When choosing a product's packaging, it is vital to consider its functions, cost, materials, and promotional value. The purpose of the packaging should be to make the most important feature of the product obvious to the buyer. Buyers only spend money on things they understand. A well-designed packaging will communicate this feature to the customer. Here are some tips to make your packaging a success. Read on to learn more. Packaging can help you sell more products.
Functions
There are fourteen primary functions of packaging. Among them are transportation, measurement, communication, display, and glamour. Aside from these, packaging also plays a vital role in fulfilling consumer expectations. It minimizes the risk of introducing spurious or substandard products, ensures safe storage of remaining products, and promotes international trade. What are these functions? Let's take a closer look. Listed below are a few examples.
Protection: The most important function of packaging is protection. It keeps the product from contact with outside elements and maintains its integrity during storage, transportation, and use. Protection is achieved by preventing spills, odor, dust, and microorganisms from damaging the product. Additionally, it protects products from damage that could occur if they were exposed to extreme temperatures, such as freezing or melting. Packaging also helps prevent recontamination of thermally-stabilized products.
Convenience: Packaging is also designed to make storage convenient. If the packaging is too large or too heavy, it may limit the amount of space a product can occupy. Unnecessary weight or size limits the amount of inventory that a company can hold, which makes transportation more costly. By contrast, proper packaging design can accommodate a larger inventory and less space. Further, a package with handles and a handle is easier to carry.
While it may seem like an overwhelming task, reducing the cost of packaging does not mean sacrificing quality or design. In fact, it can even save money if you use less packaging materials. By using less packaging, you will have fewer problems with your product, which will reduce your overall cost. Plus, you can save money on storage space by eliminating unnecessary packaging lines. Consider Network Packaging's stock holding service to reduce your overall packaging costs.
Overheads associated with packaging include storage expenses, labour costs, delivery costs, and packing time. Another aspect that affects costs is waste generated in the process. For example, if your packaging is prone to void fill, it may require multiple passes. The same goes for bubble wrap and stretch wrap. You've probably seen the videos on social media. Unless you're one of those companies, you're not doing your business any favors by wasting packaging materials.
The Scottish Government recently announced plans to charge producers for the costs of packaging. The study, commissioned by the UNEP, looked at how much plastics cost society in terms of greenhouse gases and disposal costs. The environmental impact of packaging is estimated at $75 billion each year, with the food and soft drinks industries being the largest contributors. Further, it's important to consider the full environmental costs of packaging. You should be able to determine whether a proposed policy will be beneficial to the environment.
Materials
Packaging materials can be either recyclable or non-recyclable. Paper is a versatile material and is often used in combination with other materials like plastic or aluminum. Plastic materials are often made from two main categories - thermosets and thermoplastics. Thermosets are irreversible once heated and cannot be molded again. Thermoplastics are softened by heat but return to their original state when returned to room temperature. Among other things, they can be recycled or composted.
The material used for shipping padding can vary from a simple padded envelope to a large panel that surrounds the appliance. Foam provides shock absorption and is highly lightweight. Plastics, on the other hand, are made from numerous synthetic and organic materials, and are used in protective packaging. Some of these materials are recyclable and can even be made into self-standing displays. Whether they are used for packaging or for self-standing merchandising, these materials are useful in many aspects of business.
One of the most common types of packaging is polypropylene. It is an excellent material for beverage containers. Its flexibility and rigidity make it an excellent choice for beverage bottles and ready-to-heat containers. In addition to its rigidity, polypropylene can also be shaped into a variety of different shapes, compartments, and designs. Some polypropylene packaging can also be film-sealed and can even be coated with an anti-fog material.
Promotional value
The marketing mix is essentially the product plus the package. It's the combination of form and function that convinces customers to buy and recommend a product. As such, every aspect of the marketing strategy must be considered to achieve this goal. However, the key is highlighting the product's value to consumers. Read on to learn more about the importance of packaging design and its benefits. In addition to highlighting the value of the product, it should also communicate the company's brand values and beliefs.
Consumers are looking for experiences that can enhance their overall shopping experience. Whether it's inspiration or information, they want a package that speaks to them. In order to persuade them, marketers need to create sensory and emotional appeals. This is done through the use of colors and other packaging elements. Consumers are also looking for packaging that can help them relax or have fun. While this may seem like an oversimplification, it's important to remember that packaging has multiple functions.
Safety
The food and drug administration (FDA) regulates food and other materials used in packaging. These regulations require the materials to be safe for human consumption. They are designed to keep harmful substances from entering the food during packaging, storage, logistics, and cold chain processes. To help ensure the safety of packaging, the agency has established current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for food processing facilities. These regulations are designed to help food and drug manufacturers develop packaging materials that are safe for human consumption.
While packaging materials may seem safe enough, they don't always make them any safer. The failure of protective layers, for example, can cause contamination of food and drinks. Additionally, improper sealing can cause products to degrade. Therefore, businesses receiving packaging must develop special procedures to test for common contaminations and implement preventative measures to ensure their products stay safe. The Mckinsey & Co. article highlights the importance of proper packaging to prevent foodborne illnesses and other harmful effects.
During the Pandemic, consumers and retailers focused on safety. While they were primarily concerned about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19, packaging and surfaces were increasingly considered critical factors. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that consumers avoid food and packaging that might contain traces of toxins. With this increased need for safety, the packaging industry has been adapting to address viral-related concerns. They are also continuing to focus on perennial issues such as tampering, spoilage, and contamination.
Environmental impact
Packaging has an important role to play in logistics. Considerable amounts of energy are used in transportation and logistics, but the material used to package products only accounts for 5% of the overall energy use. Packaging materials should also be stackable and modular to improve transportation and material handling efficiency. This can reduce the amount of fuel and truck trips needed to transport a product. Increasingly, packaging designers are considering the environmental impact of the material they choose, as well as the lifecycle of the product.
In the past, the direct environmental impact of packaging was seldom considered in life cycle analyses (LCAs) for food and beverages. A literature search was conducted using databases that include peer-reviewed scientific articles written in English. Using both databases, I found 721 hits. This figure is an underestimate, however, as many studies do not account for the indirect environmental impact of packaging. In addition, LCAs rarely take into account the full range of packaging-related life cycle steps.
In addition to packaging materials, plastics are a significant contributor to environmental problems. In Europe, some 80 million tonnes of packaging material are generated each year. Not only does this material consume natural resources, but it also creates byproducts from the manufacturing process. Plastics also have negative effects on the environment, and can even leak harmful carbon monoxide. These gases contribute to global warming. For these reasons, governments have been taking steps to reduce the environmental impact of packaging.
