PRODUCT PACKAGING SHAPES AND PACKAGING DESIGN

 

While the styles above relate to the graphic design aspect, the shape of the packaging is just as important and just as diverse.

The shape of your product packaging mostly depends on your logistics and your budget. Of course, your product itself also affects the body, but these first two limitations significantly impact the result.

When you think about the shape of your packaging, you consider the entire logistics chain. Very delicate items and unusual conditions will look good, but shipping such packaging to a distant destination can create unnecessary problems.

A great way to approach the shape of your packaging is to focus on your customers' priorities. First, the packaging must protect your customers' products and enable an unforgettable unboxing experience. Of course, your customers expect to be surprised and entertained - but the last thing they want is a damaged package.

Surprisingly, even the most extensive e-commerce providers tend to forget the importance of their packaging. SM custom packaging USA, the retail giant, is known for ridiculously oversized cardboard boxes. As the company grows and gains new market share, many customers vent their anger over awful packaging on social media.

The shape of the packaging can also be misleading, and you need to be aware of possible mix-ups. A well-known example is a Minute Maid juice container that has been redesigned miserably. As a result, customers were confident that it was a cleaning product that was just misplaced in store, which harmed sales.

While these examples may seem daunting, introducing changes to your packaging design can rejuvenate your brand. Just make sure that you double-check your idea thoroughly before implementing it.

Let's summarize the subject of packaging design and packaging forms:

Customers may be used to a particular packaging design - research carefully before making any changes.

·         The packaging must match your logistics chain.

·         The packaging design should match your product (don't leave too much space inside).

·         Packaging design and materials

In this section, we look at some of the most widely used and innovative materials used in the design and manufacture of packaging.

The materials are divided into two main groups. The first relates to environmentally friendly solutions, while the second is geared towards providing a premium unboxing experience.

Corrugated cardboard

Cardboard is one of the most popular packaging materials used in many industries, including

·         Cosmetics

·         Restaurants & gastronomy

·         Subscription boxes

·         clothing

·         Jewelry

·         General e-commerce services

·         retail trade

Cardboard is a durable material made from wood pulp that is heated, mixed with water, and made into sheets that can be further cut. If you want to dig deeper into the details of making a paperboard, this article is a good resource for more detail.

Packaging design

You are probably wondering what the “corrugated “in corrugated board means.

Corrugated cardboard means that the sheets of cardboard are put together into layers called corrugations. These layers provide cushioning and reinforce the box.

Corrugated cardboard is a perfect solution for shipping products because of its lightness and durability. As a result, many companies ship their products in cardboard boxes - from giants like Nike to small local brands.

In addition, cardboard is a perfect basis for printing. It can be whitewashed for a vibrant color palette, or the design can be printed directly onto the untreated cardboard layer.

Below are some examples of cardboard boxes.

Fiber-based, biodegradable packaging materials

Natural materials are also used in the manufacture of packaging. This primarily describes herbal ingredients, which are an increasing trend in the packaging industry.

A good example is corn-based polyethylene bags, which have the same properties as plastic but have the advantage of being completely biodegradable.

Biodegradable and compostable packaging solutions are becoming more and more critical due to the waste generated by plastic or glass. Unfortunately, both materials are not biodegradable, with a drink, in particular, taking around a million years to completely dissolve.

 

Second, more and more customers are becoming aware of the negative impact of plastic packaging. As a result, consumers are starting to prefer brands that go a step further to find greener solutions.

Innovative materials for packaging

The most innovative packaging design cannot be found on the shelves of your local grocery store.

Why?

Large volume products prefer to keep costs down to keep prices competitive. Unfortunately, that means they are less innovative.

That is why the most innovative packaging designs are groundbreaking for the future.

While it may be tempting to use original material for your product packaging, these solutions are neither cheap nor easy to implement.

Among the tremendous innovative packaging materials you can find, for example:

·         Spider silk

·         Edible packaging materials

·         Fibers obtained from spoiled milk

·         Algae-based fibers

·         Fungus-based fibers (mycelium)

Plastic packaging

Plastic is still the most popular packaging solution, but it will decline sharply in the years to come.

You can find plastic packaging almost everywhere.

It is used for the packaging of food, cosmetics, electronic items, etc. From Coca-Cola bottles to shampoos to high-quality headphones - plastic is a proven solution in the packaging industry. It's durable, inexpensive, and can be customized for all types of products.

While plastic is so popular, it creates problems that we face around the world today.

The popularity of plastic packaging is due to its cheap production. However, while it's a relatively inexpensive option, plastic will soon be banned in many industries and countries.

The reason for this ban is the incredible amount of plastic waste that is generated every year. Unfortunately, as a packaging material, plastic is not biodegradable, and recycling is still relatively expensive.

Polyethylene packaging

Polyethylene is used to make mailing bags and other extremely lightweight packaging solutions.

 

It's a durable, waterproof plastic layer that is ideal for shipping. Polyethylene bags can also be printed. They can be helpful for brands that sell clothing or clothing accessories, and because of their extremely lightweight, it is a very cost effective solution.

Glass and aluminum packaging

Glass is widely used in food packaging. While it is not biodegradable, glass (unlike plastic) can be recycled reasonably cheaply.

Glass is also limited when it comes to packaging design. Although various shapes can be formed, there are no printing options other than a traditional sticker.

Finally, aluminum is a very lightweight packaging material that is mainly used in bottles, mailers, and some types of food packaging.

So what should you keep in mind when it comes to packaging materials?

If your product allows it, try to avoid plastic as much as possible

Keep an eye out for herbal solutions and custom boxes wholesale for shipping

Do A / B tests for your packaging - use small quantities of different options and evaluate your customers' reactions.

In the next section of this packaging design guide, you will learn what features of your design will affect your business and how you can use packaging as a marketing and sales lever.