Packaging and labeling

A package (referred to in the merchant language also " Emballage ") is the targeted mounted, detachable possible without much effort wrapping a product. The object to be packaged is called packaged goods, the finished packaged product is the package. Several packages of the same packing material form a combined package. The term package can be both a synonym for packaging as well as for the total of goods with packing. As an industry, we now speak more generally of Packaging, from materials science to production and transport logistics.

Certain products, such as solids, liquids or gases in suitable containers packed for them (tubes, buckets, bottles, boxes or cans ). These products are through the packaging to packaged goods.

Many products, especially foods that can not be stored, distributed or sold without a proper packaging. A packaging forms, among others, of one or more product units a logistic unit (English Unit Load, see Glossary of Logistics), thereby supporting the respective flow processes in logistics and trade.

• 2.1 Packaging
• 2.2 Packaging Aids

• 4.1 disposable
• 4.2 returnable
• 4.3 Compostable

Modes and functions

Protection

A package designed to protect primarily the goods themselves against environmental influences, damage, contamination, and (volume ) loss. In addition, it also protects the material handled people from injury, such as with sharp-edged, pointed or toxic objects. Furthermore, the means of transport, the environment and other goods are protected against damage such as by leaking fluids. Another aspect is the preservation of foodstuffs, for example by air-tight and / or empty containers. The use of aseptic filling techniques, sterile filling, inert gas or vacuum packaging are common methods.

By appropriate design of the packaging ( closures, sealing, prepackaged ), a greater protection against tampering and theft can be achieved.

Sale

A sales package supports the durability of a product and serves their protection on the way from trade to the end user. In addition, a package can provide additional services through their spatial and / or color scheme and as the bearer of informational signs and images.

Dosage or removal

Many packing goods are metered by means of their packaging for the intended end use. The package contains, or is itself a tool for appropriate dosing (cover of cleaner bottles; small measuring container in detergent powder - boxes ). Even foods are often taken directly from a package and consumed (beer bottle, chocolate bars, ice cream).

Gift

A gift box evaluates to an object visually to express the recipient of a gift which they have placed by the giver appreciation. For gift packaging usually get additional embellishments used. The shapes and colors used depend on the occasion.

Communication

The decision for a certain package is now more than the quick and easy as possible, being remembered, sustainable identification of a product on the market ever. You must provide the so-called personality of the product and the brand in question and particularly serves the distinction from competitors. The placement of an additional benefit (English Unique Selling Proposition ) is another important communication function of the product packaging.

Information

The packaging indicates the product type, quantity, weight and price, provides information on hazardous instructions, expiration dates and purpose, and is also a carrier of coded data ( barcodes ). For example, the imprint of the European Article Number ( EAN Code) allows (English, German European Article Number ) is a quick read at a checkout scanner.

Advertising

Through the sales packaging, the buyer can identify a product, be it in the name, company logo or used to color or shape of the package. An attractive sales packaging can boost sales and therefore the sales of a product, thus increasing the revenue and at a correspondingly positive executed calculation and the gain of the corresponding seller. In addition, they can attract new customers, which in turn the proceeds and thus may again increasing profits. A sales package gives the first and thus purchasing decision impression generally.

Mogelverpackung

A special case of the combination of product and packaging is so-called sham: here is the package layout of another, better or greater benefit of the packaged product faked, as this will bear in reality. Mogelverpackungen are prohibited by law in Germany and many other countries ( consumer protection).

Rationalization

Modern self-service systems could only achieve its rise and now dominance as a means to streamline the sales process through the use of new packaging methods. This eliminates about at a meat counter, weighing and packing of the goods required if these previously packaged already in another place or on another occasion, were weighed and excellent and are then designed for self-service.

Retail

As retail packaging refers to an overpack which is intended for retail sale in commerce ( retail version). Retail packaging In addition to their protective function other functions such as the making available position an area for information and / or advertisements.

Jewelry, Special Edition

A jewelry packaging, the sales figure of the packaged product enhanced by an attractive and possibly only for a certain time and / or in limited quantities / edition produced and available presentation ( Special Edition).

Overpack

The outer packaging encloses the sales packaging as a second layer without additional protective functions. Example of this is a folding box to a toothpaste tube.

