Fundamental Factors to Consider When Choosing Packaging Materials

Fundamental Factors to Consider When Choosing Packaging Materials

Choosing the most effective packaging for your new product may have a significant impact on how successful it is. Not only it is important before reaching the market but also after it reaches the shelves of retailers. 

This, of course, has a direct impact on your company's ability to expand and compete in the long term. Therefore, it holds true regardless of whether you work in the natural food, pharmaceutical, or nutraceutical sectors.

Despite its critical significance, selecting the most appropriate packaging for your company's demands may be difficult for any manufacturer. This is particularly true when you have a myriad of alternatives currently available to pick from.

Cost maybe your top concern as you begin your search. However, it is critical that you consider all of the other crucial considerations as well. Packages that have a strong aesthetic appeal and that are consistent with your marketing and branding will be essential to your success. 

Of course, it's critical that your packaging keeps your items safe throughout shipping, storage, and delivery. And, it does so at every step of the way across the supply chain. 

As a result, the finished product that your consumer selects off the store shelf will appear exactly like the one that came off your manufacturing line in the first place.

Types of Packaging Materials

Let's look at some alternative packaging solutions to improve your product and consumer experience!

Paperboard boxes

Paperboard is a durable, lightweight paper-based material. It's easy to cut and shape to your liking. These features make it excellent for customized packaging. You can get these boxes by bleaching fibrous materials like wood or recycled paper. 

Paperboard packaging comes in various grades to meet varied needs.

Corrugated boxes

These boxes are basically cardboard. Corrugated boxes are what huge shipping, shoe, and storage boxes are made of. Many individuals are unaware that corrugated boxes come in many forms based on their durability and strength. 

But identifying a corrugated material is simple. It has three layers of paper (also known as fluting). That provides it strength and stiffness.

Companies use recyclable paper to manufacture corrugated boxes. They do so by using huge high-precision machines known as corrugators. These boards may be reused and recycled as a source of pulp fiber. 

Plastic boxes

Plastic is present in everything from spaceships to paper clips. It has already displaced traditional materials including wood, leather, glass, and ceramic.

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Moreover, plastic allows the goods to be visible from every angle without having to open the package. It is also flexible, lightweight, and easy to coat or film to improve packing.

Contrary to common assumptions, plastic is recyclable. It requires less energy than glass or other materials to create new plastic. Best of all, it is incredibly cheap!

Rigid boxes

You've probably always wondered about the boxes used to transport iPhones or premium goods like Rolex, Tiffany & Co., and Marc Jacobs. You know it's cardboard, but you're not sure because of its durability and luxury look.

 A rigid box is made of this sort of cardboard. It is 4 times thicker paperboard than a conventional folding carton. The simplest real-world example of rigid boxes is the 2 piece setup rigid boxes that carry Apple's iPhones and iPads.

Compared to paperboard and corrugated boxes, rigid boxes are the priciest. The rigid boxes are generally built by hand and do not need costly dies or heavy machines. Their non-collapsible nature also means they ship in a larger box, resulting in greater shipping rates.

Foil-sealed

Most coffee and tea packaging use foil-sealed bags. Why? It keeps the items thick, protects them from microorganisms, and extends their shelf life. Foil-sealed bags are perfect to package bedsheets and apparel as well as food. 

The technique includes eliminating oxygen from the bag to keep the fabric tight and prevent fungal and bacteria development. To avoid spoiling nuts, cereals, smoked salmon, cheese, and cured meats, it is better to wrap them in foil bags.

Important Considerations

Take these five important considerations into consideration as you begin your search for product packaging:

Invest in Long-Lasting Quality

No matter how unusual or inventive the packaging that you pick is, it will only be beneficial if it effectively protects the product that is contained inside it. Investment in high-quality packing materials that will keep items safe is a good idea.

While durable, high-quality packaging may be more costly, the cost of such packaging should be included in the price of your items. Keep in mind that it is less expensive to invest in sturdy, tamper-evident packing upfront. It's better than having to replace damaged goods on an ongoing basis.

Stick to standard shapes and sizes wherever possible

Stick to common forms and sizes that are simple for package manufacturers to create in order to save money on packaging. 

While unusual forms and sizes might assist draw attention to a product on the shelf, the amount of attention they may get is not worth the extra costs and obstacles associated with their manufacture.

It is possible to achieve more flexibility and convenience by using standard forms and sizes during storage, handling, and transportation. Avoiding custom packaging alternatives may also enable you to arrange fewer orders, hence lowering your overall expenses of operation.

Spend those savings instead on strategic design decisions that can increase your visual impact and brand awareness.

