Joseph Coyle, a Canadian newspaper publisher and hotelier, is often credited with inventing the egg carton. His motivation for creating this packaging solution stemmed from the need to transport and store eggs safely to minimize breakage and damage.
Coyle filed the patent for his invention on December 12, 1911. The egg carton was made of papier-mâché and had indentations precisely the size of chicken eggs. These indentations served to protect and insulate each egg individually, minimizing shocks during transport.
The introduction of the egg carton had a significant impact on the egg industry. Previously, eggs were often transported loose, leading to more breakage and quality loss. Individual packaging in Coyle's egg carton better ensured the integrity of the eggs. This not only facilitated transport but also made handling easier for consumers and retailers.
Joseph Coyle's invention revolutionized the way eggs were packaged and handled, contributing to efficiency and quality assurance in the egg industry.