To Protect
To protect the product from damage;
This could be from impact during transport or display
Or from contaminants, for example medical equipment or food
Or from sunlight, a product might be affected by UV
Or from water, electric products maybe damaged if exposed
Or from dust, some products stop working if they get too dusty, which is large warehouses can be a problem
This could be from impact during transport or display
Or from contaminants, for example medical equipment or food
Or from sunlight, a product might be affected by UV
Or from water, electric products maybe damaged if exposed
Or from dust, some products stop working if they get too dusty, which is large warehouses can be a problem
To Preserve
To Inform
This could be allergy information.
Nutritional information.
Legally required images; recycling, estimated weight, barcodes etc.
Nutritional information.
Legally required images; recycling, estimated weight, barcodes etc.
To Display
Products with display windows allow the buyer to see the product before they buy it, this means they can ensure they are buying something without damage.
It's also useful as shops then don't need to lose money by taking a product out of the packaging as people are less willing to buy a product that has been out on the shop floor.
It's also useful as shops then don't need to lose money by taking a product out of the packaging as people are less willing to buy a product that has been out on the shop floor.
To Transport
To Advertise
The packaging can be what actually sells the product, the packaging might make you laugh and therefore you might buy it show a friend.
It also can express the quality level, if the packaging is quite boring you might think that the product will be as well.
Think about the packaging of supermarkets basics range, often very limited in colour with little to no imagery, the packaging is simple which reflects that the product will probably be simple too.
It also can express the quality level, if the packaging is quite boring you might think that the product will be as well.
Think about the packaging of supermarkets basics range, often very limited in colour with little to no imagery, the packaging is simple which reflects that the product will probably be simple too.
Packaging Types
Blister Packaging
Using the vacuum former to create plastic packaging that secures the product—usually HIPS. |
Card Nets
These are die-cut card boxes that are then assembled using glue—usually with an acetate window. |
Polystyrene Bags
These sometimes have a card fold over the top to add extra rigidity and security to the piece. |
Packaging and the Environment
Over Packaging
This is basically when far too much packaging is used for a product. For example the product on the left is in a sealed tin. It could be sold like that, the product is already protected enough and the advertisement and branding is clear on the top label. However, then tin then goes in a box. The box then goes in a sleeve and the whole thing will more than likely have some padding in the box to stop the tin moving in the box!
The outer card packages serve no purpose (think about the function of packaging) so should it really be used? Who/what pays for the useless packaging? |