The Issue of the Sustainability in Packaging Dissertation
The main reason for packaging is to protect and contain the commodity among others such as selling and control functions. Sustainability is a key aspect of any product and when it comes to the specific goal of packaging, it is highly necessary. When a product is manufactured, a lot of things have to be considered(Yams, 2009, p.104). This, therefore, means it is from the very beginning when the product is just raw material to the point where it has to be disposed of after the consumer is finished with it. Here comes the matter of sustainability in packaging which is very important, especially for pharmaceutical, nutritional and health care companies. Sustainable packaging comes hand in hand with the rapid rate of globalization which is completely changing the business environment.
With sustainable packaging, it is possible to use all the resources effectively instead of having them thrown away to waste. The reduction of the amount of waste in packaging is, therefore, a great opportunity. Many possible options are actually in use like the films and wraps that keep the packaging compact and also sustainable when the material used is right. The aim is usually to have environmentally friendly packaging as well as serve the purpose of packaging it was designed for.
Packaging is a unique way of providing the necessary product in such a way that it will last longer or in other words sustain. The main objective is nothing other than to refrain from wasting precious resources and to manage them and use them effectively and efficiently (ITW Packaging Solutions, n.d.). The simple motto do more with less will be the best way to describe sustainability. That means to use the resources stringently but to do as much as possible with them. Research has indicated that minimal alterations in the packaging operations lead to overwhelming benefits in the bottom line. When they get that right, then sustainability will no longer be an issue at all.
It is not necessary that we consider sustainability for the sake of other animals and plants and also the earth(US Environmental Protection Agency, 2004, p.1). The simple way to consider it would be by thinking of our future. The changing world comes in handy with a package of negative impacts on the environment especially the natural ecosystems. Without sustainability in packaging, a lot of resources and food, and other such things go to waste and thus posing a threat to all our lives (Landor, n.d.). This is a simple reason for us to seriously think about packaging and the sustainability it offers. It is because of this that the green revolution has spotted packaging as one of its major points (Franklin, 2004, p.3). Going green is not only an environmental benefit but also a . All these are done in a bid to achieve eco-friendly, biodegradable, and sustainable packaging. This paper critically looks at the quality of design that will enhance the sustainability of packaging materials. A comparison of sustainable packages from different countries will also be made. In other words, it is comprehensive research on the importance and ways of increasing sustainability in packaging.
Quality of Design and Sustainability
Elaborate package design is one of the essential aspects of successful business strategies. This is because; product packaging and design reinforce the first impression to a potential customer regarding a given product (Willard, 2002, p.53). It is therefore important that the first impression about design should precisely reflect the product. Besides, it is significant for a package to provide customers with the necessary product information they need. This will inspire them to make a purchase. Impeccable product design and packaging can be a perplexing task; however, if a business designs most of the work, it can be guaranteed the package will reflect the taste it needs and appeal to a customer as well (Willard, 2002, p.66). Besides, if a business faces a challenge in forming a fitting idea in design, consulting a product packaging and design professional should be considered.
Quality of product design is aimed at containing and communicating the product information. In containing and communicating product information, a correct Packaging Mix has to be embraced and fixed (Bhamra and Lofthouse, 2007, p. 73). The product mix is the result of many needs that strives to control how a product package performs the roles of containing and communicating (Abraham, 2006, p.97). To ensure quality and efficiency are settled and the right mix is achieved, a package design should be able to; safeguard the product, assist the user in using the product, give reusable choices to a consumer, meet legal needs, and reduces linked overheads. Besides the quality of the package, the design can be improved by analyzing two criteria that enhance its appeal. These criteria are the sales and functional needs of a package. Sales requirement is important in product packaging. The product should be designed in a form that motivates and inspires the end-user (Novacovici and Woofter, 2006, p.91). Design qualities such as , clear size, an imprint of quality, and brand name legibility should be factored in. Also, a product should incorporate functional requirements such as; home, warehouse, distribution, safety, and legal criteria. In-home requirements, design should direct the convenience of using and storing the product (Estes, 2009, p.58). Additionally, it should inform customers how to safely and effectively use the product.
Graphic design is an innovative process that involves a client and a designer to complete a given form or a design project (Estes, 2009, p.88). Graphic design is undertaken to pass a concise message to a targeted group of audience. Graphic designers may wish to use various artistic methods such as visual art, typography, and page layout to come up with a final product (Maczulak, 2009, p.79). Examples of where graphic design is commonly applied include branding and logos, website publication, product packaging, and advertisement among other fields. Product packaging may encompass such aspects as; components of shapes, pure design, artwork, colors, symbols, or amalgamation of all these components to form a complete whole. Composition is an important constituent of graphic design element which is applied when using preexisting materials or varied elements (Maczulak, 2009, p.96).
Sustainability in packaging has been put into consideration by most manufacturers(Jedlicka, 2008, p.32). Results issued out by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) in collaboration with the Packaging Digest magazine after conducting a survey indicated that a large percentage of the interviewed population confessed that most companies emphasized sustainable packaging. This gives a clear indication that the world is moving in the right direction in terms of sustainable packaging. Most industries in the packaging sector try by all means to even recycle their waste to recover costs but majorly to protect the environment.
Conclusion
The role of packaging is to protect items while distributing them to prospective consumers(Haulwen, 2009, p.1). It can therefore be used to develop the sustainability of the supply chain. The of packaging can be minimized by reducing the dependency on nonrenewable resources, minimizing total resource use, , and minimizing energy use (Baldwin, 2009, p. 113). The packaging design incorporates life cycle inventory and the which eventually lead to the production of environmentally friendly packaging. This is because the major precaution that should be taken when designing packaging is its long-term effect on the environment. It is for this reason that most of the synthetic polymers used as packaging material have been replaced by biodegradable materials.
Sustainability influences how business enhances the power of packaging to ensure costs are kept at minimal at the same time delivering beneficial results to customers. Besides, the choice of biodegradable materials should encourage environmental friendly such as recyclability. Sustainability packaging favors cost-cutting and ensures reliability and efficiency unlike other conventional methods of packaging. After this dissertation, I will have gained enough knowledge and experience in different packaging materials. This knowledge is very important to both the manufacturers and consumers of different commodities. The consumers will be able to specifically identify genuine packaging materials by preventing them from the ambiguous and confusing titles like green packaging and environmental friendly that are usually printed on most commodities. The manufacturers will have the benefit of being able to acquire genuine packaging materials from the packaging industries. This will in turn have a positive impact on increasing sales since the consumers will have trust in such manufacturers.
Conclusion
It can therefore be concluded that the issue of sustainability in packaging is of global concern. Companies that have the environmental policy, therefore, have a good reputation among their customers as well as throughout the entire universe. Going green is a decision that is worth making as it pays off, whether directly or indirectly. All in the entire most important thing is to protect the environment while providing the best services ever.
