Packaging – Usually the Last on the Shelf

Packaging, it’s often the first point of contact between a consumer and a product, however despite its importance, packaging is often considered the last design thought in the product development process.

This can be surmised to a lack of understanding of packaging’s importance in the process and we are not just talking aesthetics. From food to electronics, cosmetics to household items, plastic packaging plays a crucial role in protecting and preserving products during transportation and storage.

Packaging is not just a container for the product; it is a powerful tool and when built into the process effectively can enable both cost-effective and sustainable outputs. Budget constraints when designing a new product can put packaging to the back of the queue for businesses with limited resources, prioritising their budget on product development and focussing on the functionality of the product, ensuring that the product performs to its intended purpose effectively.

This is entirely understandable, however without building into the process early on this can result in packaging being neglected or treated as an afterthought. Protecting and preserving products during transportation and storage is a key remit for our customer contracts and we work closely to shape the best packaging strategy.

Matthew Whittle, Sales Manager at Plastic Mouldings Northern oversees the e-commerce side of the business, looking after key accounts, new business and holding responsibility for a quarter of the company’s turnover, he has first-hand experience of working closely with customers daily to support with packaging solutions.

“I am normally the customers main point of contact, so I am heavily involved from initial contact all the way through to project completion, utilising my wealth of knowledge and even greater knowledge I have behind me with the team.

I see myself very much as the link between customer and supplier, ensuring all needs are met and maintained. We will always look to provide the most optimal and cost-effective packaging solution, sometimes even recommending other companies services if we feel it is the best option for the customer.”

Our recent blog talked at length about the key importance of Packaging Engineers who are often tasked with finding ways to optimise packaging designs to reduce costs without compromising on quality. By taking a deep dive into packaging materials and processes, Packaging Engineers can help businesses save money on production and shipping costs, whilst considering their eco-footprint.

With the rise of environmental concerns businesses are now under increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable practices and packaging plays a key role in this. By taking a closer look and building the concept earlier into the process effective packaging solutions can reduce waste and minimise the environmental impact of products.

Investment in building long-standing working relationships is a key driver at Plastic Mouldings Northern and has led to a prominent reputation in the industry; this has seen us work with London Underground, Mercedes, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, JCB and BAE Systems on an array of packaging solutions for their global transportation needs.

Sustainability is a big talking point across the industry, and it is being driven and shaped substantially by consumers. Rethinking traditional packaging, new technologies and collaborating with stakeholders across the supply chain are all key drivers in ensuring packaging moulds it’s place in the product development process.

Matthew added, “An often-overlooked benefit is that we are not beholden to any one manufacturer, we scour the world to get results for customers, this really is a strong USP as a packaging solution provider.”