So you need a package for your product. You’ve got a big decision to make. Which packaging material will you choose and why?
The main role of packaging is to protect the product from Point A (usually the manufacturing plant) to Point B (the ultimate user!).
But that’s not its only task. Packaging designs also serve as an advertising medium, letting manufacturers describe and promote their products with eye-catching words, colors, and fonts.
Packaging can even extend shelf life. It also allows oddly shaped items to stack neatly in a display and makes possible the use of machines to move pallets loaded with goods.
Additionally, packaging is a reflection of the manufacturer’s budget, advertising technique, and environmental awareness.
Choosing a packaging material.
The type of packaging a manufacturer chooses depends on what they need. For something lightweight, paper and plastic fit the bill. Materials like metal or glass are heavier but more durable. Ultimately, choosing a packaging type comes down to stylistic choices, shipping conditions, shelf stability, and the product’s end user.
What are your choices? Here are five common packaging materials to choose from:
1. Glass.
A nonporous, nontoxic material made from sand, glass is infinitely recyclable. One of its downsides is breakability — glass products may shatter in transit, costing the manufacturer money in the form of lost products and time spent cleaning up. It’s also heavier than plastic and requires substantial heat (energy) to produce.
But glass is an excellent barrier material, preserving the flavor of foods and drinks without leaching particles into them.
Manufacturers may design colored or textured glass containers with aesthetic appeal, encouraging people to buy the product inside. This is often the case with alcohol, soda, or candles.
Glass packaging is also reusable.