The Art of Package Design

STRUCTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY
shaped plastic packaging is part of a brand strategy and increases
brand awareness on the shelf. Plastic packaging can be screen
printed directly on the plastic or have a label applied.
Different resins are used in the manufacture of plastics and
these are represented by a number on the package. This number
is surrounded by the continuous arrow (recycling) and it does
not indicate the number of times it can be recycled. It is simply
to identify the resin to enable easier sorting when processing
recycled plastics.
Bioplastics are made from renewable plant resources such as
corn, potato, soy, etc. They are easily renewable because they are
not petroleum-based.
Glass is a material that is widely used in packaging. Similar
to plastics, it can be shaped and formed into distinctive shapes.
Its advantage over plastic is that it will not interact with the
products it contains. The downside is that it is more fragile in
shipping and requires extra protection and packing. It also costs
more to manufacture than plastic and because it is heavier, adds
to shipping costs. But the perception is that products look, smell
and taste better in glass packages.
Metal packaging is made of tin, aluminum or steel. It is inexpensive
to produce and is used for beverages, aerosols, paints,
health and beauty items, and food packaging (aluminum foil
containers).
Consumer awareness is building on the use of sustainable
materials in packaging. Some manufacturers are making dubious
claims about sustainability on their packages (referred to as
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