Packaging function

Packaging is designed to contain and protect goods, from raw materials to finished products, to enable them to be handled and transported from producer to consumer or user, and to ensure their presentation. Depending on its use, packaging is referred to as sales packaging, groupage packaging or transport packaging.

Thanks to its wide range of uses, packaging can take a variety of forms (sheet, bag, crate, box, drum, can, etc.) and be made from paper, cardboard, plastic, wood, glass or metal. Where necessary, it is complemented by accessories (assembly, sealing, gripping, protection, etc.).

The French packaging industry is the eighth largest industrial sector, with production of around 12 million tonnes. Materials represent sales of around 17 billion euros, of which 35% for paper and cardboard, 26% for plastics, 12% for metal (tinplate and aluminum), 11% for glass, 9% for wood and 7% for flexible laminates.

Packaging, by virtue of its functions, is an essential partner for all industrial sectors. The leading packaging user is the food industry, which absorbs over 60% of packaging produced, followed by pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and perfumery (11%), detergents, cleaning products, chemicals, manufacturing and distribution.

As protectors of contents, guarantors of safety and functionality, the first point of contact with the user or consumer, messengers from the product to the user, and brand ambassadors, packaging must fulfil a wide range of functions, both technical and marketing.

In a context where economic, safety, ergonomic, regulatory and ecological issues are particularly important, the development and definition of new packaging requires a specific methodology integrating all aspects of the packaging life cycle, taking into account the packaging/product pairing and involving multidisciplinary collaboration with genuine partners.

The proposed methodology comprises three phases:

• functional analysis of requirements, leading to the drafting of functional specifications (CdCF);

• proposing potential solutions, validating them and selecting a packaging solution;

• description and characterization of the chosen solution, then preparation of the purchasing specifications (CdCA).

Packaging is the subject of standards, regulations and certification systems. Standardization work is mainly carried out at European level within the framework of Technical Committee 261 - Packaging, but many other committees deal with packaging issues.

Environmental protection has become a major concern, and it is now essential...