U N I T module 4 2 PACKAGING AND OVERPACKAGING In this Unit we focus on how a product can be wrapped or boxed for sale with special regard to sustainable packages. We will look at the development of packaging and design as an essential part of the life cycle of a product. At the same time, we will highlight the pointless increase of over-packaging and its dangerous effects on our planet. A. PACKAGING: DESIGN AND LABELS Packaging design and development must be closely linked to the product to be packaged and are strictly connected to the identification of all the requirements: structural design, marketing, shelf life, quality assurance, logistics, legal regulatory, graphic design, end-use, environmental and, in some way, ease of recycling. Prerequisites in packaging design are: the product quality must be maintained; for example, in some products the design process involves detailed regulatory needs; any package components that may come into contact with foodstuffs have to be made of suitable material. Moreover, consumers must be able to easily access and use the product without harming themselves or contaminating the product, even if packaging needs to be tamper-evident or child-resistant by making the package intentionally difficult to readily open. Packaging processes, labelling, distribution and sale need to be validated to fulfil the regulations and have the well-being of the consumer in mind. An effective quality management system and verification and validation protocols are compulsory for some types of packaging and recommended for all. All aspects of packaging development that may give rise to quality problems must be identified and minimized by good design: all these goals put together are a challenge. Packaging can be described in relation to the type of product being packaged: short-lived or long-lasting goods, i.e. easily spoilt and liable to rot or durable stuff. Three different types may be used and it is sometimes convenient to categorize packages by layer or function: a primary pack is in a direct contact with the product, it holds it and has to maintain the product quality; the secondary level contains the product and the GLOSSARY bulk handling: trattamento di grossi quantitativi closely: strettamente compulsory: obbligatorio challenge: sfida to fulfil: rispettare, ottemperare a labelling: etichettatura 132 liable to rot: facilmente deperibili logistics: logistica regulatory: normativa shelf: scaffale short-lived: di breve durata spoilt: rovinato, guasto stuff: merce strictly: rigorosamente suitable: idoneo tamper-evident: antimanomissione to trace: tracciare to track: seguire well-being: benessere