets.

Although this product looks like plastic, it is based on cellulose derived from cotton, wood, hemp, or other plants. While this product is biodegradable, its production may involve the use of toxic materials.

What is the best choice?

You will need to choose between glassine and cellophane, depending on your packaging requirements. You may need to ask yourself a few questions here.

• Are you assembling gift baskets or packing edible products?
• Are you paying attention to the aesthetics only or protecting your products?
• Are you looking to use eco-friendly packaging materials?

These questions will help you decide which packaging option is right for you. Both of these packaging options are great, but they have their sets of pros and cons. You will have to make sure that the pros of the packaging option you choose outweigh its cons. In some cases, you may even prevent any shortfalls. It’s all about strategizing your packaging procedure and the use of materials.

Food packaging can be a complicated procedure, but not when you plan it strategically. You have to be cautious about using packaging materials, particularly when choosing between glassine and cellophane. Glassine is usually free of toxic materials, while cellophane has some of those adverse properties. What material you use will depend on the type of product you pack and whether it comes in direct contact with the product. If your baked goods have to come in direct contact with packaging material, glassine may turn out to be the best option.

You can also discuss all these matters with a qualified packaging supplier. They will give you the best piece of advice regarding the type of material you should choose and the strategy you should deploy.