| Packaging is the enclosing of a physical | | | | |
| object, typically a product that requires | | | | Information transmission - Information on how |
| protection from tampering. Labelling refers | | | | to use, transport, or dispose of the product |
| to any written or graphic communications on | | | | is often contained on the package or label. |
| the packaging or on a separate but associated | | | | An example is pharmaceutical products, where |
| label. | | | | some types of information are required by |
| | | | governments. |
| Packaging and labeling have seven objectives: | | | | |
| | | | Marketing - The packaging and labels can be |
| Protection against physical impact on object | | | | used by marketers to encourage potential |
| - The objects enclosed in the package may | | | | buyers to purchase the product. Package |
| require protection from, among other things, | | | | design has been an important and constantly |
| damage caused by physical force, moisture, | | | | evolving phenomenon for dozens of years. |
| oxygen, rain, heat, cold, sunlight, pressure, | | | | |
| airborne contamination, automated handling | | | | Reducing theft - Some packages are made |
| devices, or any combination of one or more of | | | | larger than they need to be so as to make |
| these. | | | | theft more difficult. An example is software |
| | | | packages that typically contain only a single |
| Protection against dust and dirt - In a | | | | disc even though they are large enough to |
| modern supply chain products are subject to | | | | contain dozens of discs. These packages may |
| different environments. They start packed in | | | | also be deliberately difficult to open, to |
| boxes and stacked on a pallet. In about 80% | | | | hamper thieves from removing their contents |
| the products end up in a distribution center | | | | without drawing notice. Packages also provide |
| for commissioning and fine distribution to | | | | opportunities to include anti-theft devices, |
| the store where the product will be sold. | | | | such as dye-packs or electronic article |
| During this period the physical protection | | | | surveillance tags, that can be activated or |
| also applies to dust and dirt that can easily | | | | detected by devices at exit points and |
| settle on the consumer packaging. Especially | | | | require specialized tools to deactivate. |
| products packed in plastic containers like | | | | Using packaging in this way is a common |
| shampoos, detergents and ketchups due to | | | | tactic for loss prevention. |
| static charging easily attract dust and dirt. | | | | |
| As a consumer we don't want to get dirty | | | | Prevention of pilferage and tampering - |
| hands when picking up a product from the | | | | Products are exposed to many contacts in the |
| shelf. Transportation packaging keeps our | | | | supply chain. Persons handling could steal |
| products clean and neat until the shelf and | | | | products (pilferage), replace full products |
| helps cut cleaning costs on the shop floor. | | | | with empty ones or add unwanted contaminants |
| | | | to the contents (tampering). Packaging that |
| Agglomeration - Small objects are typically | | | | cannot be re-closed or gets physically |
| grouped together in one package for reasons | | | | damaged (shows signs of opening) is very |
| of efficiency. For example, a single box of | | | | helpful in the prevention of these acts. The |
| 1000 pencils requires less physical handling | | | | flaps of corrugated and cardboard boxes are |
| than 1000 single pencils. Alternatively, bulk | | | | therefore glued in such a way that any |
| commodities (such as salt) can be divided | | | | opening irreversibly damages them. The |
| into packages that are a more suitable size | | | | overpackaging of certain objects has led to a |
| for individual households. | | | | phenomenon known as wrap rage. |