The primary packaging is used to pack the actual product. The primary packaging houses the product and is responsible for keeping the product safe for the longer period. It may be a paperboard carton, a glass jar, aluminium pouch or a plastic bottle. The primary packaging isn't responsible for rough handling and is protected by the secondary packaging.

Aug. 5, 2019

Primary Packaging & Secondary Packaging

Updated On: Aug. 17, 2019
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What is Primary Packaging?

The primary packaging is used to pack the actual product. The primary packaging houses the product and is responsible for keeping the product safe for a longer period. It may be a paperboard carton, a glass jar, aluminum pouch or a plastic bottle.

The primary packaging isn't responsible for rough handling and is protected by the secondary packaging.

Sometimes primary packaging will be fully removed (e.g., sandwich packaging), other times it remains intact (e.g., a wine bottle).

What is Secondary Packaging?

Secondary packaging is the packaging that holds together the individual units of a good.

The secondary packaging, such as corrugated boxes are used to get the product from point A to point B.

It can the product shipped in the carton box ordered online from the warehouse to the customer.

Or It can be the boxes, tape, void fill material that was used to get a product to a retail or distribution center. The secondary packaging does not go home with the consumer, and it tends to be discarded almost immediately at the store level.

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Tertiary packaging

Another level of packaging which we don't talk about. Its the Tertiary packaging.

Tertiary packaging is the packaging that is used to protect secondary packaging.

The most common type of tertiary packaging is the corrugated brown carton. Another type of tertiary packaging includes small shrink-wrapped boxes on pallets.

The Tertiary packaging is done at the warehouse before shipping the goods. The packed product is packed inside the corrugated box and then shrink wrapped. The extra packaging saves the product from rough handling & rains.

 

Conclusion

Do you always need Tertiary Packaging?

You might not always need Tertiary packaging. If you're selling the product directly to the customer, then you don't need an extra carton box and shrink wrap.

The Tertiary Packaging provided additional protection to the product against accidents and water. The typical consumer of Tertiary Packaging is E-Commerce websites. The good sold & delivered online are always packed the Tertiary Packaging materials.