Packaging is a crucial part of the product life cycle. It serves as a protective barrier and also as a marketing tool to promote the product. It also plays a crucial role in the shelf life of the product. Despite its importance, there are still many people who do not know much about packaging. This blog post will cover some interesting facts about packaging that you have at all times wanted to know.
The first bubble wrap was discovered by accident
In 1957, an engineer named Alfred Fielding and a scientist named Marc Chavannes tried to make a new type of wallpaper. However, they ended up creating something fully different, and this is the bubble wrap. This was because the two men were trying to make a three-dimensional plastic wallpaper. The bubbles on the wrap are tiny pockets of air that got trapped while the two men were making the adhesive for their wallpaper. Now, bubble wrap is used to protect products during shipping.
Apart from bubble wrap, several other packaging materials used today include styrofoam, cardboard and plastic. In this case, you may additionally be surprised to find it ribbon material and binders are also important in product packaging. The former is used to hold the product together when shipped. On the other hand, binders are used to secure products to pallets or crates. This is important because it prevents the product from shifting during shipping and prevents damage.
The first cardboard boxes were made in England
The first cardboard boxes were made in England at the end of the 18th century. It is made of paper that has been glued together and used to ship products. Many companies before this first ship their product in barrels and crates. However, cardboard quickly became popular because it was much lighter and cheaper to manufacture. Currently cardboard is still widely used for product delivery. They come in a number of shapes and sizes, and can be customized according to product requirements. In addition, cardboard can even be recycled so it’s environmentally friendly.
Peter Durand invented the first can in 1812
Canning is the process of preserving food in airtight containers. It was first performed in 1812 by Peter Durand, an English merchant. He was granted a patent for his invention by King George III. That canning process involves sealing the food in an airtight container and then heating the container to kill any bacteria that may be present. The canning process was first used to preserve meat and vegetables. It wasn’t until 1858, however, that the first canning factory was established in the United States. The cannery made mass production of canned goods possible. This made canned food cheaper and accessible to the general public.
The most common types of cans used today are made of aluminum. However, some cans are produced from cans. Tin cans are less common because they’re costlier to produce and have a shorter shelf life than aluminum cans. Aluminum cans are also recyclable, which makes them more environmentally friendly than cans. For this reason, aluminum cans are the preferred type of can for most products.
The first product to be sold in packs was Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola was the first product to be marketed and sold in a single package. In 1894, John Pemberton decided to bottle his drink and sell it in pharmacies. He packed drinks in glass bottles having metal caps with paper labels. The bottles are then closed with corks. Over the years, the Coca-Cola bottle has become probably the most iconic packages in the world. Some people even collect Coca-Cola bottles from diverse countries.
The first product to be packaged in plastic containers was milk
The first product ever packaged in plastic containers was milk. It was in the early 1940s when dairies started using wax paper containers to package their milk. However, the use of plastic containers for packaged products took off in the 1950s. This is thanks to the invention of polyethylene, which is a sort of plastic that’s light and sturdy. Today, plastic containers are used to package a broad range of products, including food, beverages, cosmetics and cleaning products.
The barcode finder is inspired by cereal boxes
Inventor Norman Woodland was trying to find a way to read information automatically. He came up with the idea of using a machine-readable series of lines of various widths. However, he wasn’t able to perfect his invention until he saw a man in the supermarket scanning a box of cereal. It was then that he realized that barcodes could be used to scan products in supermarkets. Today, barcodes are used not only in supermarkets but also in libraries, airports and other places where automated information needs to be read.
Packaging can be used to reduce environmental waste
It is estimated that a couple of third of the world’s solid waste comes from packaging. This is why companies need to use sustainable and recyclable packaging materials. For example, cardboard can be made into new cardboard, plastic bottles can be recycled into new plastic bottles, and so on. In this way, companies can help reduce the amount of waste generated annually. For this reason, it’s better to prioritize buying products packaged in sustainable and recyclable packaging materials.
Packaging can even be used to extend the shelf life of the product
This is because packaging can protect the product from contamination and oxidation. In some cases, it can even help control the moisture content of the product. For example, vacuum packaging helps expel air from the package, which can stop the growth of mold and bacteria. In this way, packaging can help keep products fresh for a longer time.
Packaging is a crucial part of the product life cycle. This not only protects the product but also helps promote it and extends its shelf life. As a consumer, it’s important to bear in mind of the different sorts of packaging materials available and to choose products that are packaged in sustainable and recyclable materials.
