Dictionary.com states the definition of packaging is an act or instance of packing or forming packages and the package in which merchandise is sold or displayed. Packaging is very essential to every type of industry. Whether you’re in the food business, clothes manufacturing or you’re in the technology industry, packaging is crucial. It protects the product from any potential damage that will deem the product useless. Thus a good packaging system is a must. Eye-tracking studies show that consumers read on average only seven words in an entire shopping trip, buying instinctively by color, shape and familiarity of location.
Here are the Five Things Product Packaging Must DO
- Plastic – one of the most common packaging materials used for food products. Resin is most common to plastic packaging as it can be made flexible or rigid depending on the need of packaging. This is commonly used for sodas, milk carton and egg trays. Rigid plastics are usually used for manufacturing food cartons (for to go) and other plastic trays.
- Metal or Aluminum – this type of packaging is normally used for canned goods, sodas and alcoholic drinks like beer. Although aluminum is good for packaging, challenge is it is quite expensive to make one that is why you would hear people trying to get all the used cans that they can find so that they can have it for recycling.
- Cardboard – this is used when the product is already wrapped in something that is already well protected and secured. This material is also highly recyclable. This material is also used in manufacturing corrugated boxes. Some products use bubble wrap for protective purposes before putting it in a well-sealed box. Taping machines are commonly used for sealing these corrugated boxes just to make sure that product is delivered in tact.
- Glass – is frequently used for preserved foods such as jams and honey. This type of packaging is easy to use and can be recycled over and over again. Glass is also used for consumable goods such as sodas, beer and wine. Although this packaging is fragile, it is still widely used across almost all industries.
- Foam – you would notice this type of packaging on gadgets, TVs, furniture, glass and anything with sharp edges. Foams are custom made to make sure that it fits the product accurately.
Packaging is sometimes neglected by companies that are not aware of the benefits and importance of ensuring that the product is received in one piece and not in pieces. But packaging is not just limited to the type used. Having a high quality and dependable packaging system like a taping machine will ensure that product will reach the end of the line in order
The best packaging not only represents the product inside, but manages to communicate its values and market position as well. In the design business this is known as being ‘brand centric’. “Think about where your product sits in the market, its values and purpose and ensure the packaging adequately reflects this,” says Celia Jarvis, from the Design Council.
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