Benchmarking is a very common practice in industry but Benchmarking in Packaging - let's understand the basics and how to proceed

By definition –

• Benchmarking is an improvement process used to discover and incorporate best practise into operation.
• It is a process of identifying, understanding and adapting outstanding practices from organization anywhere in the world to help tour organization improve its performance
• It is a highly respected practice in the business world

 

Specific to packaging, Benchmarking determines –

• Which is the best packaging in terms of appeal, material selection, space utilization, consumer convenience and so on?
• How effectively the product is being packed?
• How is the competitive brand doing that?
• Where does our brand stand in competition?
• What are the areas where our brand can be optimized?
• If we are already optimized, is there a scope to look for some new innovations?
• Identifying new vendors, new materials, news systems in packaging

Benchmarking aims at INNOVATING and not IMITATING

Methodology

• Select a product / package under test
• Identify key parameters on basis of your study
• Make a detailed matrix to analyse these parameters
• Choose competition companies/brands/locations/products. Sometimes cross category benchmarking is also preferred
• Coding, marking and sample preparation is to be done carefully as it is one of the critical areas while analysing data
• Test the packages based on parameters identified
• Collect the data in desired formats
• Analyze the data and identify opportunities for improvement
• Adapt and implement best practices, identify possible areas where optimization can be done, get ideas to give innovative solutions

Data analysis and reporting

Testing a package can be done in-house or by outsources laboratories. However the later doesn’t analyse the data, they only present it in a codified manner. To analyse the data either a packaging professional had to dedicate his/her time else they simply use the data and present. However this is not a very professional and appealing way. There are companies and service providers who carry out such studies from very beginning till the end. It is done through-

• Understanding the client’s requirement
• Preparation of a matrix and approval by the client
• Receiving samples based on the segment prepared by client (locational, cross category, competitive brands etc)
• Sample preparation, coding and marking
• Testing and analysis
• Data collation
• Understanding the data and driving conclusions / results / areas to work on
• Present the data in a “ready to use” format for quick implementation and presentation by any packaging professional
• Detailed report to follow along with parameters analysed
• Post project support for any discussions on technical inputs being provided

For more information check the links –

 

http://www.packagingconnections.com/offers/packaging-benchmarking-studies.htm

One perpetual demand on the market is the search for a glass replacement for use in packaging, as glass poses such a risk from breakage; COP possesses characteristics that make it a suitable glass substitute in HPT’s Injectable Vials range. Most importantly, it is unbreakable, lightweight, highly transparent and particularly suitable for use in combination with protein-containing substances, as no protein build-up on the inner walls results.

These containers are dimensionally identical to the standard tubular glass vials in order to avoid the need for extensive modification of machinery and equipment. They are suitable for autoclaving, as well as all established types of irradiation. Furthermore, FDA Drug Master File 24300 relates to our standard series (consisting of 5, 10 and 100ml bottles). Technical files can be made available to our customers upon request, which is helpful for any necessary registrations. If you are interested in finding out more, our service team would be happy to help by answering your questions and providing any further information you may require.

Find product details about Cop at HPT India

How many of you know "P-Exchange" and it's potential? This was initially launched for Sharing Packaging Pictures only. Over a period, we have further evolved as packaging forum where any user could just login for free and interact with additional feature of uploading images in comments as well. We never realized that this P-Exchange would scale up as a unique packaging forum for packaging professionals to exchange their day to day experiences. This platform not only enables discussions, but also gives chance to share the packaging experiences. Make most of P-Exchange and please give us your feedback. Your opinion is very important to us. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to evaluate changes and make improvements to make it wonderfull platform to our packaging community. POST your P-Exchange now : http://www.packagingconnections.com/node/add/p-exchage Contribute your views/comments to some of the popular and interactive P-Exchanges happening...

