Packaging may be looked at as being of several different typesFor example a transport package or distribution package can be the shipping container used to ship, store, and handle the product or inner packagesSome identify a consumer package as one which is directed toward a consumer or householdPackaging may be described in relation to the type of product being packaged: medical device packaging, bulk chemical packaging, over-the-counter drug packaging, retail food packaging, military materiel packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, etc Aluminium can with a pull tabIt is sometimes convenient to categorize packages by layer or function: primary, secondary, etcPrimary packaging is the material that first envelops the product and holds itThis usually is the smallest unit of distribution or use and is the package which is in direct contact with the contentsSecondary packaging is outside the primary packaging, perhaps used to group primary packages togetherTertiary packaging is used for bulk handling, warehouse storage and transport shippingThe most common form is a palletized unit load that packs tightly into containersThese broad categories can be somewhat arbitraryFor example, depending on the use, a shrink wrap can be primary packaging when applied directly to the product, secondary packaging when combining smaller packages, and tertiary packaging on some distribution packs.
