Nomadic man ’ s natural food packaging

Packaging started with humankind ’ s need to store and transport food while on the hoof . Historians believe that during our nomadic hunter-gatherer days , materials such as leaves , animal skins and gourds were used to store and transport foodstuffs .

The ancients discover glass and paper

The ancient Egyptians were the first people to discover glass-blowing technology , and to mould glass into food and water containers . In ancient China , meanwhile , paper making was discovered , and was used as a flexible packaging for medicines and loose tea .

Medievals roll out the barrel

The Middle Ages saw a rise in popularity of wooden packaging , in the shape of barrels and boxes , both for storage and transportation . Barrels were typically used for sea travel , and contained rum , dried food , and fresh water . Barrel-makers - called coopers - were highly valued tradesmen .

16 April 2022