Consider Taking Advantage of Unanticipated Cost Savings

A variety of factors influence the cost-effectiveness of packaging. These factors include materials, standard sizes, who you purchase from, and the amount of packaging you acquire. All of these things are a given. 

However, you should consider how the packaging you choose might assist you in saving money in other, more unexpected ways.

Choosing a material that is very lightweight will help you save money on shipping expenses. Choosing packaging that is simple to handle may help you increase the efficiency of your manufacturing process. 

Examine the ways in which each packing choice might save you money or force you to spend more money on additional hidden expenditures.

Take into account the transportation and distribution settings

What kinds of circumstances will your packaging have to withstand before it can be considered effective? Examine the whole supply chain: your product will transit through your product line, onto a truck, and eventually to a distribution center. 

From there, it will most likely be unpalletized and loaded into another truck that will transport it to local retail outlets.

To ensure that your products and packaging materials are durable enough to resist each of these diverse environments, you should consider the following: Examine the length of time your goods will need for transportation by truck. Check if it will stay safe or needs sending in a box. 

Everything revolves around ensuring that your product reaches its ultimate selling destination unharmed and precisely in the state in which you want your target clients to view it. After all, how enticing it is and who purchases it will be directly influenced by this.

Emphasize on Long-Term Sustainability

When it comes to packaging options, sustainability is essential - particularly if you're selling to the natural food, nutraceutical, or body care sectors. 

At the very least, seek packaging that is recyclable: this will make your customers pleased and will help your company to project a greener, more environmentally aware image. Plus, today's customers don't quite desire styrofoam anyway!

Excellent branding and design

Finally, but certainly not least, make an investment in excellent package design, both in terms of materials and visuals.

The packaging materials you choose might aid in the representation of your brand identity. Make use of materials and an overall design that resonates with your target market and that you can use consistently across all of your product lines.

Graphic design is at the core of what establishes a connection between your target audience and your goods. Investment in a talented graphic designer who can produce something that makes your clients feel the way you want them to feel: this involves graphics, color choices, layout, and other aspects of the design process.

Your package design must be consistent with your company's logo and with the rest of your product ranges. When you use a brand package design to communicate the proper message to your target audience, you can significantly increase sales and enhance your bottom line.

Characteristics of Good Packaging

Packaging plays an essential part in the marketing of products. It preserves the merchandise and aids in the promotion of sales. As a result, the container or cover, the design of the package, the color, the size, and so on should be appropriate for the nature of the product. 

It should also be convenient, beautiful, inexpensive, communicative, and so forth.

A product can only be protected by proper and effective packaging. It keeps the product safe from deteriorating in quality and makes adulteration impossible. Good packaging also enhances the status of the product, builds brand loyalty, and helps to improve sales.

The following are the most important characteristics of effective packaging:

It is convenient

Convenient packaging is essential for good product design. The design of the package should be in such a manner that it's easier to transport the product from one location to another. Moreover, it should ensure easy handling by intermediaries or customers. 

The packaging should be of a size and form that is easy for merchants to stock in their stores and for customers to store in their own homes. If at all feasible, the package design should be made re-usable by the customer.

It is visually appealing

Good packaging must also have this characteristic as a minimum. Packaging must be visually appealing and intriguing. Customers are drawn in by an eye-catching bundle. Their interest in the product is piqued, as is their realization of the need for the product. 

It is possible for the packaging to have a significant impact on consumers' perceptions by changing the color, design, and size. Due to the beautiful packaging, several clients place orders.

It's reasonably priced

Economical packaging is another important element of effective packaging. It shouldn't be prohibitively expensive to implement. A product's price will rise if its packaging is too costly. Selling the goods gets more difficult as a consequence. 

As a result, neither excessively expensive nor awkward packing should be used.

It’s safe

A product's packaging intends to protect it from a variety of hazards. A product's quality, quantity, color, and other characteristics should not diminish or destroy by exposure to sunlight, rain, insects, dust, and other environmental factors such as heat and humidity. 

Products may get damaged, ruined, or rotten while being transported from one location to another, or while being stored. A thorough plan has to be in place to protect the product from any potential dangers. 

In order to be an excellent packaging, a product must be able to protect itself from all dangers.

The ability to communicate effectively

The packaging should be functional and visually appealing. In this way, it will be able to communicate to the consumer. In order to increase demand, it should provide buyers with information about a brand's usefulness and the quality of a product. 

A well-designed package serves as a silent salesman as well as an efficient advertising vehicle.

Wrapping Up

Boxo Packaging provides packaging boxes that are customized and possess all qualities that a good box should have. All you have to do is place your order - and our team will get to work. Share all the details that you think will help us in the process, and wait for the magic to happen.