Logistics

Bulk

In a bulk or Original Equipment Manufacturer ( OEM) packaging (English to German OEM packaging) is included as part of a larger package unit without a separate outer packaging is usually a single item. It is an en- gros - packaging of a manufacturer of finished components or products, which were produced in its own factories, but are not brought by him individually in the trade, but are distributed in larger collection units on wholesale stations,

Storage

Each item is up to the date of use or consumption, usually several times and / or migrated from the time of manufacture. Thus, a storage at the manufacturer, importer, wholesale and retail, with the carrier or warehousing company and the consumer is possible. With the appropriate packaging a product or a product can be easier, safer and faster store.

Transport

During transport, the transport packaging is to prevent a commodity excessive mechanical stresses (vibrations, shocks) is exposed. This can be done by a multiple protection ( carton transport pallet ). Standardised packaging result in a smaller space requirement on the means of transport. Standardisation can even go so far that the dimensions of the packaging materials (such as pallets or mesh boxes ) are precisely matched to the dimensions of the transport, then lead to optimal utilization of transport used and speed up the loading and unloading process. These facts are reflected in the DPR model.

Additional benefits

Comfort

An easy handling, stacking on pallets and the ability to provide a package in the trade issue in a simple way and the least possible additional effort, we group it together with the concept of comfort performance contained in the package. This performance, as well as may additionally included information and sales performance of a packaging is also referred to as convenience.

Re-use

Many a time have sales packaging an additional benefit in the form of their possible re-use after the use or transfer of product previously contained therein. This has to purchased goods themselves are often unrelated. Example is a mustard jar with the shape of the packaging as a drinking glass. Such packages are usually act as an incentive by the buyers prefer a particular product, as they have the further use of the package already in mind.

Production

Packaging may be of different materials. The most common are glass, sheet metal, plastic and cardboard. In the manufacture of a plastic packaging, there are two different methods: injection molding and thermoforming. Cartons ( cardboard) caused by the stamping process.

Components

In packaging technology two components can be distinguished.

Packaging

The packaging material is the main component of a package. With him the package contents are partially or completely enclosed or summarized.

Packaging Aids

The packaging aids used primarily to seal packaging (such as with an adhesive tape ) or bolster ( as with foam, paper, bubble bags ). Thus, for example, the packaging of the contents of a bottle from her bottle body as packaging material and its cap, shaped as a crown corks, cork or screw cap as a seal its opening and the label as packing aids.

Packaging materials

The materials from which a package is formed, hot packaging materials. Typical packaging materials include paper, plastic, wood, metal or glass. Corrugated packaging are also known as cardboard.

Currently absolutely tight and chlorine-free packaging for food and medicines are being tested graphene. This makes the production of packaging without the chlorine, harmful polymers allows also the aroma of food in graphene packaging remains completely intact.

Recycling, ecology

Packaging charge by the production and disposal of the environment. Various packages have therefore been frequently investigated in a life cycle assessment. It has been shown that it is often not useful to assess packaging only because of their material or compare. Rather, it is necessary to examine the packaging in connection with its functions and also to take into account in the LCA that different packages can also have an impact on durability or distribution losses in the product.

Already used packaging, regardless of whether intended for single or multiple use, apply in Germany generally not as waste but as a valuable material, whose disposal, recovery and recycling is regulated in the Ordinance.

Disposable

Disposable packaging from households that are marked with the Green Dot will, as part of the so-called Dual System Germany (DSD ) applied to a material cycle.

Reusable

Reusable packaging generally take a loan and return transport part and are often a deposit ( Swiss: Depot ) cast. The best known is the reusable packaging reusable bottle. Since 2003 in Germany, a compulsory deposit also applies offered in disposable packaging beverages.

In transportation standardized reusable pallets are exchanged (eg euro -pallets ) for a purchase or delivery.

Compostable

An alternative to traditional, often not more reusable and thus after use to waste expectant packaging materials are made ​​of compostable packaging materials. They are made from biodegradable plastics and are partly or entirely from renewable raw materials such as starch, cellulose or polylactic acid. These plastics are suitable as packaging materials for various products, for example for food.