Packaging for salmon and shellfish: How to make the right choice

 

Global demand for fresh and frozen seafood is on the rise, with the frozen seafood market set to grow from £64 billion in 2022 to £107 billion by 2032 (Allied Market Research). As volumes increase and international supply chains grow more complex, exporters are under greater pressure to maintain product integrity from origin to destination.

Whether shipping across regions or continents, the right packaging plays a critical role - helping businesses preserve freshness, meet regulatory standards, avoid costly spoilage, and protect their reputation.

In this blog, we explore the key considerations for seafood packaging for salmon and shellfish - from insulation and durability to compliance and sustainability - to help you choose the best-fit solution for your operations.

Fit-for-purpose seafood packaging is non-negotiable

Seafood packaging for salmon and shellfish plays a vital role in maintaining product quality and meeting cold chain compliance throughout transport and storage. Seafood is highly perishable, sensitive to temperature fluctuations, moisture and contamination - issues that can result in rejected shipments, financial losses, and a blow to your business’s reputation.

 

Effective temperature-controlled packaging acts as a barrier against physical damage and environmental stress during handling, storage and transport. It helps to maintain the product’s freshness, supporting its safe and market-ready arrival at the final destination.

Whether seafood is travelling across borders or continents, the right packaging helps keep it intact, visually appealing, and ready for market. The right fish packaging isn't optional; it's an investment in product protection, customer satisfaction, and global market access.

Packed to perfection

Choosing the right packaging for shipping salmon and shellfish involves more than just protection. Chilled packaging must meet practical, regulatory, and market expectations.

 

Here are some of the boxes seafood packaging must tick:

• Temperature control: Seafood must stay consistently chilled or frozen throughout transit. Fish packaging should offer strong insulation to maintain cold chain integrity and prevent spoilage.
• Moisture resistance: Seafood packaging boxes must prevent internal leaks and block external moisture that could impact product quality or hygiene, which is why moisture-resistant seafood packaging is essential.
• Strength and durability: Seafood packaging materials must withstand stacking, compression and humidity without collapsing, protecting the product during handling and shipping.
• Sustainability: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) are placing more accountability on businesses to manage their packaging waste. Choosing recyclable, clearly labelled materials can help meet evolving legal requirements and avoid costly penalties across key markets.
• Branding and labelling: Clear, accurate labelling ensures full product traceability and supports compliance with regulatory and buyer requirements. Branded packaging also reinforces professionalism and can strengthen your presence in competitive wholesale or export markets.

Packaging material for seafood packaging

Choosing the right packaging for seafood like salmon and shellfish means selecting materials that can handle moisture, temperature changes, and transport demands.

 

Here’s a look at the most common options, and how they measure up:

• Paper-based thermal packaging: Recyclable, strong, and a solid choice for insulation.
• Expanded Polystyrene (EPS): Lightweight and effective - but difficult to recycle and increasingly controversial.
• Coated corrugated cardboard: Durable and moisture resistant. Traditional wax coatings limit recyclability, but innovations like Smurfit Westrock’s water-based coatings offer a sustainable alternative.
• Liners, gel packs & dry ice: Useful for maintaining chilled or frozen conditions inside seafood boxes, whether transporting smoked salmon, fresh prawns, or other delicate products.

Salmon and shellfish packaging that performs

Seafood packaging needs to do far more than simply protect the product. It must comply with strict food safety standards, such as EU or FDA approvals, while offering full traceability to give buyers confidence in product safety and quality.

 

Sustainability is also a key priority. Sutherlands of Portsoy, for example, replaced plastic with sustainable fish boxes to appeal to markets where EPS was falling out of favour. With many retailers now insisting on recyclable packaging, sustainable design is no longer optional - it’s a clear competitive advantage.

Practical considerations are just as important. Sustainable packaging for seafood must work seamlessly with transport and storage requirements, from pallet configurations to temperature control, so seafood arrives fresh and in peak condition. In short, the right packaging safeguards the product, supports sustainability goals, and keeps supply chains moving efficiently.

At Smurfit Westrock Tannochside, we design seafood packaging that delivers protection, compliance, and sustainability - so your salmon, shellfish or prawns arrive fresh and market-ready, every time.

Talk to our team to explore custom seafood packaging solutions built for your business success.