Packaging serves to contain, protect, handle, deliver, and present products. There are generally considered to be three main levels of packaging that products pass through - primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging.

Primary Packaging

Primary packaging is the first level of packaging that directly touches and contains the product. It provides the most basic requirement of holding and preserving the product.

Common primary packaging examples for finished garments include polybags, tissue wraps, and boxes. Other options gaining popularity are eco friendly t shirt packaging like molded pulp for their lower environmental impact versus plastics.

The objectives of primary packaging are containment, protection from damage or contamination, and presentation of product information directly on the package.

Secondary Packaging

Secondary packaging surrounds or protects the primary packaged product or multiple primary packages. It is used where several primary packages are bundled together for distribution as one complete unit.

For clothing, examples may include cardboard cartons, plastic crates or wicker baskets that group individual garment packages. These secondary units allow efficient transportation of multiple clothes together.

The goals of secondary packaging are bulk handling, containment of several primary packages, brand identification, and supply chain labeling like barcodes.

Tertiary Packaging

Tertiary packaging is employed for logistical distribution, load containment, and transport purposes. It ensures that numerous secondary packaged products are securely handled as they progress through the supply chain.

Common tertiary packaging for clothing includes pallets wrapped in stretch film, cargo containers for ocean freight shipments, and corrugated shipping boxes for truckload deliveries.

The key objectives of tertiary packaging are transportation handling, load stability, protection during distribution, and bulk identification for transport operators.

Benefits of Sustainable Clothing Packaging

For forward-thinking brands, opting for Otarapack such as molded pulp at all three levels brings benefits beyond environmental sustainability. It allows communicating green values to ethically-minded customers through imagery on product wrappings and boxes.

By using sustainable materials that are biodegradable yet still protective, companies demonstrate their commitment to reducing plastic waste. This strengthens brand reputation and loyalty with consumers who increasingly demand corporate social responsibility.