Packaging is usually referred to as the container holding a specific product. It is more accurate to refer to a packaging system, since many components are used together to make a package able to meet the needs of a product. A packaging system must meet four specific objectives:
• to protect the product
• to extend product shelf life
• to communicate the product to the customer
• to be convenient to the customer
A packaging system has many components and several levels of packaging. For example, a packaging system must include a shipping container where inside packaging units are found, which usually group a certain amount of individual packages. Only the retail size of a packaging system will be addressed for the purpose of this article.
Paper published with permission.
