PACKAGING LOGISTICS
Packaging is a coordinated system of preparing goods for safe, secure,
efficient and effective
handling, transport, distribution, storage, retailing, consumption and
recovery, reuse or disposal combined with maximizing consumer value,
sales and hence profit . Above its fundamental function of protecting,
containing and preserving the product, the functions of packaging are
manifold and complex and the definition here can be related to three main
categories i.e. logistics, marketing and environment
The Characteristics
PhysicalCharacteristics
Densityofbulkmaterials
Contentinthematerial
Abilitytowithstandexposuretootherelements
Respirationofthematerial
Handlingprocedureofthematerial
SOPofthematerial
Overview of different packaging
functions
ChemicalCharacteristics
Compatibilityoftheproducts
Productsrequiringchemicalsforitsdelivery
Characteristicsmustbemadeknowntoconsumers
Handlingwayofthematerial
SOPofthematerial
Types of packaging
Primary packaging :1. Packagingwhichformsasalesunitfortheuserorfinalconsumer
2. Itisalsocalledsalespackaging.
3. Thiscanbeasingleformofpacklikeacanofdrinkorafewlayers ofpackaging
materialinaboxofchocolate
4. Primarypackagingisthepackagingformatindirectcontactwiththefoodorthe
containment
5. Itisconceivedsoastoconstitute,fortheenduserortheconsumeratthePOS,a
completeintegralpackage
6. Foreatables,asitalwaysremainsindirectcontactwiththecommodity,itshygiene
andedibilitysafetyrequirementsaremaintainedthroughoutitslifespan
7. Itisalsothepackagingthattheconsumerwillretainthelongest
Itnormallyhasthemostinformationintermsofcontents,branding,BestBefore
Date,instructionsforuse, etc. Primary Packaging
Examples :-
Secondary packaging
Secondaryorgroupedpackagingisthatwhichisusedtocollateprimaryunits
foreaseof handlinginthesellingenvironment
Typicallythispackagingcanbecardboardboxesortrays,orshrink
wrappedplastic packscontaininganumberofprimaryunits .
Thelayerafterprimarypackagingisinindirectcontactwiththefoodbutmay
stillhave productsafetyimpact.
Secondarypackagingplaysavitalroleinthemarketingstrategysurrounding
the product Itkeepstheprimarypackaginginitsoriginalconditionduring
storageandlogistics
Thedimensionsofthesecondarypackagesarekeptinaccordancewithitscon
tentsto fulfillspaceutilization
Itsmaterialsarechosensoastokeepitscontentsinitsnecessarytemperatur
eand condition(s)
Tertiary packaging
Tertiary packaging It is used to group secondary packaging together
to aid handling and transportation and prevent damage to the
products
Examples: Pallets, shrink wrap, straps etc. It facilitate the safe
handling and transport of a number of sellable units or grouped
packaging
The packaging prevents physical damage due to incorrect handling or
transport .Transport packaging does not include road, rail, ship or air
containers. It concerns, for example, pallets or (heavy) wooden crates
Economically, the tertiary packaging should be done so as to
accommodate the secondary packages totally and should be able to
be transported from places Carries information about the product e.g.
fragility etc.
Package testing
Vibration: Vibrations and other relevant tests are done before finalizing
the packaging material
Dropping: From certain heights, such packages are dropped to check the
fragility of the package.
Horizontal impacts: Horizontally the package is attacked by several
forces
Compression: To reduce time-taken and space, shrink wraps are
generally used to wrap up the packaging .
Overexposure to extreme temperatures or moisture: As and when
needed (cold chain for pharmaceuticals), temperature is controlled
inside the package.
Rough handling: Along each point in Logistics, severe and rigorous
handling of the package id done. It ensures the durability of the package
Objectives of packaging
Physical protection:- The objects enclosed in the package
may require protection from:
1. Mechanical shock;
2. Vibration:
3. Electrostatic discharge;
4. Compression,
5. Temperature etc.
Barrier protection: A barrier from oxygen, water vapour, dust, etc., is often
required. Some packages contain desiccants or oxygen
absorbers to help extend shelf life . Modified or controlled
atmospheres are also maintained in some packages.
Keeping the contents clean, fresh, sterile and safe for the
intended shelf life is a primary function. A barrier is also
implemented in cases where segregation of two materials,
prior to end use is required, as in case of special paints,
glues, medical fluids etc. At consumer end, the packaging
barrier is broken or measured amounts of material
removed for mixing and subsequent end use.
Containment or Agglomeration
1.Smallobjectsaretypicallygroupedtogetherinonepacka
geforreasonsofefficiency.
2.Example:asingleboxof1000pencilsrequireslessphysic
alhandlingthan1000single pencils.
3.
Liquids,powdersandgranularmaterialsneedcontainment
4.
Agglomerationhelpsthemanufacturerand/orretailersellm
oreinasinglehand
Information transmission
1.Packagesandlabelscommunicatehowtouse,transport,r
ecycle,ordisposeofthe packageorproduct
2.Withpharmaceuticals,food,medical,andchemicalproduct
s,sometypesofinformation arerequiredbygovernments.
3.
Somepackagesandlabelsalsoareusedfortrackandtrace
purposes.
4.
Mostitemsincludetheirserialandlotnumbersonthepacka
ging
Marketing
1.Thepackagingandlabelscanbeusedbymarketerstoenco
uragepotentialbuyersto purchasetheproduct
2.Packagegraphicdesignandphysicaldesignhavebeenimp
ortantandconstantly
evolvingphenomenonforseveraldecades
3.Marketingcommunicationsandgraphicdesignareappliedt
othesurface ofthepackage
and(inmanycases)thepointofsaledisplay 4.
Mostpackagingisdesignedtoreflectthebrand'smessagea
ndidentity
Security
1.Packagescanbemadewithimprovedtamperresistancetod
etertampering
2. Italsocanhavetamper-evident
featurestohelpindicatetampering.
3.Packagescanbeengineeredtohelpreducetherisksofpack
agepilferageor thetheftand resaleofproducts
4.Somepackageconstructionsaremoreresistanttopilferagea
PackagesCounterfeitconsumergoods,unauthorizedsales(diversion),
material
substitutionandtamperingcanallbepreventedwiththeseanticounterfeiting technologies
6. Holographicmaterialsareusedfortheauthenticityofthematerials
7.Packagesmayincludeauthenticationsealsandusesecurityprintingt
ohelp indicatethat thepackageandcontentsarenotcounterfeit
8.Packagesalsocanincludeantitheftdevices,suchas
RFIDtags,orelectronic articlesurveillance
tagsthatcanbeactivatedordetectedbydevicesatexitpointsand
requirespecializedtoolstodeactivate
9.Packagingisalsoconsideredameansoflosspreventionandauthentic
ation
Packaging
Forthelogistics,apackagesystemrequires3typesofinfo
rmationto
designviz.:
1. Severityofthedistributionenvironment
2. Fragilityoftheproduct
3. Performancecharacteristicsofvariouscushionmaterials
Foranuniformandsmoothlogistics,labelingofthepackagingisim
portant.
Itconsists of:
Retroflectivelabels
Batchnumbers
Weight Specificcontents
Instructionsforuse
Informationtoallowpassagethroughcustoms
Compliancelabelling
One-ortwo-dimensionalbarcodes nd SmartlabelsorRFIDlabels
