Types of printing & packaging

Packaging alone cannot meet the requirements of commercial market until and unless it is accompanied with printing part. Therefore, printing & packaging is together referred for commercial product and their types are categorized as per their handling, storage, shipment and product. Types of printing and packaging are categorized as follows:

1. Primary packaging: This is where product is enveloped and held with the material to give the primary layer of protection from external elements. This type of packaging is typically the smallest unit of distribution in which content is in direct contact with the packaging, like carton for fruit/flower packaging, bottles for liquid products and so on. Here, the packaging is labeled with precise and more direct information related with the content, expiry date, etc.
2. Secondary packaging: This comes next to the primary packaging. Basically it is used to group primary packages together. For instance, cartons for bottled/tube products, poly-bags for content, etc. Printing has major role in the form of leaf-lets. Secondary packaging is accompanied with additional leaflets or the information is printed directly on the pack, typically on the cartons or any outer material used for the purpose.   
3. Tertiary packaging: This is the one packaging which is used for bulk handling, transport shipping and warehouse storage. This also where the pack is printed with handling, storage and shipping information.

Typically all three types of packaging are used for commercial products. However, it is not necessary that all of them are together used for all products, yet printing part holds the importance in every step.