People often think packaging and packing mean the same thing, but they actually refer to different functions and definitions. In this article, we’ll walk you through how they differ.
Packaging
Packaging refers to the material that individually contains the product, designed to preserve and protect it until it reaches the final consumer in optimal condition.
Businesses often leverage packaging as a communication tool to promote their brand, using printed designs that reflect their visual identity.
The primary purposes are:
- Product protection
- Ease of handling and transport
- Providing information about the contents, handling conditions, legal requirements, composition, and ingredients.
Examples of packaging include plastic wrappers, cardboard boxes, doypacks, and shrink wrap (thermo-shrinkable polyethylene). A common example of shrink wrap is the packaging used for multi-packs of bottled water.
Packing
The primary purpose of packing is to condition and store multiple similar items in a structured way, ensuring their preservation and protecting them against drops, impacts, or humidity.
It enables efficient handling of multiple boxes by palletizing them with stretch film protection, allowing forklifts to move them within the warehouse or onto transport units bound for different destinations.
Unlike packaging, packing does not include printed advertising. The information it must clearly display includes general details to help warehouse personnel locate it easily within storage, or complete and accurate recipient information.
The primary purposes are:
- To secure products during transportation to their destination
- To facilitate storage
- To simplify inventory control
When sending your shipments through Cropa Express, ensure that your products are properly packaged and packed to facilitate safe and efficient transport.
