Packaging is the art, science and technology of protecting or enclosing objects for use, storage, distribution, and disposal. There are two aspects to packaging: quality and utility. Quality is a matter of how well an object is protected by the packing material. Utility is more pragmatic. Packaging includes the process of making, designing, testing, and creating individual packages.
Packaging methods include canning, shipping, courier, airfreight, direct shipment, or truck-mounted packager systems. All these methods employ some kind of packaging equipment. The most common packaging applications include foam-based packing, gasketed packing, crack-packing, garment-packaging, single-sided/double-sided, laminated packing, polystyrene (stretch) or thermoform, and acrylate. Packaging can be used to protect hazardous goods, such as chemicals, explosives, medicines, electronics, firearms, and food. Packaging can also help maintain the value of goods by improving their safety and reducing potential environmental exposure.
Packaging does not have to be restricted to strictly functional applications. It is used to appeal to consumers and increase convenience, particularly in the case of food and beverages. Packaging is especially important for fast moving, perishable items, particularly for children’s products, as well as for medical supplies and other specialty items. For example, milk cartons and boxes convey the convenience of milk straight to the customer while infant bottles convey the convenience of clean water to babies everywhere.
Packaging advertising is important because it helps promote the visibility and credibility of the product, while also increasing sales. Advertisements in packaging materials help consumers to make buying decisions more easily. Advertisements in packaging materials may appear in a variety of forms, including newspaper inserts, trade magazines, television commercials, catalogs, fliers, post cards, point of sale displays, fliers, envelopes, labels, promotional plastic cards, CD/DVD jackets, menus, cards, banners, billboards, outdoor events, pop up displays, websites, brochures, flyers, billboards, brochures, point of purchase promotions, promotional material provided by retailers, radio and TV commercials, station announcements, online ads, television listings and radio and TV commercials. Advertisements in packaging can be used to promote a range of commodities and products. These include food, beverage, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, health, nursery, household, pet and children’s merchandise.
Packaging can be visual, aural, or tactile, or combinations of any or all of these, depending on the type of packaging and the message it conveys. Advertisements in packaging materials can be made of many different materials, including plastic, paper, cardboard, fabric, leather, wood, plastic, fiberglass, glass, metal, etc. Packaging can be tailored to meet specific preferences.
Packaging can be used to enhance the appearance of the product, especially where the product will be used by people on a daily basis. This could involve using attractive wrapping papers, customised boxes and containers, ribbons, laces, bows, embossments, embossed shapes, vivid colours, attractive packing peanuts, foam inserts, padded seals, custom printed labels, customised inserts, customised slips, custom shrink wraps, custom printed tapes, customised labels, customised label holders and so on. Packaging can also be used to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the good by including attractive accessories such as handles, hinges, zippers, closures, bows, ribbon, foils, sequins, glitters, crystals, spot materials and so on. Packaging can also be used to promote a range of personalised goods such as spa treatments, baby gifts, house wares and so on.
There are 4 important aspects to consider in good packaging: the primary packaging material, secondary packaging, protective and relighting materials and the means of delivery. Protection from dust, moisture, heat, light and rain is essential. Relighting materials, such as tape, bubble wrap, foam inserts and foams should be provided at the point of delivery to avoid parcels getting damaged.
As discussed above, one of the most important aspects to consider in good packaging is to use appropriate aesthetics, including attractive paper and fabric types and attractive packing materials such as foams, padding, plastic trays and air-tight sealers. Advertisements can make or break a packaging project. However, effective advertising and effective presentation of the product are equally as important aspects.