Packaging is something that the everyday shopper encounters on a regular basis. Food is packaged, retail products are packaged, and, with the recent surge in online purchases, even those are packaged in some way. We are often surrounded by packaging.
However, some people are not aware that there is more than one level of packaging that influences how products are packaged, stored, and transported.
Packaging is classified into three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Each of these levels is critical in preserving a product throughout transportation and storage. Let’s take a closer look at each level so you can clearly distinguish them while developing your personal packaging strategy.
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1. Primary Packaging
Primary packaging is packaging that comes into direct contact with a product, also known as retail or consumer packaging. Its principal purposes are to protect the product while also informing the consumer about its applications and other important information. In the food and beverage industry, your primary packaging may be the cereal box itself. A few examples of primary packaging are matchboxes, toothpaste tubes, soda cans, and medicine bottles.
Consumers are drawn to the product because of its attractive packaging, which tempts them to buy it. The product is the cereal itself, but because the retailer can’t just put loose cereal on the shelf, it requires this packaging. Another example of primary packaging may be seen in the pharmaceutical sector, where the foil or bottle that holds the medication—the product—is the primary packaging.
2. Secondary Packaging
The secondary package is a protective covering that is applied to the primary package. The secondary packaging is removed or disposed of after getting the product home or being ready to use it. A secondary packaging might be a shipping container in which a tube of toothpaste is packed. Consumers do not store secondary packages for long.
Few people notice secondary packaging, yet it is a big reason why retailers can keep their shelves stocked. Secondary packaging helps create protective barriers before the product reaches the end consumer.
3. Tertiary Packaging
Tertiary packaging refers to essential packaging used to segregate items, keeping them safe and securely positioned during shipping. Consumers seldom notice or consider this amount of packaging among the three. Warehouses commonly use this packaging to send secondary packaging. Its primary purpose is to adequately protect products while they are in transit.
Consumers rarely come in contact with tertiary packaging. Warehouses commonly use this packaging to send secondary packaging. Its primary purpose is to adequately protect products while they are in transit. Consumers are rarely exposed to tertiary packaging. Pallets used to transport bulk items, corrugated padding used to separate box layers, and stretch wrap used to hold carton piles are all examples.
These materials protect products on their way from a distribution hub to a retail outlet. This type of packaging isn’t usually required, although it’s more popular in fragile and medicinal goods.
Significance of the Distinctions Between the Levels of Packaging
Packaging is essential regardless of the type of packaging in question. When developing a packaging strategy, think about how all three levels of packaging will affect your product’s durability.
Primary packaging is essential for shelf branding and protection. Secondary packaging is essential for transportation protection and branding. Consumers infer a lot about your brand and business from the way your product is packaged. Everything matters, from the logo to the shape, size, and colors.
Your product’s packaging provides a chance to customize it and make it stand out from the competition. Packaging conveys a powerful statement, so select your packaging strategy wisely.
A product can be damaged in a variety of ways, including during delivery, stocking at the store, and even when the consumer is taking the merchandise home. That is why it is extremely important to establish a balance between the types of packaging in order to keep your product looking excellent while also protecting it adequately. A professional print packaging company will help you in achieving that essential objective.
