Description For those familiar with the scientific and industrial sciences, packaging is the art, science and technology of protecting or enclosing objects for storage, distribution, transfer, and usage. Packing also refers to the procedure of developing, testing, and manufacturing packaging materials. It includes the study of the properties of various materials used in packaging and their effects on the finished product. As a part of the development of a new product, packaging plays a crucial role in the success or failure of a new product in the market.
The primary objective of packaging is to safeguard the objects enclosed by the package from damage. Good packaging is essential for the consumer’s good health. This is one of the reasons why consumers choose only the best packaging available for their goods. Packaging plays an important role in the consumer’s decision making process especially when buying a specific good packaged with good quality and a competitive price.
Consumer attitudes towards packaging change considerably depending upon their purpose. Packaging designed for mailing purposes carries very different considerations than that of those used for shipping. A box that is used for shipping food items would not be suitable for carrying a laptop computer. Thus, the entire concept and practices relating to packaging change in order to meet the specific needs of the consumer.
Packaging for the post-consumer sector is completely different from the one required for the consumer. In the post-consumer sector, the packages are produced as a result of consumer demand. The purpose of packaging is to ensure a quick and efficient transfer of goods from the producer to the consumer. In this context, there is a significant importance placed upon consumer satisfaction.
The success of a packaging project is dependent upon its ability to satisfy the consumer. The key factor in consumer satisfaction is product design. The satisfaction of consumers depends primarily on the ability of a packaging company to design a package in a manner that appeals to the consumer. Packaging companies have a considerable amount of work to do before the completion of a package. This is where some of the difficulties with the design of the packaging come into play.
Bar Code Packaging: There is currently no universal standard for packaging and labeling. The most common codes for packaging are alpha-numeric combinations, which are commonly found in the English language. Alpha-numeric combination means that the first number or letter will appear in the first position of the pack. Usually the sequence starts with the letter “A”. This format has been used successfully by almost all the major packaging and labeling companies in order to make packaging as simple as possible for the customer.
Bar Code Labels: The use of bar codes has become a permanent part of modern product packaging. Bar code technology was first introduced in the year 1940, when the W.C. Johnson Company started using it to promote the sale of their laundry powder. Since then, the bar code labeling has expanded significantly to include more common items such as vitamins, aspirin and other prescription drugs. Bar code technology can help to speed up the process of identification of the product, helping to ensure quick sales to the customer.
Disadvantages of Plastic Packaging: The biggest disadvantage of consumer packaging and labels is that they are generally not tamper proof, and as a result, fraudsters can create numerous fakes to fool consumers. Due to this, many countries have banned the use of plastic altogether. However, this restriction is only enforced to a certain extent, as there are many ways of creating trans-products that are made from paper or other materials that do not require plastic to be included in the final product. Plastic has proven to be the most durable and practical material when it comes to consumer packaging and labels.