Product Packaging

History: In the beginning…

►Food produced and consumed locally

►Lesser need for packaging

►Leaves (tree, lotus, palm), gourds, coconut shells, animal skin, bamboo

� Used to protect, contain and transport food

History: Industrial Revolution

►Trade flourished

►Mass production required improved packaging

� Protect luxury products

� Identify product

� Preserve products

� Sell products (“silent salesman”)

Types of Packaging: Glass

► 1200 BC – pressed to cups/bowls► 17th Century – blown glass/irregular shapes► Able to see product► Automated bottling revolutionized

use of glass► Preferred material for certain products

� High-end food, perfume, spirits, liquids

Types of Packaging: Metals

►Napoleon’s challenge (early 19th century)� 12,000 FF – method to protect food supply� French chef Nicholas Appert discovered

preservation of food sealed in tin cans then sterilized by boiling

►Still used today� 2008 - Health concerns

BPA (Bisphenol A)

►Mid-1800s tin boxes forcookies, chocolate, tobacco

Types of Packaging: Paper

►Oldest form of packaging – China 1st and 2nd

century – mulberry tree bark► 1817 – first use of commercial cardboard in

England► 1852 – paper bag making machine invented► 1871 – corrugated cardboard patented for

shipping► 1890 – pre-cut paperboard box

Types of Packaging: Plastics

►Introduced in 19th

century

►Revolutionized packagingof food

� Transportation

� Product protection

� Shelf life

� Appeal to consumers

►Lighter than glass, relatively inexpensive

Development of Packaging

►Spurred by US Military

►Food to servicemen

� Transport to differentparts of the world

� Different climates

� Different environments

3 Primary Functions

►Protection and preservation

►Convenience

►Promotion

Protection and Preservation

►Protect product from damage

� On shelf / customer handling

� During transportation

� Ex. eggs

►Protect user from harm

� Ex. chlorine bleach

►Keep food fresh

� Ex. cheese

Convenience

► Easy to open (Ex. Medication/child-proof)

► Easy to reclose/reseal to keep fresh or resuse(Ex. zip lock)

► Easy to carry home/around (Ex. TimBits; glass vs. plastic)

Convenience

► Easy to dispense/use (Ex. med/blister packs; microwaveable plastic)

► Easy to dispose of packaging

� Special instructions for disposal?

� Recyclable? Impact on the environment?

Convenience

► Portion size is reasonable / suitable for consumers

� Costco “family” size vs. smaller packages

Promotion

►Helps differentiate one product from other similar products

� Colour; logo/brand

►Helps to “grab” consumer – make an impression

Promotion

►Helps “sell” the product – the “silent salesperson”

►Colours and pictures help with appeal of product