Primary vs. Secondary Packaging
Packaging is an umbrella term that includes products and solutions that serve different purposes in displaying and transporting products. In the world of branding and packaging, there are key differences between primary and secondary packaging. Understanding various types of packaging solutions and their applications is essential. Depending on the type of packaging you use, you can protect your product, display product information, extend your product’s shelf life, promote your brand and optimize your shelf presence.
Whether you’re launching a new product that’s almost ready to go to market or you’re revamping and rebranding an old one, there’s no denying that packaging matters.
Primary Packaging
Primary packaging is the immediate layer of packaging that contacts the product. Primary packaging is essential for containing, preserving and making products. One of the most important considerations when designing or choosing your primary packaging is how it can make your product more practical and usable for customers. For example, the primary packaging for a food item may contain various small elements like seals designed to preserve the freshness or integrity of the product.
Examples of primary packaging include:
- Bottles made from various materials like plastics for sodas or glass for perfume.
- Cans for food and beverages.
- Tubes for items like toothpaste or makeup.
- Cartons for products like milk.
- Blister packs for pharmaceutical products.
Choosing the right primary packaging is essential since it influences the perception of your brand and can affect purchasing decisions. It can also enhance product usability and boost customer satisfaction.
Secondary Packaging
Secondary packaging is a second layer of packaging you can customize for branding, organizing various components of the product and primary packaging or for relaying product information and instructions. The main difference between primary and secondary packaging is that primary packaging encloses a product, and secondary packaging is used for branding or for shipping, protection or consolidation purposes.
Examples of secondary packaging include:
- Corrugated cardboard boxes
- Crates and trays
- Cartons
- Chipboard boxes, such as those around a 12-pack of soda
- Shrink wraps
- Paperboard enclosures
Secondary packaging isn’t always necessary, particularly when it comes to single items, such as large bottles of vitamins. However, some manufacturers still choose to add secondary packaging to individual items for added protection or for marketing or regulatory purposes. Secondary packaging can be effective for branding as you can use it as a canvas for your product and customize it with your brand colors or by printing your logo or slogan on the packaging.
If secondary packaging is for individual items or bulk packages of an item, it’s important to design packaging with consumers’ needs in mind. Of course, if its purpose is simply to enclose multiple units of primary packages, it still needs to be designed with the consumer in mind. Whether you use primary packaging alone or with secondary packaging, your goal is to make it as easy and convenient as possible while keeping safety, freshness and quality control in mind.
What Is Tertiary Packaging?
The third level of packaging is designed to protect your products for storage or shipment. Tertiary packaging protects the product and the primary and secondary packaging. It can also help with handling and inventory by containing helpful information and labeling. It is important to note that customers generally do not see your product’s tertiary packaging — retailers remove it before displaying your products on their shelves.
Examples of tertiary packaging include stretch wraps, big cardboard boxes, plastic and pallets.
How to Choose the Right Packaging
For most products, you need all three types of packaging, but there are factors you can consider for all types when choosing the right packaging:
- Choose packaging for your industry: Always choose packaging according to your product’s industry. For example, if you make food items, your packaging — especially the primary packaging — needs to be food-safe. Another example is cosmetics — you need special packaging that will not react with your product.
- Go for custom solutions: Packaging should always fit your product’s unique size, weight and materials. Packaging sizes should fit your products well, no matter the product’s dimensions. Custom packaging solutions help you get the best fit for your product and help make your product more sustainable by eliminating unnecessary waste from choosing stock options that do not necessarily fit your needs.
- Consider the supply chain: Are you selling your products directly to customers, or does a retailer stock your item? How your product moves through the supply chain can impact what sort of packaging you use, as it can affect storage, handling and shipment.
Custom Packaging Solutions From Creative Designs Now!
The right packaging has a significant impact on how your brand protects, stores and ships your products. Packaging also leaves an impression on your customers and influences their perception of your product and their buying decisions.
If you’re searching for primary packaging or secondary packaging, Creative Displays Now is here to answer all your questions and give you the expertise and guidance you’ve been looking for. To complement our primary packaging services, we also offer our customers secondary packaging solutions from our partner site, Custom Boxes Now. Reach out or call us at 1-855-284-6922 today to learn more about how we can help you solve your packaging concerns.
