Page 233 - DMGT523_LOGISTICS_AND_SUPPLY_CHAIN_MANAGEMENT

Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Notes 10.2.1 Kinds of Packaging

Depending on the use of packaging materials, the packaging for export products can be classified
into the following categories:

Plastic Packaging

The various kinds of plastic materials are used for packaging of the export products. The most
common plastic materials used for packaging are polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
Polyethylene film has two main varieties of consumer packaging namely, low density
polyethylene (PE-LD) film and high-density polyethylene (PE-HD).
PE-LD film is used for making plastic bags, shrink wrapping and stretch wrapping. This film is
very useful to provide protection against moisture and dirt. It does not however, provide any
mechanical protection. The exporters can use the plastic bags made of PE-LD films for wrapping
articles to package products like T-shirts, table cloths, napkins, leather hand bags etc. These products
are placed inside the plastic bags, which are transparent and are suited for retail display.
In shrink-wrapping, a specially treated film is loosely wrapped around the product(s) and then
shrunk with heat to form a tight package. This kind of wrapping is suitable for solid products
like sets of drinking glasses, a group of egg-cups, sets of table mates and so on.
In stretch wrapping, a thin film is tightly wound around the product, often in several layers.
When the wrap is completed, the stretched film tries to return to its original size, thereby
holding the product or group of products tightly in place.
PE-HD is also used for making plastic bags because it provides better resistance against moisture
and fats than PE-LD. PE-HD is more expensive than the PE-LD. Both the forms of plastic films are
environment friendly as they are easy to recycle.
The PP films are stronger than the PE films. It is better to use bags made of PP films for packaging
textiles and garments as these can be printed or can be used in plain form as well. PP films are
better than PE films in terms of providing better moisture protection but these films are more
expensive. Another alternative to PP films is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material.

!
Caution But from environmental point of view, PVE materials should not be used, as these
are not recyclable.

Plastic boxes can be used especially as retail packages for jewellery and other small, precious
products. They are also well-suited to add appeal to products such as embroidered handkerchiefs
or tablecloths, souvenir dolls, etc. They come in square, oval or round shapes; printed or plain.
Paper Based Packaging

Paper based materials are used as wrapping, as paperboard cartons or corrugated fibreboard
boxes. The various types of paper can be coated with plastics, waxed or treated with anti corrosion
agents. Paper is either produced from virgin wood fibres or recycled fibres. The former is
stronger than the latter.
Paper wrappings provide protection against dust and light, but do not provide mechanical
protection.
Paper absorbs moisture when the surrounding air is more humid than the paper, and it gives up,
moisture when the surroundings are drier. Thus, paper wrappings can be used to some extent as

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