1. Innovation in Medical devices

 

2. Printing Inks - An important part of Packaging Technology

3. Tips to make a Retail Pack Design more Attractive

 

4.  IML (In-Mold Label) Printing & Decoration

 

5. Packaging Concepts for Cosmetic Products

There are lots of challenges to the food packaging industry. Food packaging industries are using BPA from almost 50 years and no company label is mentioned any information about BPA in their product packaging. Basic functionality of the BPA is to stop the reaction between food and surface. If BPA is banned by packaging governing bodies then one more tough challenge ahead for the food packaging industry.

Plastic is commonly used in food containers, bottles and wrapping materials as well as in the linings of tin cans. But plastic packaging contains BPA (also known as Bisphenol A) is not good for health and more on it’s very difficult to find where BPA is put on packaging. But most of the doctors, scientists from word wide say that consumption of low levels of BPA will not have any effect on health. Some experiments over animals show that BPA can damage kidney and liver. BPA can be risk factor in woman as it effects the structural changes in woman breasts which can lead to the breast cancer but there is no scientific evidence is available as of now.

Most of the countries are not happy with the France decision taken on ban to BPA from food packaging from 1st Jan 2015.

Active packaging is defined as packaging  in which subsidiary constituent have been deliberately include in or on either the packaging material or the package headspace to enhance the performance of package system( Robertson, 2006).  This phrase emphasizes the importance of deliberately including a substance with the intention of enhancing the food product. Active packaging is an extension of the protection function of a package and is commonly used to protect against oxygen and moisture.

Active packaging performs some desired role other than to provide an inert barrier between the product and the outside environment. It sometimes referred to as interactive or “smart” packaging, is intended to sense internal or external environmental change and to respond by changing its own properties or attributes and hence the internal package environment.  The active component may be part of the packaging material or may be an insert or attachment to the inside of the pack.

Active packaging can enable the properties of the package to more adequately meet the requirements of the product. Therefore, the forms and applications of active packaging are diverse, addressing specific situations in the protection and presentation of foods and other products.

For example:

The tinplate can, for instance, provides a sacrificial layer of tin that protects the food from accumulation of catalytically active iron salts. Antioxidant release from waxed-paper packs for Breakfast cereals have been used, as has been the impregnation of cheese wraps with sorbic acid. Sachets of iron powder have been described as ‘‘deoxidizers,’’ ‘‘free oxygen absorbers,’’ and ‘‘oxygen scavengers’’.  

Goals of Active Packaging:

Active Packaging is chosen to enhance the ability of conventional packaging to help deliver the product t used in a desired state. Active packaging system are developed with the goal of extending shelf life of the food and increasing the period of time that the food is high quality. Active packaging technologies include some Physical, chemical, or biological action which changes interactions between a package, product, and/ or headspace of package in order to get a desired outcome. The most common active  The most common active systems scavenger oxygen from the package or the product and may even be activated by an outside source such as UV light.

Forms of Active Packaging

Active packaging is typically found in two types of systems; sachets and pads which are placed inside of package, and active ingredients that are incorporate directly into packaging materials.

1. Sachets and Other Inserts

• Desiccants.

• Oxygen Scavengers.

• Ethanol and Sulfur Dioxide Emitters

• Ethylene Absorbers

2. Plastic-Based Active Packaging Materials

• Moisture Control.

• Oxygen Scavenging

• Active Oxygen Barriers

• Antimicrobial Films.

• Odor Absorption (more details at-) http://www.packagingconnections.com/innovation/market-leading-odour-absorbent-meat-pads.htm

• Thermal Control

 

Author - Radhika Rewri

Packing connections are very important to overcome packaging industry challenges. Packaging industry challenges can be solved when all kinds of packaging companies, packaging professionals connect with each other and they should be very clear and transparent in solving any issue. Packaging connections can bring all packaging companies, packaging professionals and packaging users to one platform to address all theirs issues and challenges.

It is very difficult for any company to satisfy or meet customer expectations. Most of the cases single company cannot cover entire user expectations. Also it is like almost impossible for the small companies to spend good amount to get rich insights of changing customer behavior and their expectations. Participation of the packaging companies, packaging professionals and packaging users in packaging connections can increase the database of packaging companies, packaging professionals and packaging users. This database is always useful for small, medium and all kind of companies. Your packaging connections are the solution for all your packaging challenges.

