Packaging: various definitions and meaning

Packaging plays a key role in protecting the product from contamination by external sources, and reducing damage during its transportation and handling in the supply chain from the producer and manufacturer to the consumer.

Packaging has been defined as a socio-scientific discipline which operated in society to ensure delivery of goods to the ultimate consumer of those goods in the best condition intended for their use.

Packaging is a medium between product manufacturers and consumers aiding the maintenance of original quality of the packaged products and providing information and characteristics of the packaged products to the consumers. Legal definitions of packaging are in the EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste in which packaging is defined as ‘all products made of any materials of any nature to be used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and presentation of goods, from raw materials to processed goods.

Other definitions of packaging include a coordinated system of preparing goods for transport, distribution, storage, retailing and end-user a means of ensuring safe delivery to the ultimate consumer on sound at optimum cost and a techno commercial function aimed at optimizing the costs of delivery while maximizing sales.

For food products packaging has an important role to preserve food quality. It has to act as an barrier to moisture and gas, microbial infection and insect infestation, other chemical and biological contamination light.

In most cases packaging reduces the cost of goods, because its role as protector means reduced product damage. The use of proper packaging materials and methods to minimize food losses and to provide safe and wholesome food products has always been a primary focus of food packaging.
Packaging: various definitions and meaning