| Packaging materials are a crucial part of human | | | | packaging is most often a larger cardboard box |
| history and continue to be of vital importance | | | | which contains an assortment of secondary |
| today. There has always been a need for the art | | | | packaging boxes. The function of tertiary |
| and science of transporting goods from one area | | | | packaging is to help shipping and receiving |
| to another safely and efficiently. The very first | | | | departments process large orders efficiently. |
| packages were usually wrapped in reeds, put into | | | | Imagine which would be easier, having to put |
| wooden boxes, or carried in ceramic vessels | | | | away hundreds of little boxes or a few large |
| known as amphoras. As time passed and goods | | | | boxes. |
| needed to be transported over longer distances | | | | Corrugated cardboard is by far the most |
| humans had to create more efficient means of | | | | common type of tertiary and secondary |
| packaging. Sealed metal canisters allowed food | | | | packaging material. But primary packaging could be |
| products and other perishables to go longer | | | | made of plastic and Styrofoam, metal, cardboard, |
| distances safely and effectively. The invention of | | | | etc. Other materials include packaging tape, |
| plastics and Bakelite also allowed food to be | | | | packing peanuts, or bubble wrap. |
| transported safely over even greater distances. | | | | With the advent of the internet and online |
| Today we have a variety of different types of | | | | shopping, a person can get just about anything |
| packaging for any sort of shipping imaginable. | | | | with the touch of a few buttons. Online auction |
| There are three primary types of packaging: | | | | houses such as EBAY have allowed anyone to |
| primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging. | | | | become a part-time merchant across the globe. If |
| Primary packaging is the smallest unit of package | | | | you are bidding on such items, it is important to |
| and typically is in direct contact with the product. | | | | make sure that your seller packages the item |
| Primary packaging typically only contains one item | | | | properly and, depending on the item, you may |
| and is sold or displayed in this very package. | | | | want to have it insured. If you are the seller you |
| Secondary packaging is the type of packaging | | | | will most definitely want to ensure that the |
| that a few of the primary packaging arrive in. | | | | package is safe and secure. Most package |
| Typically, secondary packaging consists of a | | | | companies offer a wide variety of goods for all |
| corrugated cardboard box which contains a few | | | | your packaging needs. |
| smaller items of the same sort. Finally, tertiary | | | | |