Secondary Packaging

Secondary Packaging designates the packaging used to group various pre-packaged products together.  Secondary packaging does not come in direct contact with the actual product and as such, its use and application usually differs distinctly from those of Primary Packaging.  Secondary Packaging is said to have two central functions:

Secondary Packaging plays a vital role in branding and marketing the product.  This is especially relevant in display packaging.  Secondary packaging serves to group several products together for ease of handling, transport and storage.  Logistics is a primary concern of secondary packaging.  Not only must the packaging provide for easy moving and storing, it must also be durable enough to protect the primary packaging during transport and storage.

Secondary packaging materials include cardboard cartons, cardboard boxes, cardboard or plastic crates, shrink wrapping.

Tertiary packaging is perceived as whatever specific form of packaging is used for the purpose of wide spread distribution, such as a pallet system for example, where a large number of cases of cans of soda are wrapped in shrink wrap and carried on large wooden pallets to their destination. Tertiary packaging of large objects can include the use of robotics to lift, stack and palletize products. Tertiary packaging is not often seen by the consumer, since it is typically removed when it arrives at the retail/business establishment.