The history of packaging

多年來，包裝經歷了許多變化，以適應市場需求和新的消費趨勢。如今，隨著電子商務和數位轉型的興起，包裝需求也發生了翻天覆地的變化。

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除最初的保護和運輸作用外，包裝已成為公司真正的戰略槓桿。在耐用性、實用性和技術創新之間，包裝必須應對一系列的挑戰。

What is packaging?

根據《法國環境法》，包裝的定義為「任何物件，不論其材料的性質為何，其目的在於盛載和保護商品，使商品能從生產者手中處理和運送至消費者或使用者手中，並確保商品的呈現」。

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This means that packaging is more than just a container; it plays an essential role in logistics, marketing and the customer experience.

Packaging serves several purposes:

• Protection: it ensures product protection throughout the supply chain
• Transport: it facilitates handling and optimizes storage in warehouses.
• 溝通：讓消費者了解產品、其成分和使用說明。
• Marketing: it also plays a key role in buyers' decision-making. Attractive packaging can arouse interest and reinforce a product's perceived value.

The beginnings of packaging:

The first traces of packaging date back to antiquity, when goods were stored and transported in clay amphorae, cloth bags or wooden crates. These rudimentary solutions primarily met the need for preservation and transportation.
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With industrialization and the growth of international trade, packaging evolved towards lighter, stronger materials better suited to modern distribution chains. The appearance of corrugated cardboard in the 19th century, followed by plastic in the 20th, marked a turning point in the sector.

Today, connected and eco-responsible packaging is the new standard. Packaging has undergone its share of evolution, adapting to market trends and needs.

With the explosion of e-commerce, the number of parcels shipped has increased considerably. This poses several major challenges:

• Reducing loss and theft: packaging must be more resistant and secure.
• Environmental impact: excess plastic and non-recyclable packaging is a major problem.
• 優化客戶體驗： 易於打開、可重複使用的包裝提高了消費者的滿意度。

Packaging has had to reinvent itself, and new innovations have emerged. The customer experience is now at the heart of companies' concerns. They are looking for packaging that not only protects, but also respects the environment.

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As a result, tertiary packaging has had to develop and adapt to market constraints.
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Tertiary packaging is used to group several product units together to facilitate transport and storage. Unlike primary packaging (directly in contact with the product) and secondary packaging (grouping together several sales units), tertiary packaging is mainly used for logistics.

While tertiary packaging facilitates logistics, it also poses a number of challenges:

• High cost of single-use packaging.
• High environmental impact of non-recyclable materials.
• Storage space required for bulky packaging.

To meet today's ecological challenges, optimizing tertiary packaging has become a priority, with a reduction in waste and a transition to recyclable and reusable materials.

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Numerous innovations are emerging in this field, highlighting the reusability and circularity of packaging. Some solutions enable packaging to be used more than once, helping to reduce carbon footprints and improve resource management throughout the supply chain.