Packaging

Technology is enabling items to reach our homes faster as time goes by. Almost anything we desire or require is just a few taps away. From food to shoes, tickets to taxis; everything is just a few taps away. There are many forms of commerce, such as online marketplaces, stores, restaurants, and many others, that are constantly pushing the boundaries in the realm of fulfilment, striving to make this experience as seamless as possible. By creating a wave, it has inspired smaller entities/individuals/suppliers to adapt to the digital age and to become a part of this accepted reality. More than ever, people are buying online at local markets rather than in-store. According to an analysis by Slice Intelligence, e-commerce has increased thanks to same-day delivery offers and the convenience of shopping from home, with an increase of nearly 25% over the past year. Our neighbourhoods and cities order millions of such packages every day. Our products/food/articles travel more than us, creating importance for - its visuals, safety and brand identity, all in all, the packaging design. “Packaging is the preparation of a product or commodity for proper storage and/or transportation. It may entail blocking, bracing, cushioning, marking, sealing, strapping, weatherproofing, wrapping, etc.” – Business Dictionary Types of packaging The process of designing, evaluating, and producing a package leads to a package. Enclosing and protecting products is the practice of distributing, storing, using, and selling them. Packaging can be described as a coordinated system of preparing goods for transport, warehousing, logistics, and sale. The system of packaging contains protects, preserves, transports, informs and sells. Many countries have fully integrated it into their governments, businesses, institutions, industries, and personal lives. A lot of companies use packaging to engage with customers and build visual relationships. Packaging can be of three types. Img 2: Three stages of product packaging (Credits: Cartier) Primary Packaging - This is packaging that is utilized by entrepreneurs to promote the product to the end customers. Secondary Packaging - This is the packaging used for the transportation of the product from one location to another. Tertiary or transit Packaging - It is used for bulk handling, warehouse garage and shipping. The maximum not unusual shape is a palletized unit load that packs tightly into containers. Environmental impact of packaging Whether considered "environmentally friendly" or not, all packaging has an impact on the environment, whether directly or indirectly. Natural resources (needed for raw materials and to drive package manufacture and delivery) ensure that even biodegradable products come at a cost to the environment. Overcrowding landfills, greenhouse gas emissions, and litter pollution are all directly caused by packaging (both on land and in the ocean). The manner in which packaging is disposed of is at the heart of ecological concerns concerning its nature and impact on planetary health. Unfortunately, many modern packaged products are only intended for one-time use and are frequently thrown once their purpose has been met. This implies that the majority of packages are thrown away and either buried in landfills or blown away by wind or water and released into the environment. As per anthropologists, the environment is edging towards an Anthropocene-an epoch dating from the commencement of significant human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems and the methodologies/materials used for parcels/packages are estimated to contribute more than ever in this epoch. How can we prevent at least half of this unsustainable waste? Can we invent and implement different packaging designs through experimentation with materials and design thinking? There are already a few alternative ideas and processes that have been developed and thought of in recent years. First, businesses and businesses may be asked to reduce the number of packages they use. This should include considering alternative options and thinking critically about how to make better choices when it comes to how products are packaged and shipped. As for the material itself, increasing the recycled content of the package and using recycled materials as much as possible is a big step forward. This not only reduces the amount of packaging that is ultimately landfilled by giving new life to the landfill but also reduces the number of manufacturing by-products produced each time. Taking these processes forward, can we as designers rethink the established concepts of packaging? Img 3: Biopack by moss and fog encouraging eco-friendly packaging (Credits: Moss and Fog) Design Competitions Packaging design is important not only for the product's safety and lifespan but also represents the brand and its identity. Effective packaging entices and stimulates, and also creates avenues for nonverbal communication. When creating packaging, it's important to consider not only the product's identity, but also its usefulness, the experience it provides, the novelty it provides, and what it communicates. Surprisingly, architecture is another method people attempt to channel similar ideas. The packaging design is the first thing a customer notices, even before the product. Every day, the globe needs a large number of shipments. Consequently, options that lessen environmental effects while also improving the experience are becoming increasingly significant. To research, apply and learn about these options can we encourage professional students of design and architecture to contribute packaging ideas to challenges that seek change? Can we through design competitions contribute sustainable methods to improve and understand the importance of product packaging? Explore more projects in Packaging: UNI Design Competitions UNI is a global network of architects and designers who are solving some of the most challenging problems around the globe. UNI brings together the world's largest pool of design challenges that are curated by the finest architecture academicians and professionals globally. Since 2017, UNI has hosted more than 200+ architecture competitions for various idea level to realization level briefs. In the past, UNI has helped 50+ organizations, universities, and government bodies to use our platform to generate architecture and design solutions through competitions. Discover other competitions: https://uni.xyz/competitions