When packaging professionals and packaging companies can work together they can solve most of the packaging industry challenges. Packaging connections are useful in increasing visibility of the packaging companies as well as packaging professionals because it accommodates both of them.

Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable.

William Pollard

Do we have Innovation DNA to initiate the change which is inevitable?

As per a recent GII (Global Innovation Index) study of 143 countries. The theme for this year’s GII is the ‘Human Factor in Innovation’. The importance of both individual and collective efforts of creators and scientists in the innovation process has been well documented in the literature. Topping the ranks is Switzerland, followed by UK and Sweden. USA at 6, Korea at 16, India at 76.

There is lot to do on innovations and companies across the globe need to gear up and take innovation with more zeal to bring path breakers and Game changer.

We all are just back from on of the biggest innovation shows for packaging Interpack 2014. We invite you all to share your creative DNA with the world and be part of the change. Please send us your innovations, with description and a high resolution picture and we will feature it our Interpack 2014 Innovation report. If you can send samples we would be happy to receive them.

Look forward to your contribution to make a change!

Read the complete GII report: http://www.packagingconnections.com/global-innovation-index-2014.htm

To know more about us:
Corporate presentation - http://www.slideshare.net/pconnections/corporate-profile-presentation-packaging-connections
Video 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpYkPNNc_xQ&feature=youtu.be
Video 2 http://youtu.be/NpgvF5I24RI

Thank you and Enjoy the Wonders Of Packaging!

Amita Venkatesh
Associate – Scientific Affairs & Consultancy

Every business has to focus on Marketing as well as on Innovation. Here we are talking especially about packaging industry. Packaging is the ultimate marketing tool for any product. For retail industry packaging can be a major metric for defining success. If you can launch your product with a very innovative design it gets noticed in very less time. Innovative design also helps in brand promotion too.

Spend extra time on packaging part which helps your marketing campaign too. Your quality packaging conveys the quality of your product. In modern days people more keen on look and feel of the packaging. At the same time your product packaging should be easy to handle and sustainable too.

For example:

• It should not be too big or too small
• It should fit to any retail outlet
• It should be easy to open

 

Targeted Customers: Define, understand & innovate
To make your packaging innovative you need to have very close eye on your competitors. Generally for packaging design you need to keep interests, hobbies and age group of your targeted customers. For younger generation packaging should be fun, eye catchy, for middle age group should be decent & fun and for older people usability is very important thing.

Potential Areas: Identify, Execute & Measure
When you have innovative packaging for your product next you need to identify the potential areas. Here you need to go with some innovative ideas to market your product. Run partnership marketing campaigns.

Packaging plays very important role in marketing and it is the medium between the company and end user. Your packaging spend should be 8 to 10% of the total cost average. The average consumer spends just few seconds in making decision whether to buy your product or not, so your packaging design need to design for targeted users with targeted message.

Always have these questions in mind

• Who is going to buy your product?
• What is their language?
• What kinds of colours and designs are most successful to that demographic area?
• Are the buyers primarily male or female?
• Will they come from younger or old age bracket?
• Is it easy to use or handle?

Packaging designers struggle for several years in making packaging easy to use targeted users. But still they have challenges like

• Child proof
• Sustainability
• Recycling and reusability
• Supply chain
• Storage
• Environmental effects
• Cost efficiency
• Brand promotion

In order to design, we really need to understand the product which it has to contain. Most important thing is to know product and its function then need to design our packaging in a way to deliver our branding.

Packaging innovation is the continuous task for the food manufacturers. 70 to 80% of purchase decisions are made at the point of sale. Always need to follow buyer trends, demands and these are challenging factors for brand owners. Consumer demands and their personal fulfillment is driving food packaging industries. Food packaging need to assure our products to protect, preserve and sustain to atmospheric conditions. Packaging plays very important role as that is the only factor differentiates between two same products in store.

