Packaging entails one of the most important parts of the construct of logistics management, especially within the retail supply chain. The construct of packaging is derived from the need for efficiency and effectiveness in the movement of goods across the production and supply chain. The interaction between packaging and logistics activities are dependent on the understanding of the supply chain environment. Therein, imperative to the design and level of packaging is the presence of the logistics environment through which the products pass. For instance, the logistics environment is determined by the equipment and modes of transport available for the movement of goods in the supply chain. Therein, knowledge of that environment determines the level of packaging to provide for the efficiency and effectiveness of the system. Similarly, the overall packaging system ought to acknowledge the physical environment as determined by the initial mapping of the logistics activities. Knowledge of the packaging environment, therefore, ought to be based on the understanding of the supply chain environment in the determination of the levels of packaging (Saghir, 2004) . For instance, depending on the physical and logistics environment in the supply chain, primary, secondary and tertiary packaging are contemplated. The levels of packaging reflect the physical environment while acknowledging the implications of the logistics activities involved in the process.
Stemming from the growing and competitive markets, packaging of products determines the efficiency through which logistics activities contribute to the effectiveness of the supply chain. Secondary packaging plays a vital role in the process. Forming the second level of packaging, its purpose is derived from both logistics and marketing perspectives. Secondary packaging is not in direct contact with the product but rather plays a protective role in the product. There exists a variety of functions of secondary packaging in both the marketing and logistics perspective. The primary role of logistics activities is to ensure that products reach the consumer in the right conditions free from damage and tampering (Hellström and Saghir, 2007). Therefore, complementing the purpose of primary packaging, secondary packaging acts as a second layer of protection of the product from damage. Depending on the product and the materials used at this level, secondary packaging protects the product from environmental entities such as physical damage as well as product quality.
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Secondly, movement of products along the supply chain requires various levels of handing, and therefore secondary packaging effectively provides handling assistance. Movement of single products across the supply chain can prove to be tedious and increases the risk of raising the cost of logistics activities. Through clustering of products in secondary packaging, handling products can easily be achieved without the risk of higher costs and damage to the product or the primary packaging. Thirdly, the logistics activities comprise of storage of products as they wait for other processes along the supply chain. Secondary packaging allows efficient handling of products during storage. Its purpose in this process includes maintenance of the conditions of the product and primary packaging in the original condition.
The tertiary packaging, on the other hand, forms the third level of packaging of products most relevant to the movement of large shipments along the supply chain. Therein, tertiary packaging involves the convergence of several secondary packages for effective handling and transport. Tertiary packaging must be cognizant of the physical and logistical environment. For instance, movement of large volumes of products is dependent on the type and size of the transport available. Further, the physical environment of location and terrain determine both the type of transport to be used and the kind of tertiary packaging to be employed in the process (García-Arca, Prado-Prado, and Gonzalez-Portela, 2014). Secondly, the purpose of the packaging envelopes the protection of the products as well as the primary packaging. Tertiary packaging is often employed by manufactures for products moving for long distances.
References
García-Arca, J., Prado-Prado, J. C., & Gonzalez-Portela Garrido, A. T. (2014). “Packaging logistics”: promoting sustainable efficiency in supply chains. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management , 44 (4), 325-346.
Hellström, D., Saghir, M., Packaging Logistics, Förpackningslogistik, Lund University, & Lunds Universitet. (2007). Packaging and logistics interactions in retail supply chains. Packaging Technology and Science, 20 (3), 197-216. 10.1002/pts.754
Saghir, M. (2004, April). The concept of packaging logistics. In Proceedings of the Fifteenth Annual POMS Conference, Cancun, April .
