| I finally had to speak out. The packaging industry | | | | So consumers should just GET OVER IT since |
| is under attack by the "packaging police." | | | | they are the main cause why many products are |
| There have been dozen of backlash articles about | | | | packaged with security in mind. Lets talk about |
| it in the news recently. To tell you the truth I'm | | | | theft, counterfeiting, product integrity and product |
| sick of all the articles talking about freeing Barbie | | | | security. I got an email from Tyrone in South |
| from her packaging prison and how may people | | | | Africa last week. He was giving a speech on |
| went to the hospital because they injured | | | | packaging innovations that impact our lives and it |
| themselves trying to open a plastic clamshell and | | | | got me to thinking about all the wonderful and |
| other esoteric "packaging adventures." These | | | | creative packaging innovations in the last 40 |
| issues about packaging have been beaten to | | | | years. Packaging that has literally changed our |
| death and then some. And don't forget the blogs. | | | | lives. |
| Some of the worst venting about packaging | | | | Some of innovations have come about due to |
| appears on personal blogs under the I've had a | | | | dire threats such as the Tylenol incident. Can you |
| bad day column. | | | | believe that happened 20+ years ago? Think of |
| The media loves all the negative impressions | | | | the whole category of tamper-evident packaging |
| people are bombarded with about the packaging in | | | | that evolved from this situation. When I speak to |
| the waste stream, landfills etc. I too thought it | | | | students at schools and universities about |
| was much higher (brainwashed that is) but I found | | | | packaging they have no idea what I am talking |
| out when I was at Cal Poly giving the opening | | | | about. They just take it for granted. |
| keynote that its only 30% as opposed to the | | | | Retail claims that theft is one their worst |
| 70-80% the media and packaging detractors | | | | problems so packaging that protects products |
| would have you believe. | | | | form being stolen is done for a reason. The same |
| Who are these "packaging police" anyway? What | | | | thing with counterfeiting, which incidentally is on |
| is there mission in life? Don't they know that | | | | the rise. Anyone reading about this knows this can |
| without a package you can have a product? | | | | and will be a huge issue with the number of |
| That's what packaging is all about getting the | | | | packaging products being sourced off shore. |
| product safely, securely and intact to the ultimate | | | | Some additional packaging possibilities that can |
| user in addition to being the product spokes and | | | | pose potential "threats." |
| sales person. So what else is a poor package to | | | | Green Packaging: Can you validate your claims? |
| do? We have tamper evident, tamperproof, anti- | | | | Organic Packaging: Watch out for regulatory |
| counterfeit, date stamping, TTI's, RFID, sonic | | | | agencies. |
| welding and other additional security measures all | | | | RFID: Is big brother watching you or are you |
| designed to protect the consumer and they don't | | | | watching them? |
| even know it. | | | | Healthy Packaging Claims: Is It True? |
| You'd be surprised at the number of people that | | | | Packaging For Seniors: Can they read or open the |
| don't even know about product dating on the | | | | packaging? Is it REALLY senior-friendly? Copycat |
| package. I can assure you I check. With all the | | | | Packaging: A lawsuit waiting to happen and does |
| concern over eating healthy, product freshness is | | | | every week. |
| an important issue and the package tells it all. I | | | | So whatever packaging discipline you are in be |
| might mention here that it's almost impossible to | | | | sure and stay attuned to what are the "Hot |
| read the dates in many cases. They are either in | | | | button" issues in your field. Prevent the packaging |
| obscure locations or the type is so small you need | | | | police for setting their sights on you. |
| a magnifying glass. (I hope you read "Packaging | | | | Please feel free to use me as a resource when it |
| Your Products to Boomers" available at But | | | | comes to understanding what packaging markets |
| seriously, packages that are difficult to open will | | | | are hot and what are not. Or what companies are |
| continue to be a problem as our population ages. | | | | developing the latest in innovative packaging |
| Do the words "manual dexterity" ring any bells? | | | | technology. |