Packaging

Question 1

1) What are the 6 functions of packaging?
2) What is a material’s properties?

Answer 1

1) The 6 functions of packaging are to:
- To protect the product: so that the product is not broken in transit
- To preserve the product: important with food products. The packaging must be hygienic and airtight
- To promote the product: to entice the customer to increase sales, through the surface graphics packaging.
- To store/ contain the product
- To inform the customer: display all important legal information, such as ingredients and use by dates
- To allow for shelf stacking
2) A material’s property is the characteristics and qualities it has. For example, it’s durability, flexibility, and strength.

Question 2

What are 7 properties of materials?

Answer 2

Strength, moisture resistant, rigid/flexible, durable, good printing surface, lightweight, recyclable.

Question 3

State 5 different materials used for packaging products and give an example of a product that would be packaged using these materials

Answer 3

1) Cardboard/ carton board - Cereal boxes/ perfume boxes
2) Metal tins/ cans - Food and drink
3) Corrugated cardboard - Take away pizza
4) Plastic bottles - Detergent/ bleach
5) Glass jars - jam

Question 4

1) Explain what the FSC is
2) Explain how packaging designers decide on packaging based on the environment.

Answer 4

1) The FSC stands for the Forest Stewardship Council, and their logo looks like a tree with a tick. This logo means that the wood used to create the packaging has come from a sustainable managed forest. This means they have replanted a tree for every one cut down.
2) Packaging designers need to consider choosing packaging based on its sustainability to protect or preserve and based on the environment. Ideally you are looking for materials to be recyclable and sustainable.

Question 5

1) What is overpackaging?
2) What is unnecessary packaging?

Answer 5

1) Overpackaging is when more packaging is used than necessary. Companies may do this to prevent damage or trick the customer to believe that the product is larger than it is in reality.
2) Unnecessary packaging is packaging that is not needed and does not contribute to the safety of the product, or the packaging design.