When you think about your packaging, there are many factors to consider.
Getting the right packaging together is about balancing the customer experience while balancing costs.
There are various ways to ensure that your packaging looks good and uses the best materials possible.
The packaging optimization process is an essential consideration for both established and new businesses to reduce risks of damage and save on costs.
Here, we’ll look at the difference packaging materials make, how to optimize packaging design and some of the benefits of package optimization as a whole.
Let’s look at the overarching process of packaging optimization for supply chains first.
What is Packaging Optimization?
When we think about packaging, we often think of it as a whole rather than the individual parts that make up packaging.
The way products are packaged can have an impact on your supply chain.
Many various elements go into packaging, and each one is crucial to look at individually to identify where you can make improvements.
If done correctly, you can save money and time while still providing a fantastic packaging experience for customers and clients. Check out our post on planning for cost and time saving.
The actual packaging optimization process refers to using materials in the best way possible to ship your packages to customers.
This includes;
- Packaging material
- Sustainability
- Design
- Dimensions
- Testing
Looking at each aspect of the packaging process allows you to uncover opportunities to optimize the overall experience for customers and your business.
So what are some of the benefits of packaging optimization?
Benefits of packaging optimization
1. Choosing the right packaging materials
It’s no secret that when it comes to packaging materials, there are many choices out there.
Making that decision might seem complicated, but it does not have to be if you focus on optimization.
From the outset, you know you need to choose packaging materials that will keep your product safe.
That’s the first step. However, durable materials may often end up costing more, so you should weigh the costs and benefits of choosing these kinds of materials.
One way to narrow down the packaging materials choices is to look for options that can feed into your brand narrative.
This might be an increased focus on sustainability. So, picking options that are aligned with this narrative may be the path to choose along with packaging materials that are durable and have the printing and finishing capabilities you need to house your design.
The other consideration is space: how much space does your item take up versus the amount of packaging material being used?
You can optimize packaging design by choosing materials that can withstand shipping and transport and keep your items safe.
Larger packaging may lead to damage since it will move around a lot during shipping, but too small might warp or bend the item.
With the right packaging material, you can mitigate the risk of damage and optimize the design as a whole.
2. Cost reduction
The types of packaging material used, alongside shipping and logistics, will take a considerable chunk of your budget.
But, through the process of packaging optimization, you’ll likely identify areas of improvement and where you can save some costs.
For example, opting for corrugated paper packaging and structure design reduces the amount of packaging materials that can accommodate budgets better.
Moreover, reducing the overall amount of packaging materials used can also reduce costs, so again the role of space optimization comes in here.
Aside from creating lightweight packaging (yet protective), you’ll also need to consider design elements in your budget.
It’s usually best to leave some room in the budget to add these costs. It’s also essential to think about where your design elements live on your packaging and whether you can improve them.
Is printing on packaging cheaper than adding stickers or a specialized label? Or should you add more protective material that is branded to add more value?
These are just some things to consider, and if you’re not sure, working with a packaging expert can help solve these challenges and identify further optimization.
Throughout the packaging optimization process, you’ll be able to identify ways to save on shipping costs.
3. Packaging Dimensions
As we alluded to earlier, shipping costs tend to be the brunt of your business expenses.
All carriers calculate shipping charges differently, which can make it difficult to ascertain and budget for expenditures.
As shipping prices fluctuate, your primary business priority in this area should be to optimize packaging design to reduce the cost overall.
While carriers differ in how they calculate shipping charges, the underlying calculation method is through packaging dimensions. Rather than charge by weight, they will charge by the volume of the shipment. Even the slightest reduction in packaging dimensions can bring down costs significantly.
Think about the types of packaging material you are using and where you can cut it down.
By reducing the dimensions for protection, you can ensure minimal room for movement inside the packaging.
This will not only bring down shipping costs but also reduces the chances of products arriving damaged.
You can also reduce dimensions for sustainability, as less packaging.
Depending on the type of packaging materials used, such as corrugated paper packaging, and the overall structural design, you can cut down on packaging dimensions to streamline shipping costs.
4. Sustainability
We’ve written a lot about sustainability recently, and it bears discussion in this context too.
As customer priorities shift, brands need to reconsider their packaging optimization and supply chain to ensure they are as sustainable as possible.
Using the right amount of packaging materials is critical as over-packaging, and under-packaging come with their risks.
Too little packaging and you risk more product damage and waste.
Overpackaging may not appeal to customers looking to reduce environmental impact, especially as sustainability becomes a key priority for many.
Creating a sustainability narrative around your packaging optimization process is a great way to raise the value of your products with customers and highlight the impact you are trying to make.
Package optimization can become a crucial brand initiative that drives value while reducing costs for your business.
5. Packaging Design
It’s not just packaging materials that make a difference in overall optimization; how you optimize packaging design will also make a significant difference.
The design process is a mixture of balancing elements such as different types of packaging materials and looking at other options such as corrugated paper packaging and structural design.
You can optimize the design to accommodate product and brand narrative, especially by introducing elements of sustainability in the packaging optimization and supply chain.
For the design itself, think about what would attract customers, what the unboxing experience will be like, and how sustainable packaging can add value to your brand.
Functionality is also vital in this aspect, as you optimize for space for elements such as embossing/debossing, foil stamping, and spot UV coating.
This entails optimizing packaging design to have fundamental design elements and such as spot UV coatings.
This is where working with a packaging expert can help you design packaging in the most optimized way, taking into account form and function.
6. Packaging Testing
The final benefit of packaging optimization is testing.
Design and packaging materials aside, if the packaging cannot withstand shipping or gets damaged easily, you will incur losses.
Optimization saves time and money on testing, allowing you to get it right the first time.
By testing performance and durability, you can source different types of packaging materials as needed and further optimize packaging design.
Packaging testing can include applying pressure, shocks, and vibrations to account for different scenarios while shipping.
Depending on the type of product, further testing might be needed, such as exposure to humidity, air, and other natural elements to ensure packaging integrity.
This will help you understand how fragile or flexible the packaging is, whether you can optimize the materials further, and reduce the chances of customers receiving damaged products.
Who can help you with packaging optimization?
Throughout all of these various benefits that we’ve explored, one of the best ways to optimize packaging design and take on packaging optimization throughout the supply chain is to work with packaging solution providers.
With their expertise and guidance, you can create fully optimized packaging that ensures that customers receive products undamaged, most sustainably, without incurring massive costs.
Solution provides that Pakfactory can provide full or partial project cycle management to optimize for both cost and time and create beautifully designed packaging that customers will love!
