| Where packaging came from: | | | | century consumerism was becoming tempered by |
| Packaging, according to the Oxford English dictionary, | | | | growing environmental concerns which led to the |
| is a noun, meaning ‘materials used to wrap or | | | | introduction of recycling schemes for bottles, cans |
| protect goods’. | | | | and paper packaging. |
| End-user or consumer packaging is a relatively new | | | | Where packaging is going: |
| phenomenon. In the 1700’s and earlier, packaging | | | | Today, governments and companies are focused on |
| was mainly used within shipping, for containment of | | | | reducing CO2 emissions and carbon footprint. This |
| materials. Protection or preservation of goods was | | | | calls for everyone to be responsible with their use of |
| minimal. | | | | packaging and we would suggest taking the following |
| However, in the 1800’s, the industrial revolution | | | | steps, where possible: |
| and innovation in packaging machinery led to an | | | | - Cut out unnecessary packaging |
| explosion in packaging usage. Metal cans were seen | | | | - Substitute packaging with recycled and recyclable |
| from 1810 and early forms of boxes and cartons | | | | packaging where possible |
| began to be mass produced in the mid to late 19th | | | | - Reuse packaging and pass it on where possible |
| century. Shopping bags became common as | | | | Many companies are spending a lot of time, money |
| bag-making and other packaging machinery was | | | | and effort calculating their CO2 emissions and |
| developed. | | | | working with suppliers such as Davpack to reduce |
| Going into the 1900’s, packaging began to be | | | | their carbon footprint and packaging waste. |
| used for marketing. It quickly became a differentiator | | | | We are also actively encouraging companies to reuse |
| between competitors and was used to communicate | | | | packaging materials and choose ‘greener’ |
| branding, quality, reliability and other important | | | | options where economically viable. See our series of |
| product attributes. Point-of-sale material and display | | | | articles suggesting ways to reuse common packaging |
| packaging became a natural extension. After the | | | | items such as jiffy mailing bags, cardboard boxes, |
| Second World War, packaging was considered a | | | | postal boxes, bubble wrap and tissue paper |
| major marketing and advertising medium. | | | | “As a specialist packaging supplies company we |
| As convenience began to dominate consumer needs | | | | believe we have a duty to encourage Customers to |
| and aspirations, supermarket shopping and | | | | give greater thought to the packaging they buy and |
| convenience foods emerged. Pre-packed products | | | | make better use of the packaging materials they |
| took off and drove further packaging use and | | | | retain. |
| innovation. However, towards the end of the 20th | | | | |