Function

=__How Does Food Packaging Work?__ =

Have a little read: ... What is packaging? Who needs it? Why do we need it? In the world we live in today, packaging is very important. The fact that everywhere you look, something is protected by some sort of packaging just shows us how much it is a part of our lives.

Packaging is used to protect a variety of different products, ranging from chocolate wrappers to boxes of hi-fi systems. You can find a wide range of shapes and sizes, all designed for different purposes. Take for example, the type of packaging that protects our daily fresh food from germs and bacteria; special adhesives, cartons, containers and plastic bags, all in some way protect the food and are regarded as a form of packaging. There is one imperative issue related to this topic as to why we need it, and that is the fact that it contains the information, which tells us about the product, its ingredients and any instructions we might need. This is critical for some people as they may have an allergy to a particular ingredient and must know whether the product contains it or not. So who needs packaging? Well, the answer is EVERYONE! Whether it's the consumer purchasing the product, the company promoting it, or even the people who do the deliveries; packaging is always needed for some reason or another.

When fruit or meat, for example, are delivered overseas or imported, they need to be well packaged. This is because, in the case of fruit, it can become damaged and bruised, causing it to rot. While in the case of meat, well isn't the answer already obvious? You wouldn't want a contaminated piece of chicken for your Sunday roast, would you? A fragile item should be always packaged well when being transported in order to protect it from any sort of damage. Then when it has been finished with, you'll find most packaging can be recycled or re-used somehow. Packaging tends to be attractive for one sole reason, to appeal to the customers, interest them and entice them. In fact, you'll probably find that the more creative and attractive the packaging is, the greater the cost of the product. Now as with everything, packaging has its own benefits and drawbacks. I think I have mentioned most of the advantages, but what about the disadvantages? It's all very well the products being glamorous and attractive.

Why Packaging Is Important
Companies know that consumers judge a product by its package. But the image of a product is not the only consideration---the effects of packaging on the supply chain and accounting department should also be measured. Marketing departments weigh several aspects when deciding how to package a product.

Preservation

 * Perishable products, like food, must have appropriate packaging to keep the product fresh. The company must consider how to keep some foods crunchy and other foods moist. These constraints require specialized packaging. In some cases, packaging affects the safety of the food. For example, the Food and Drug Administration provides an extensive guideline for companies considering recycled plastics for packaging.

Price

 * Choice of packaging dictates price and profit margins. For example, some iced teas are in aluminum cans, some in plastic bottles and others in glass. Each of these packaging choices affects the cost of production. The company that sells tea in glass bottles instead of plastic likely pays more per unit, but the attractiveness of the glass bottle might sway some consumers. Companies should recognize cost when analyzing packaging. Knowthis.com states that in the cosmetics industry, packaging accounts for 40 percent of the selling price per product.

Shipping

 * The product is shipped by truck, rail, air or ship. These distribution methods can determine how an item should be packaged. If the product is being distributed by truck, for example, the packaging should protect the product from different temperatures. Companies also must consider how much packaging should encase the item. For example, adding extra bubble wrap might allow fewer units to fit on the truck, resulting in extra shipping costs. But using less bubble wrap might mean more units are destroyed en route. The company must evaluate cost factors such as these to determined how a product should be shipped.

Environment

 * Some packaging is better for the environment than others. Many plastics are not biodegradable, meaning that once discarded, they cannot be decomposed by the earth. Using eco-friendly material, like recycled cardboard or BPA-free plastic, might be more expensive. But should the government legislate against the use of harmful plastics in packaging, the company's initial eco-friendly decision will save costs in the long run by avoiding legal fees and switching costs.

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Packaging is very important. It is can protect a variety of different products. You can find them in very different shapes and sizes. Whether ut's a consumer puchasing product, the compant promoting it, or even the human beings who deliver them, people nowadays need packaging.For example, fruit is always in packaging because it looks better, wouldn't get damaged and get rotten. Packaging is also very important because companies know that some of there consumers judge their products by the packaging. And because of that, they make them all fancy. What do you think, packaging is trully a problem because people are disposing too much of packaging. However, do you really think that human beings canlive without it?