These are the few tips in making food packaging design

• Need to conduct some marketing research analysis, this gives us real and rich data of the consumer behavior
  • Always reach your loyal consumer database about their expectation of the packaging of our product (This applies to already emerged companies)
  • By conduction marketing surveys with reputed agencies
  • Survey should conduct among the online as well as offline communities
• Follow the latest trends like “selfie” (Self-opening, Self-closing, Self-closing etc.,), modified atmosphere packaging etc.,
• Focus on changing consumer habits, personalized packaging, people pleasing packaging etc.,
• Most importantly competitor analysis, have close eye on your top competitors and their innovations, failures, success
• Always have some call to actions on your packaging with that it builds your loyal consumer data base

Today life is more varied with demographics and preferences are more complex. Packaging innovations are continues to evolve with respect to the customer needs. Innovative packaging always first choice for the end user if that come for lesser or same price what he is paying for that same product, but this is biggest challenge for the brand owners.

Upon availability of different innovative packaging in products, end user expectations are increasing. Indirectly end user forcing brand owners towards innovative packaging. This also affects the cost of the packaging materials and as well as packaging machines due to increase in demand. To meet the demands of packaging industries, innovation/invention of high speed packaging machines are mandatory.

"Packaging innovation should not compromise on the quality of the product because quality is the main connection factor between end user and brand owner."

Every research analysis shows that end user satisfaction is the biggest challenge for the packaging industries. Most importantly packaging industries always need to have the details of the brands which were rejected by the consumers because of bad packaging.

Market research analysis, competitor analysis, online & offline surveys helps to greater extent in achieving successful packaging innovations.

With the developments, enhancements, optimizations taking place in packaging designs rapidly the future of packaging designs are more relevant, accurate and more importantly presentation of the packaging design is undoubtedly continue to change.

“Packaging becomes more powerful media between consumers and brand owners. As packaging sits in cup boards, living rooms, bath rooms, bedrooms and every corner of the house”

At the same time never bombard too much information on customer with complex design. Packaging design should be as simple as possible with accurate information of the product & branding. Your packaging design is path to purchase, this rule followed by many smart brands.

After some extent, packaging designs will take technological representation as their main agenda. Only technological development in packaging design can increase customer connectivity at the same time your loyal customer database. Customer database is very important factor in defining your business strategies.

Packaging and Branding teams have to work together to make successful campaigns. Packaging design is no longer about making things stylish or beautiful; it’s all about growth in sales or business. Packaging designers need to consider elements like customer experiences etc., Packaging design would be in simple words “less about selling and more about narrating quality”

Call to actions are very important elements in packaging design and it is the best way to get the accurate information from the end user. Call to actions encourages the end user to do something like leaving feedback, participating in surveys or to find more information about your products.

Call to actions must be compelling, benefit oriented and usually you can add small graphics which narrates what you wanting them to perform. Most important thing is don’t put too many call to actions on your packaging design.

Important elements need to consider while embedding calls to actions on your packaging design

• Placement: Your call to action must be placed in the area where user first glance happens. For example near to price details or near to product details or near to discount offers etc.,
• Size and Shape: Need to design by considering your target audience age group
• Color: It should stand out from the package and should be eye catchy
• Text: Should attract to end user. Using punch lines is better way

Benefits from call to actions on your packaging design

• You can get the end user feedback as well as their expectations. This helps to innovate, enhance and optimize your packaging designs
• You can increase traffic and user engagement of your landing or targeted page. This increase visibility of your other products too
• You can increase your targeted audience database. By this you can directly connect with your customers
• Also call to actions helps in increasing your sales especially for window shoppers

Many organizations and Start-up companies neglect spending valuable time in thinking about embedding their branding in their packaging design. Do you know the importance of branding while promoting or launching of your product? Branding goes way beyond just a logo or graphic element. Branding is directly proportional to your marketing strategy.

