The packaging industry is a vast one, and a lot of people don’t even know it exists. But when you look deeper, you realize there’s so much more to this industry than meets the eye. The packaging industry has its roots in agriculture, which means it’s been around for thousands of years.
The fact that it’s still around today shows just how resilient it is. Every day, businesses across the world use packaging to keep their products safe for consumers and retailers alike.
In this article, we list some interesting facts about this niche industry so you can understand what it does and why it matters to you as an end-user as well as a manufacturer.
What is the packaging industry?
Packaging is the production of boxes, bags, and other containers for the transportation, storage, and sale of food, beverages, and other products. The product is usually enclosed in a wrapper to prevent damage or contamination during transport or storage.
In addition, the outer covering of products like food and beverages may be designed to add taste or scent to the product. In some industries, the term “packaging” is used to describe the entire process of converting raw materials into a finished product. In other industries, the term “packaging” is used to describe the actual finished product itself.
The Packaging process
Now that we know what the packaging industry is all about, let’s look at the packaging process. This process starts with the design and ends with production. Designing the packaging involves many things. First, the product formulator looks at the product and decides what kind of container the product should come in.
Based on product type, packaging types are also chosen. The designers also look at the marketing strategy and the target market. This is done to make sure the packaging will appeal to the consumer, keeping in mind the attributes of the product and the consumer’s needs.
8 Important Facts About the Packaging Industry
We’ve already discussed a few aspects of the packaging industry, but here we’ve put together 8 key facts you need to be aware of if you want to understand this industry better.
1. The packaging industry is a $1.8 trillion industry
2. The growth rate of the packaging industry is 3%
3. The biggest consumer of packaging materials is the food and beverage industry
4. In the USA, the top five packaging clients are beverages, food, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and tobacco products
5. The top five packaging material sectors are paper, synthetic materials, aluminium, plastic, and rubber
6. The packaging industry employs about 10 million people
7. In the USA, the packaging industry is the 4th largest manufacturing industry
8. The country with the highest employment rate in the packaging industry is the USA and the lowest in China
How does packaging help you?
Now that you know all about the packaging industry, it’s time to see how it helps you as an end-user. The packaging industry is important for several reasons, but we’re going to focus on three:
- It protects your product from damage during transportation
- It keeps your product fresh during transit
- It creates a product that has a visual appeal so people buy it
4 Ways To Become A Part of The Packaging Industry
Now that you know what the packaging industry is all about, let’s talk about how to get involved. First, you need to understand the packaging process and its importance in the supply chain. Then, you can decide whether you want to be a manufacturer or an end-user.
If you’re a manufacturer, you can choose between using polymers, paperboard, or corrugated board as a raw material. This will determine the kind of machine you’ll use to manufacture the boxes. If you’re an end-user, you can choose between using bulk packaging, general packaging, and speciality packaging. Bulk packaging is for items that are sold in bulk quantities, such as grains and cereals.
General packaging is for items that have a specific design, like food items that need to look appealing but be easy to carry. Speciality packaging is for products that need specific design or protection, such as wine bottles.
Final Words:
The packaging industry has been around for thousands of years and is still going strong. This shows how resilient it is and how it can adapt to new technology and trends.
The packaging process starts with the design and ends with production. It also helps keep your product fresh during transit. Now that you know what the packaging industry is all about, it’s time to decide whether you want to get involved.
