Packaging by definition is the science, art and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale and use. Thus it has 2 major purposes to serve:
i. Protecting the product
ii. Thus increasing the sustainability of the product through transit
The protection of the product will depend of its size, shape, durability, brittleness and fragility. The other major factors out of many that may affect the same are Vibration, atmospheric damage and Shock (we call it ‘VAS’). The effect of shock & vibration caused during shipping can result in serious product damage.
The more the effect of VAS is controlled, the better it ensures that the customer or the consumer opens the parcel or the product with a SMILE. With the change in the thought process of the industries from being product focused to consumer focused, it is all the more important for the organizations to make sure they create the SMILE effect.
Need Is the Mother of All Inventions
The normal trend in any industry that used to continue from ages changed with the onset of E-commerce. From receiving a laptop directly at your home to getting the most intricate piece of jewellery delivered to you to ordering your daily needs and receiving them at your doorstep, everything is just a click away. Shipping and handling can cause various forms of bruises and cuts/ scratches on the products which compromises its quality, aesthetic appeal and reduces its economic value to the manufacturer/ retailer/ consumer.There are various modes of transportation in the growing international trade that requires inter-modal shipments over land, sea and air. This is also attributed to the fact that trucks are used in most cases as the first mode of transportation from the field or packing house to the retail distribution centre. So is the need of having a packaging that can eliminate the VAS effect completely and get a complete same and intact product delivered creating the SMILE effect.
Thus the SMILE effect became the key driver not only in the development of the product packaging but also led to a lot of advancements in protective packaging industry. With the high level of variance in the kinds of products that can be accessed and bought through E-commerce, imposed protective packaging as the best option to fit in maximum number of products with the same outer. Thus, protective packaging became a practice that enabled the SMILE effect, despite of moving products across miles.
Market dynamics
A lot of research agencies have been concentrating on the protective packaging segment and trying to analyze the trends. Varied reports are available on the internet regarding the growth of this particular segment.
As per one report: Protective packaging as a market is one of the fast growing markets in the business scenario. The protective packaging market was valued at USD 23.51 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach a value of USD 30.96 billion by 2023 at a CAGR of 4.70 %, over the forecast period (2018-2023).
While another one mentions: Global demand for protective packaging is projected to increase 6.5% per year to $33.5 billion in 2021.In overall terms, this is roughly a continuation of the growth registered during the 2011-2016 period.
One more: The global protective packaging market is expected to reach USD 44.6 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 5.6%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing demand from various end-use industries has been a key factor driving market growth globally.
The common thread with all the reports worldwide conclude that the protective packaging market is going to see a steady growth for the years to come and will also see a lot of advancement on the product and technology fronts.
E-commerce is a major reason to boost demand for product segments, such as air pillows, paper padding, bubble wraps, etc. The significant growth in the number of e-commerce platforms has increased focus on enhancing the existing packaging techniques which help them retain their customer base.
If we look at the market sizes, the European market has the largest market share, followed by North America and Asia Pacific. The Asia/Pacific region will continue to grow and the growth will be faster than that seen in the 2011-2016 period for Eastern and Western Europe, Central and South America and the Africa/Mideast region.
Evolving Market Needs:
Well, while protective packaging will always go that extra mile to address every industry need – the real question that comes to the forefront – how does one standardize packaging to be able to achieve a single but customized design. The 4 major factors for achieving the desired results were:
1. Void fills – filling the empty space in the outers
2. Block and brace – holding the product in its place and avoiding friction
3. Cushioning – 360° protection
4. Surface protection – making sure that the product surface is not damaged.
This is where the STOROpack expertise stepped in. The concept of “Flexibility” came to life. Our products are not only technically sound and cost effective but also demonstrate good ergonomics for efficient working.
Protective packaging at STOROpack now comprises of various options customizable to every need.
1. Food for Packaging: Loose Fills: PELASPAN® BIO
Made from vegetable starch – this biodegradable product is what we call – the food for packaging. The ability of PELASPAN® BIO to absorb and eliminate VAS makes it a perfect solution for transferring products with high levels of ‘fragility’. A delicate vase or an expensive crockery set or be it a piece of intrinsic jewellery, PELASPAN® BIO will be able to generate the SMILE effect.
STOROpack Loose Fill offers safe, efficient, and versatile all-around protection for your shipping goods. It fills voids, effectively blocks and braces products inside the carton, and is exceptionally resistant to shocks and high pressure. Loose Fill products are recyclable, antistatic, pourable, and therefore ideal for automated packaging lines.
Our PELASPAN® BIO is certified in accordance with the DIN EN 13432 composting standard. The packaging chips are made entirely from cornstarch and can be disposed of with the normal household trash. Due to their tried-and-tested S-shape, the organic packaging peanuts interlock to create a coherent cushion that blocks, braces, and stabilizes your goods and prevents them from knocking against each other. They’re also odorless and attract next to no dust.
2. The safe cushioning: Air Pillows: AIRplus®
Light on weight and high on volume covered, AIRplus® is the most suitable way of filling in large void spaces and cushioning. It is the most simple and cost effective solution to most of the protective packaging requirements. Perfect for shipping small items in large outers. A popular product in the E-commerce circles for the cost-efficiency it offers.
Our range of air cushions have been designed to protect your products perfectly during transportation. The light weight, easy to use air pillows address many cushioning, void fill and wrapping needs and are comparable to bubble.
AIRplus® air pillows provide a durable block and brace product and a reliable cushioning material for light to medium weight products. The lightweight properties of the air pillows reduce shipping costs and because the air cushions are produced on demand they require minimal storage space.
3. Cost Minus by PAPERplus® – Paper pad packaging
A product that is cost effective as well as material effective. Paper being a bio degradable material makes PAPERplus® an eco friendly solution to your packaging needs. Ideal for situations where friction needs to be avoided or products that are high on Brittleness makes PAPERplus® a widely acceptable product across industries. Heavy machinery or glass bottles – PAPERplus® can hold it all together.
Also with the current Plastic ban taking a hike in affecting the choices of organizations and PAPERplus® is the perfect 360 degree solution for it.
Our paper packaging machines provide exceptionally flexible and eco-friendly paper padding. The on-demand systems are easy to operate and generate kraft paper packaging that is perfect for packing products.
Our product PAPERplus® creates paper padding through paper packaging machines that have been developed with automation and Working Comfort® in mind. A semi or fully automated paper packaging machine will improve ergonomics at the packaging station, increase warehouse efficiencies and help minimize costs.
Case study
One of the largest geared motor manufacturer in India, was looking forward to an eco friendly packaging which can also be cost efficient, should demonstrates work ergonomics and have high safety levels.
The solution provided was STOROpack – PAPERplus®. PAPERplus® paper padding offered strength and durability, which was needed for stabilising and fixing heavy objects, as well as the volume necessary for providing excellent padding and void-fill packaging.
Advantages of PAPERplus® at a glance:
• Strong padding and protective effect
• High stability of the pads
• Recyclable
• Paper saving pads
Results achieved
• Average 23% cost reduction achieved.
• 360º optimum protection.
• PPS pads are generated from paper so there is no health related hazard.
• Eco-friendly packaging solution.
• Easy to use.
This is how organizations create value with the help of STOROpack’s protective packaging solutions.
Manager Marketing,
Storopack India Private Limited
