13. Packaging Logistics

The chapter discusses the important role of packaging as part of a company’s market and operations management. Packaging has been evolving for centuries and continues to do so, forcing consumers to change their habits. From simple protection tools to safeguarding carried items, packaging has become a marketing and communication instrument as important as contents. E-commerce and online-retailers growth change again the packaging role during purchasing, bring it back as mere logistics and protection tool. In the first basic section, a brief history of packaging is described. Starting from the most important steps, which characterize packaging from the very beginning, in prehistory, followed by the commercial discoveries of the Middle Ages, the industrial revolution, until the present day with the newest and most ingenious packaging solutions. With a focus on marketing, design, logistics, environmental impact, and costs, a complete reference framework underlining how each of these aspects change along the supply chain steps is presented. The advanced and second section of the chapter presents case studies, models and methods for packaging costs evaluation and unit load design. Logistics and packaging are fundamental business leverages for a modern company, therefore any improvements can represent opportunities and generate profits. The chapter ends with a discussion about state-of-the-art research in packaging: the last decade showed a strong development of the e-commerce market, and the central role of packaging changed. Furthermore, the evolution of technologies, materials and Internet Communication Technologies in the last few years have improved the packaging world as well creating, for example, intelligent packaging that can communicate with consumers or interact with products, allowing the traceability of a single item within the entire supply chain. Packaging is a fundamental resource for end-customers and all actors involved in the entire supply chain.