Packaging systems are a fundamental part of the supply chain, since the success of the merchant who wants to open new markets for their products will depend on their full knowledge.
International regulations, techniques, the importance of the image of the product, its handling from the factory, to the buyer's hands.
It is an interesting and determining process at a commercial level.
Packaging, packaging or packaging are elements intrinsically linked to the handling, conservation and transport of products. They are defined as any flexible or solid structure covering that contains or groups certain articles.
Within the supply chain, the relevance of the packaging supports the authenticity, quality and, of course, the commercialization of the product. The products and their packaging systems are classified as:
From their natural shape, factory design or original state, to their final destination, the products require certain levels of treatment, which require the use of different materials, techniques and standards, to ensure their proper transition to different destinations within the national and international market. Under international regulatory standards, packaging systems are determined at three main characteristic levels.
Packaging or primary packaging
It is anyone who contains the product in its individual or basic presentation arranged for first-hand sale. Plastic bags, bottles, tetra-brick system, canned goods and jars among others belong to this group.
The packaging must contain essential data that includes the name of the product, brand, weight, variety, producer and country of origin.
Likewise, perishable products must include the production and expiration dates. Some products warn about their degree of toxicity, handling and storage conditions.
Quality products, made under applied industrial standards, have a UPC, an acronym for the Universal Product Code. In the middle it is known as the Bar Code, which is translated into a series of digits that present information about the producer and the product as such. The code facilitates rapid inventory and cost control.
A well thought-out first-class packaging system fulfills a definitive commercial function, since it can motivate the buyer by indicating the strengths and benefits of the product.
Secondary package
It is an external complement that groups several samples of primary packaging, its function is to store it in quantities that simplify its distribution, storage and inventory.
Within the second level are cardboard boxes, crates, baskets, trays and boxes with holes (lugs), among others. These must contain the units in an orderly manner, the container must be adjusted to the product taking full advantage of its dimensions.
The boxes must be duly marked indicating the number of units, their maximum resistance at the time of stacking, the brand of the product and its basic characteristics.
In the case of products with difficult maneuverability or significant degree of fragility, the box must present the respective warning. At this point in the process, it must be taken into account that the good presentation of the product will depend on the quality of the materials used.
Tertiary packaging or transport packaging
The packaging is used in order to integrate uniform quantities of the product, already arranged under the rules of the secondary packaging.
The materials are selected according to the provisions of the product; without omitting, costs, buyer specifications, international standards, resistance, freight and environmental environment.
Among the most used packages are the hoppers, wire or nailed guacales, platforms, baskets and containers among others.
The grouping of products within their respective packaging and / or packaging systems, duly insured and mounted on the stowage, is known as palletizing.
In the same way, the grouping of pallets or containers is called unitarization.
Inside the large shipping containers, cardboard or plastic dividers or partitions are added, in order to divide and secure the merchandise. The load is previously provided with reinforcements on the sides and at the ends to increase its resistance to compression.
Applying the standards in international cargo handling or ISO 3394, the use of wooden pallets with dimensions of 120 x 100 centimeters and no more than 5 modules is recommended, according to the North American standard.
For the European standard, the pallets are 80 x 120 centimeters and not more than 4 modules.
For the transport of maritime cargo, the use of 120 x 100 pallets is recommended.
Due to the specificity in the handling and treatment of goods when converting them into a single loading unit or container, some experts usually give it the connotation of a fourth level of packaging.
Marked and labeled
The marking or labeling of the packages helps to identify the products facilitating their handling and location at the time of being monitored.
It is done by direct printing, adhesive labels, stickers or manual calligraphy, on a visible side of the packaging. For a useful application of marking, the following aspects must be taken into account using the ISO 7000 standard as a reference:
- Common name of the product and variety Product size and classification. Indicating number of pieces by weight, or number of pieces in a given package or packaging. Net weight. Quantity of packages or units and individual weight. Quality specifications. In case the product is classified into different versions Country of origin Brand name with logo Name and address of the packer Name and address of the distributor.
On the opposite side of the packaging it is intended only for information on transport and handling of the product:
- Pictograms. In accordance with the international standard ISO 780, graphic symbols are used instead of written phrases. Handling marks must be printed on the upper left and their size must exceed 10 centimeters, in dark colors. Transport identification. Air waybill number or shipment identification, destination, total number of units shipped and codes of export documents. If the appropriate technology is available, electronic identification codes such as the UPC, which stands for Universal Product Code, and EAN, which stands for European Article Numering, can be incorporated.
The marking material must be indelible, resistant to abrasion and handling. All containers must be visibly labeled and marked in the language of the destination country.
International standards or norms
Knowledge of specific international standards for the packaging and handling of goods is of vital importance when preparing the product for export. Among the technical standards of greatest consultation and application are:
- ISO 3394, applied to the dimensions of boxes, pallets and palletized platforms. R 87 or Regulation 87, applied to products for sale in units, in relation to the description of the content in each container or package. ISO 780 and 7000, referring to operating and warning instructions and pictorial symbols.
Currently, concern for the conservation of the environment requires the use of recyclable materials, as well as the use of duly treated wood for industrial use or renewable species.
- ISPM Number 15, International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures, requires wood material destined for the packaging of export products to receive special treatment for the elimination of insects, fungi and nematodes.
Recommendations for the future producer or exporter
It is established without a doubt that the quality of the product goes hand in hand with that of the packaging, which in turn serves as protector, seller and commercial representative when arriving at its destination. It is recommended to take into account the following recommendations to guarantee the efficiency of processes, therefore, customer satisfaction:
- It is convenient to carry out a DOFA analysis, to recognize the weaknesses and strengths of the product within the market, as well as the opportunities and threats that it may present in its environment. The packaging must be designed thinking about the protection of the product from the environmental conditions, from the possible risks during its handling, transport and storage, seek the advice of an expert. Take into account the requirements of the recipient in terms of materials, quantities and local restrictions. Familiarize yourself with the environmental regulations and restrictions of the country of origin. Legislative regulations may vary not only from country to country, but from state or province to country, please do research before shipping.
