The packaging industry #1

近年來，包裝產業經歷了顯著的成長，並成為消費者日益挑剔的關心焦點。 

In this series of 4 articles, we will explore the packaging sector, examine current solutions, compare them and highlight their limitations.

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The packaging industry

The packaging industry is constantly evolving, and packaging must adapt to these changes. Its design must now be aligned with a new production logic, incorporating the reduction of harmful waste.

這就是生態設計*一詞的由來，它作為提高製造商、企業和消費者意識的一種方式，其重要性與日俱增。

Each type of packaging has its own specific role, whether primary, secondary or tertiary. It is crucial to understand the specific purpose of each. 

• Primary packaging, in direct contact with the product, aims to preserve and protect the finished product. 
• Secondary packaging, which covers the primary packaging, facilitates the handling of small items or groups together several products in a single package. 
• Tertiary packaging, which is what interests us most in these articles, protects the product and enables it to be transported from point A to point B.

In 2026, with an estimated 8,000 parcels shipped every second worldwide, parcel packaging design is becoming a major challenge. This assessment comes from Pitney Bowes, which analyses the volume and cost of parcels shipped to provide a global shipping index.

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Tertiary packaging

Tertiary packaging has undergone significant change, particularly with the rise of e-commerce. It now has to meet a variety of needs, such as product protection, efficient storage, compliance with transport standards and respect for the environment. 

過去，三級包裝通常由不可回收的材料製成。這對環境造成了許多負面影響，例如溫室氣體排放、資源消耗以及分解時間過長。面對這樣的環境影響，消費者對環境的日益關注也越來越敏感。

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根據 DS Smith 最新的研究、 43%的消費者對過度包裝感到沮喪並希望減少包裝。

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The solution 

To remedy these problems, companies are developing new sustainable packaging solutions. Eco-designed packaging is emerging on the market to meet everyone's expectations. Businesses, packaging manufacturers and industrialists are mainly looking to use renewable and sustainable materials in the manufacture of their packaging, thereby limiting its environmental impact throughout its life cycle. This includes the stages of design, extraction of raw materials, production, distribution, packaging techniques, transport, use and end of life.

Many packaging innovations have emerged in response to these concerns.

In the next article, you will discover 7 types of packaging that respect eco-design

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Eco-design*: Taking action to include environmental issues in the design of products/services/product-service systems.

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Source 

Definition of eco-design