Packaged

Packaged refers to the process of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. It also refers to the design, evaluation, and production of packages. Packaging can be described as a coordinated system of preparing goods for transport, warehousing, logistics, sale, and end use.

History

The concept of packaging can be traced back to ancient times where materials like leaves, wood, and animal skins were used to bundle and store goods. With the advent of industrialization, packaging evolved to include materials like glass, metal, paper, and plastic.

Types of Packaging

There are three major types of packaging: primary, secondary, and tertiary.

• Primary Packaging is the material that first envelops the product and holds it. This usually is the smallest unit of distribution or use and is the package which is in direct contact with the contents.

• Secondary Packaging is outside the primary packaging, perhaps used to group primary packages together.

• Tertiary Packaging is used for bulk handling, warehouse storage and transport shipping. The most common form is a palletized unit load that packs tightly into containers.

Functions of Packaging

Packaging serves several key functions:

• Protection: Packaging protects the product from damage during transport from the manufacturer to the retailer, and while in storage.

• Information Transmission: Packages and labels communicate how to use, transport, recycle, or dispose of the package or product.

• Marketing: The packaging and labels can be used by marketers to encourage potential buyers to purchase the product.

• Convenience: Packages can have features which add convenience in distribution, handling, stacking, display, sale, opening, reclosing, use, dispensing, reuse, recycling, and ease of disposal.

Environmental Considerations

With the increasing global concern for the environment, sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions are being prioritized by companies. This includes the use of recyclable materials, reduction in packaging, and life-cycle analysis to better understand the environmental impact of packaging.

Regulations and Standards

Packaging is subject to regulations and standards implemented by various authorities worldwide, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, which regulates food and drug packaging.

See Also

• Packaging and labeling
• Sustainable packaging
• Food packaging
• Pharmaceutical packaging