Packaging is a vital element of industrial processes. Different industries use various packaging materials depending on the nature of their products. Industries and enterprises have invested immensely, considering the power it carries in terms of marketing, safety, and reaching the target audience. Some industries use more packaging than others, while others use more sophisticated packaging methods like automatic packing machines to enhance operations and product quality and keep costs low. In this article, we discuss the industries that use the most packaging.
Food and Beverage
The global food packaging market share is valued at 346.5 billion and is expected to have a 5.5 growth rate annually from 2022 to 2030. The consumer demand for healthier products and lifestyle changes contributes to this upward trend.
Packaging helps keep food fresh longer. It also protects food from microbes and other contaminants, whether a bag of chips, an apple, or a jar of peanut butter. As more people recognize the importance of healthy eating, the demand for “fresh” foods increases.
Food packaging protects against oxygen loss by creating a barrier between your food and the atmosphere surrounding it. This helps extend shelf life by slowing oxidation. Packaging also helps with marketing by creating a brand image for specific products. For example, Coca-Cola has been known for decades as an iconic brand with many different types of packaging, including bottles and cans made from glass or plastic.
Beauty and Personal Care
Beauty and personal care products are one of the most-packaged goods in the world. They dominate in plastic packaging at 61% market share. The packaging includes tubes, compacts, bottles, and jars. Besides plastic packaging, beauty and personal care can also use glass packaging. The dominance of plastic packaging can contribute to environmental pollution.
Beauty and personal industries should recycle their packaging to curb the adverse environmental effects. Otherwise, use more sustainable and greener packaging.
Beauty and personal care packaging help keep the products fresh and protected from light and air. Packaging can also help to maintain product quality by preventing contamination and keeping out air, dust, or other foreign substances.
Medical
Pharmaceutical packaging is an essential process in the manufacture of medicines. Both the manufacturer and the pharmacist at your local pharmacy prioritize proper packaging to prevent contamination.
Medical packaging is designed for products containing chemicals or biological materials that require special handling. Products used in hospitals and medical offices must meet specific requirements regarding sterility and sanitation standards to ensure patient safety. These standards are often more stringent than those required by other industries. They involve handling potentially harmful substances at high temperatures under pressure conditions that can cause chemical reactions if not adequately controlled.
Home Appliances
Home appliance packaging helps keep the essential equipment from adverse weather and environmental conditions. From vacuum cleaners to dishwashers and washing machines, packaging goes a long way in ensuring their safety, especially during transportation. Manufacturers often use paperboard boxes or plastic tubs to hold the product together.
Home appliances like refrigerators, microwaves, and dishwashers use plastic packaging in their product design. They’re also some household items like shower curtains, blinds, and trash cans that use plastic bags for wrapping or storage purposes.
Automotive
Automotive manufacturers use several types of packaging, including plastic bags, shrink wrap, and cardboard boxes. The most common type of packaging used by automakers is shrink wrap, which is applied to the entire vehicle using heat. It is meant to protect vehicles’ exteriors from damage during shipment and storage.
Maintenance and spare parts can be packaged in bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, or cartons. The lubricants and fuels should be packaged in UN-rated steel tanks and drums to protect them from contamination. They also reduce the likelihood of fire risks where there are fire triggers.
Electronics
Consumer electronics is a vast industry, with many companies producing products such as televisions, computers, laptops, and mobile phones. The packaging protects these products from damage during transportation and storage.
The packaging for these products is designed to protect the devices. It also keeps the devices cool and dry to avoid contamination while they travel through the supply chain. Electronic packaging is a tool for advertising as it provides information in visually compelling ways.
The consumer electronics industry makes use of many different types of packaging, including:
- Boxes: These are used for shipping packing materials and other supplies to retailers or manufacturers. They also protect against shipping damage by keeping items intact during shipment. Retailers may use boxes to pack items such as flat-screen televisions or computer monitors to keep them safe during transit.
- Packaging bags: These bags contain smaller items such as small televisions or computer monitors shipped within boxes. They’re used for oversized items that need additional protection during shipping.
Fashion
One of the most common uses for packaging is in the clothing and jewelry industries. Clothing and jewelry are often packaged to protect from damage during shipment or to add a decorative element to the product. For apparel, packaging can be as simple as wrapping clothes in bags, wrappers, or boxes. Jewelry can be protected by adding unique packaging materials like cardboard boxes or wooden crates. The fashion industries can use packaging to promote their brands by making the packaging attractive for display.
Industrial Products and Goods
Industries have various products and goods that need specialized packaging. Industrial products and goods are mostly corrosive, bulky, and hazardous. Hence, proper storage is crucial while in transit or storage.
The packaging for industries includes stainless steel, polypropylene, corrugated fireboard, and cardboard. They can also use wood such as derail boards, boxes, skids, and wooden crates. The industries decide which best suits their product. The ultimate goal should be to ensure safety and security.
How To Get the Right Packaging
Regardless of the industry, packaging cannot be thrown under the carpet. The right packaging leads to the positive growth of the industries. It is used to reach the intended clients at specified sizes. Moreover, it’s also an effective marketing strategy. To enhance effectiveness and fulfill unique needs, industries should invest in production tools designed for quality packaging.