Your packaging design must be all about addressing customer experiences. In most of the cases brand owners don’t receive complete mileage from their packaging design because of improper research on their targeted audience. Your packaging design is medium between you and external world.

When your brand connects with your end users, it resides in their mind and heart. It’s very important to spend time on investing in defining, researching and to building your packaging design. For successful branding on your packaging design you must understand the needs and wants of your end users.

Building an effective packaging design is all about building a story that can connect your targeted audience.

A good and effective packaging design can

• Enable customers to remember your products
• Helps in brand recognition
• Sets you apart from the competition
• Generate referrals
• Build customer loyalty and lead to repeat purchases

Most of the times it’s very difficult for the brand owners to develop effective call to actions on their packaging designs. In this article will look into some specific technologies that can help brand owners to develop a powerful call to actions.

QR Codes
QR code is the two dimensional barcode. This is machine readable label that contains information about your product or you can add any call to action to it. Nowadays everyone is using smart phones and most of their day to day activities are connected to their phones. If your intension is to attract the visitor to participate in any survey, that link we can add to that particular QR code of your product. Remember at the same times surveys should be very simple and effective.

You can find QR code generators here: http://goo.gl/h2ONSu

Technologies to authenticate as well to connect your customers

There are lot of technologies available in the market which can increase your brand identity, brand protection and brand promotion. By using authentication technologies you avoid counterfeits and at the same time you can directly connect with your loyal customers. These technologies can provide consumers extra facility in authenticating product at their purchase point itself.

You can find few technologies here: http://goo.gl/NSzCmT

What is oxo biodegradation? The term ‘oxo-biodegradation’ is a hybridization of two words, oxidation and biodegradation. It defines clearly a two-step process initiated in by the additive to degrade the polymer chain (break up) and make it available for biodegradation within the environment when a treated item has finished its useful life. The phase of oxidation reduces the molecular weight and introduces oxygen into the structure. This process transforms the polymer from long strands to much smaller lengths. By reducing the chain length of the polymer the material loses its physical strength and elongation properties making it brittle and none ‘plastic’. The biodegradation aspect refers to the conversion of these lower molecular weight species by bacteria into biomass, CO₂ and H₂O in an aerobic environment, or in the case of an anaerobic environment, CH₄. Biodegradation can only occur in environments that have warmth, bacterial activity and moisture. This fact is often overlooked when marketing oxo-biodegradable materials.   Oxo biodegradation technology: A very small amount of oxo biodegradable additive is put into the manufacturing process. This breaks the molecular chains in the polymer, and at the end of its useful life the product falls apart. The plastic does not just fragment, but will be consumed by bacteria and fungi after the additive has reduced the molecular weight to a level (below 5000) which permits micro-organisms access to the carbon and hydrogen. Oxo-biodegradable products do not degrade immediately in an open environment because they are stabilized to give the product a useful service-life. Why do we need oxo biodegradable packaging? Thousands of tons of plastic waste enter the world's environment every day, and will remain there for hundreds of years, unless collected for incineration. The oxo-biodegradable process provides an alternative to prohibiting plastic by providing the most effective method of plastic disposal without damaging the environment. The oxo-biodegradation option that uses oil or natural gas by-products, provides several advantages over the alternative, hydro-biodegradability that uses vegetable products such as starch. Packaging is one of the largest industry sectors in the world, worth several billions. Oxo biodegradable packaging represents a meager percentage of this huge market. Oxo biodegradable packaging plays an important role in the packaging industry due to the ever increasing consumer awareness and importance of using eco-friendly, biodegradable packaging materials instead of conventional non biodegradable ones. Not only can switching to oxo biodegradable packaging help to distinguish your product, it can also increase brand recognition and build loyalty with the increasing number of environmentally aware consumers. The introduction of oxo biodegradable packaging across your product range is also a great opportunity to demonstrate to your customers that your brand is committed to a more sustainable environment. An increasing number of forward-thinking business owners are turning to oxo biodegradable packaging as an environmentally responsible alternative to conventional plastic.   Importance of the right oxo biodegradable additive To make ordinary plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene oxo biodegradable, you add a prodegradant additive, during the extrusion stage. No re-tooling at the factory is necessary and no alterations to the existing supply chain. Use Oxo biodegradable additive based on transition metal ions of cobalt or iron or manganese, which are trace elements required in the human det. It is not advisable to use the oxo biodegradable additive based on heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and chromium. Use oxo biodegrdable additive which is harmless, safe for food contact and with harmless residue. Oxo-bio additives use a transition metal salt as a catalyst. This will be triggered into catalytic action very easily, and this is a great asset when degradation is required. However, premature degradation would be extremely unhelpful. The solution is to balance special stabilizers in the additive that will restrain the catalyst during processing and use, yet allow the plastic fragments, which grow ever smaller, will join the trillions of other particles in the soil and oceans, where they are bio assimilated. Applications

