A container that may be employed to store a tobacco-containing material is provided. The container may include a lower body portion and an upper lid. The lower body portion may include an intermediate bottom wall that may separate the lower body portion into upper and lower internal storage compartments. An environment modification material may be received in the lower internal storage compartment. The tobacco-containing material may be received in the upper internal storage compartment. The environment modification material may control humidity in the container to preserve the freshness of the tobacco-containing material and/or perform other functions. Vent channels cooperatively formed by the lower body portion and the upper cover may further contribute to humidity control.

A metal lid for a tobacco can is provided. The metal lid includes a circular lid top having a central recess and a shoulder. The shoulder extends radially outwardly from and vertically above the central recess. The side wall is unitarily formed with the shoulder, depends downwardly from the shoulder, and is disposed below the central recess of the lid top. The side wall includes a bead and a hem. The bead extends circumferentially around the side wall. The hem is formed from a distal portion of the side wall folded over onto an intermediate portion of the side wall. The hem functions as a guide, forms a safety edge, and permits the lid to be more easily grasped by a consumer.

A metal lid for a tobacco can is provided. The metal lid includes a circular lid top having a central recess and a shoulder. The shoulder extends radially outwardly from and vertically above the central recess. The side wall is unitarily formed with the shoulder, depends downwardly from the shoulder, and is disposed below the central recess of the lid top. The side wall includes a bead and a hem. The bead extends circumferentially around the side wall. The hem is formed from a distal portion of the side wall folded over onto an intermediate portion of the side wall. The hem functions as a guide, forms a safety edge, and permits the lid to be more easily grasped by a consumer.

Articles of manufacture, products, and packaging methods are provided that include collapsible container. Collapsible containers provided herein can define an open interior space with a peripheral side wall having a top edge and a bottom edge and a bottom wall attached to the bottom edge of the side wall. The bottom wall can include a displaceable portion in an expanded configuration that extends below the bottom edge of the side wall and adapted to being displaced to a collapsed configuration that extends above the bottom edge of the side wall. Product constituents (e.g., pouches of smokeless tobacco) can be placed in a collapsible container provided herein while the collapsible container is in its expanded configuration. After installing a lid onto a collapsible container to enclose the product within the collapsible container, the container can be collapsed to its collapsed configuration.

Articles of manufacture, products, and packaging methods are provided that include collapsible container. Collapsible containers provided herein can define an open interior space with a peripheral side wall having a top edge and a bottom edge and a bottom wall attached to the bottom edge of the side wall. The bottom wall can include a displaceable portion in an expanded configuration that extends below the bottom edge of the side wall and adapted to being displaced to a collapsed configuration that extends above the bottom edge of the side wall. Product constituents (e.g., pouches of smokeless tobacco) can be placed in a collapsible container provided herein while the collapsible container is in its expanded configuration. After installing a lid onto a collapsible container to enclose the product within the collapsible container, the container can be collapsed to its collapsed configuration.

Methods for encasing bodies including smokeless tobacco or a tobacco substitute with a polymeric casing can include coating a compressed body with microfibers, applying tubular casings to compressed bodies, printing netting and webs on compressed bodies, injection molding around compressed bodies, applying a webbing to compressed bodies, placing compressed bodies into a skin forming bath, and including thermoplastic polymers in a compressed body.

Methods for encasing bodies including smokeless tobacco or a tobacco substitute with a polymeric casing can include coating a compressed body with microfibers, applying tubular casings to compressed bodies, printing netting and webs on compressed bodies, injection molding around compressed bodies, applying a webbing to compressed bodies, placing compressed bodies into a skin forming bath, and including thermoplastic polymers in a compressed body.

A smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and a polymeric material in intimate contact with the smokeless tobacco and stabilized in conformance to a surface topography of the tobacco's fibrous structures such that the stabilized polymeric material secures the smokeless tobacco together. The smokeless tobacco product has a moisture-permeable porous surface and an overall oven volatiles content of at least 10 weight percent.

A smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and a polymeric material in intimate contact with the smokeless tobacco and stabilized in conformance to a surface topography of the tobacco's fibrous structures such that the stabilized polymeric material secures the smokeless tobacco together. The smokeless tobacco product has a moisture-permeable porous surface and an overall oven volatiles content of at least 10 weight percent.

Methods for encasing bodies including smokeless tobacco or a tobacco substitute with a polymeric casing can include coating a compressed body with microfibers, applying tubular casings to compressed bodies, printing netting and webs on compressed bodies, injection molding around compressed bodies, applying a webbing to compressed bodies, placing compressed bodies into a skin forming bath, and including thermoplastic polymers in a compressed body.