Egg carton
Encyclopedia
An egg carton is a carton
designed for carrying and transporting whole egg
s. These cartons have a dimpled form in which each dimple accommodates an individual egg and isolates that egg from eggs in adjacent dimples. This structure helps protect eggs against stresses exerted during transportation and storage by absorbing a lot of shock and limiting the incidents of fracture to the fragile egg shells. An egg carton can be made of various materials, including foamed plastics such as Styrofoam
, clear plastic
or may be manufactured from recycled paper and molded pulp
by means of a mechanized Papier-mâché
process.
Before egg cartons, eggs were carried in egg baskets.
An 'egg crate mattress', while following a similar form, is not used for egg transport. It is a light weight camping mattress which makes use of the dimpled structure to distribute and cushion human weight. This foam structure is also occasionally used in packaging to dampen impact of sensitive material during travel.
Similarly, acoustic foam
tiles which help in sound proofing and the limitation of acoustic resonance have a similar form to egg crates. Egg crate mattresses are occasionally used as an inexpensive but poor substitute to acoustic foam
.
New egg packaging designs have since been pioneered, to help egg producers and marketers promote "premium eggs". Premium eggs are often produced with greater effort to provide many health benefits, and need attractive egg packaging to capture the customers attention on the retail shelf.
The egg carton was invented in 1911 by newspaper editor Joseph Coyle of Smithers, British Columbia
, to solve a dispute between a local farmer and hotel owner over the farmer's eggs often being delivered broken. The egg carton "Box" was further developed by H.G.Bennett (Riseley UK) during the 1950s and became the norm for egg transportation during this period.
Cartons
Trays
Trays are usually used to store fresh eggs from farms or at farmers markets. Plastic egg trays are also used by egg processors to wash and sanitize eggs. A cardboard sleeve or additional trays are used to protect eggs when using a tray format.
Carton
Carton is the name of certain types of containers typically made from paperboard which is also sometimes known as cardboard. Many types of cartons are used in packaging. Sometimes a carton is also called a box.-Folding cartons:...
designed for carrying and transporting whole egg
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
s. These cartons have a dimpled form in which each dimple accommodates an individual egg and isolates that egg from eggs in adjacent dimples. This structure helps protect eggs against stresses exerted during transportation and storage by absorbing a lot of shock and limiting the incidents of fracture to the fragile egg shells. An egg carton can be made of various materials, including foamed plastics such as Styrofoam
Styrofoam
Styrofoam is a trademark of The Dow Chemical Company for closed-cell currently made for thermal insulation and craft applications. In 1941, researchers in Dow's Chemical Physics Lab found a way to make foamed polystyrene...
, clear plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
or may be manufactured from recycled paper and molded pulp
Molded pulp
Molded pulp, also named Moulded pulp or Molded Fibre, is a packaging material, typically made from recycled paperboard and/or newsprint. It is used for protective packaging or for food service trays and beverage carriers...
by means of a mechanized Papier-mâché
Papier-mâché
Papier-mâché , alternatively, paper-mache, is a composite material consisting of paper pieces or pulp, sometimes reinforced with textiles, bound with an adhesive, such as glue, starch, or wallpaper paste....
process.
Before egg cartons, eggs were carried in egg baskets.
An 'egg crate mattress', while following a similar form, is not used for egg transport. It is a light weight camping mattress which makes use of the dimpled structure to distribute and cushion human weight. This foam structure is also occasionally used in packaging to dampen impact of sensitive material during travel.
Similarly, acoustic foam
Acoustic foam
Acoustic foam is an open celled foam used for acoustic treatment. It attenuates airborne sound waves by increasing air resistance, this reducing the amplitude of the waves. The energy is dissipated as heat. Acoustic Foam can be made in several different colors, sizes and thickness. It is Best...
tiles which help in sound proofing and the limitation of acoustic resonance have a similar form to egg crates. Egg crate mattresses are occasionally used as an inexpensive but poor substitute to acoustic foam
Acoustic foam
Acoustic foam is an open celled foam used for acoustic treatment. It attenuates airborne sound waves by increasing air resistance, this reducing the amplitude of the waves. The energy is dissipated as heat. Acoustic Foam can be made in several different colors, sizes and thickness. It is Best...
.
New egg packaging designs have since been pioneered, to help egg producers and marketers promote "premium eggs". Premium eggs are often produced with greater effort to provide many health benefits, and need attractive egg packaging to capture the customers attention on the retail shelf.
The egg carton was invented in 1911 by newspaper editor Joseph Coyle of Smithers, British Columbia
Smithers, British Columbia
Smithers is a town located in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, approximately halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Smithers is located in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako....
, to solve a dispute between a local farmer and hotel owner over the farmer's eggs often being delivered broken. The egg carton "Box" was further developed by H.G.Bennett (Riseley UK) during the 1950s and became the norm for egg transportation during this period.
Sizes
Standard egg cartons are 12, but they can come in a variety of sizes:Cartons
- 6 or half dozen
- 8
- 10
- 15
- 18
- 20
Trays
Trays are usually used to store fresh eggs from farms or at farmers markets. Plastic egg trays are also used by egg processors to wash and sanitize eggs. A cardboard sleeve or additional trays are used to protect eggs when using a tray format.
- 20
- 30