• Carrier bags or "shopper-bags" which consumers use to take away their purchases from the shop
• Aprons, for the protection of garments, in the home, hospitals, restaurants, workshops etc.
• Bags to contain dog feces collected in parks, gardens, etc.
• Rigid products such as bottles and cups
• Mulch films
• Aprons, for the protection of garments, in the home, hospitals, restaurants, workshops
• Gloves
• Bin liners
• Plastic sheeting for a variety of applications in agriculture and horticulture
• Plastic film for wrapping newspapers and magazines
• Bread bags
• Frozen food bags
• Wrappers for cigarette packets
• Shrink-wrap and pallet-wrap
• Bubble-wrap

 

Author Mercy P. Bulsari Polymer Technologist Member- International Committee, Plast India Foundation Member – Indian Plastics Institute (IPI) Email: mbulsari5@gmail.com

I was in a test laboratory for some project research. While witnessing the tests being performed, I noticed a peculiar way of using syringes.

The person took blood samples from the syringe and then burnt it on some equipment that was placed on the adjacent table. Ofcourse this was perfectly fine to destroy the needle after usage. Though during peak hours when there are lot of patients waiting to get their tests done, it happened that the used syringe was kept on the table without getting burned. Don’t you think this few seconds time saving may turn to a hazard for the person or patients even? YES and we call it Needle Stick Injury - defined as the accidental puncture of the skin by a needle during a medical intervention

Accidental exposure to blood caused by needle injuries may carry the risk of infection by blood-borne viruses.

Accidental contact may occur-

·         During re-capping

·         When an uncapped needle has ended up in bed linen, surgery clothing etc

·         When taking an unsheathed used needle to the waste container

·         During the cleaning up and transporting of waste material

I was reading on internet ways to avoid this injury and found that “the single most important measure to prevent needlestick injury is to not put the used needle back in its original cover; re-capping and re-sheathing must be avoided. Instead at most of the places, rigid puncture-proof containers are being used. Make sure the container is always at hand”

Well OK, these containers are effectively doing their work since many years.

• But what if the containers are not available at hand?
• What if there are multiple rooms in a testing lab and only few containers are available?
• What if person is too busy to throw the needle in the container placed at a distance?
• And what about the investment in installing these containers in every testing rooms?
• There are so many ifs and buts and we know that ‘no-error places’ where HACCP is being followed are not everywhere.

Got to know about this product which is actually a label and thus is in integral part of the syringe itself – Needle Trap

This is an innovative product which is cost effective alternative for pre-filled syringes, which helps protect healthcare professionals from needlestick injuries

This is unique since the safety mechanism is an integral component of the label. No external containers, no table top equipment required for destroying the needles.

As a packaging technologist, we may think that the production of such syringes with label is a difficult task and may involve huge investment in new machinery. But actually this is not required.  The product may be easily integrated in the existing process and is adaptable to all standard syringe dimensions. This gives a significant cost reduction due to simple design compared with conventional needle protection systems

Product details at - http://www.packagingconnections.com/schreiner/

This is widely used in European pharma companies but the technology is still in nascent stages in developing countries