Packaging is an aspect of everyday life that we may not pay attention to but we appreciate its use. Bags, boxes, tins, bottles, wrapping and pots are just some of those aforementioned aspects that packaging provides. Without them, goods and items would become damaged, spoiled and even cross-contaminated. But what else does packaging do? Get the packaging 411!
Packaging concentrates on the multi-stage process that stems from getting goods from production to consumption. This can include primary or sales packaging, secondary packaging and transport packaging. Primary or sales packaging involves what the consumer takes home, whereas secondary packaging is boxes, trays and the clingfilm that items are grouped together in. Lastly, transport packaging ranges from small to large containers and pallets.
Packaging Material
There is no such thing as the perfect material, as you have to adapt the packaging material to the item you are packaging. For example, a toothbrush wouldn’t be able to be packaged in a paper bag. However, a paper bag would be perfect packaging for flour.
Over Packaging
There are many items that it isn’t necessary to package, such as fruit and vegetables. But it is still done as it is traditional and neater for stores to do so. However, it could also be because of the journey that the item has had to undertake to the store.
When it works, it works
It is normal to handle around 50 different items of packaging everyday. A well packaged item won’t be appreciated, as it is serving its purpose well in being easily accessible and protective of the item it contains. However, poor packaging can make access to the product difficult. The items with poor packaging need a re-design.
Loose vs prewrapped
Regardless of whether you choose to have loose or prewrapped fruit and vegetables, both would have been wrapped at some point. No matter the distance! Most of the time fruit or veg that is to be sold loose in-store, will have been prewrapped during transportation. Food for thought, right?