PACKAGING SCIENCE 1020 – CLEMSON
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Definition of packaging - ANSWER it is a field that involves the use of materials,
methods, and machinery to develop and produce the packages that protect and
preserve a product. help market the product and instruct the consumer in its proper use
What are the three M's of packaging? - ANSWER materials, methods, machinery
Earliest packaging - ANSWER packaging provided simple function of containment
Ex: shells, wooden bowls
Made from natural resources
What % of food doesn't get to consumers in underdeveloped countries? - ANSWER
50%
What % of food is wasted here in the U.S? - ANSWER 3% for processed foods and 10-
15% for fresh food
Are we moving away from glass and metals? - ANSWER yes, moving towards more
plastics and composites
Functions of a package - ANSWER containment, protect, inform/sell
Information required by law to sell - ANSWER - contents, nutritional label, warnings,
shipping information
Information not required by law to sell - ANSWER - type of material, shape and size,
color, typography
What additional things do companies put on their products? - ANSWER - symbols,
icons, illustrations, photos, games, recipes
Trade dress - ANSWER Includes shape, color, and print. covered under trademark law
Utility of use for the consumer - ANSWER - easy opening/resealing, squeezable,
microwavable, unit dose
Utility of use for the retailer - ANSWER - size, orientation for shelf display, point of
purchase displays
Utility of use for the shipper/distributor - ANSWER - hand holds, fork truck cut outs,
reusable totes
, What are the four main packaging materials? - ANSWER - paper and paperboard (wood
products)
- metals (steel and aluminum)
- glass
- plastics (petrochemical)
POP - ANSWER principle display panel
What are the applications for wood in packaging? - ANSWER barrels, crates, nailed or
wire bound boxes, pallets and skids
Wood contains... - ANSWER 50% cellulose
30% lignin
20% carbohydrate
Cellulose is - ANSWER structure for paper/paperboard
Lignin is - ANSWER brown, sticky substance
Paper dimensions - ANSWER 0.012" thick or less
Paperboard dimensions - ANSWER 0.012" pr thicker
- 0.001 = 1 point
- 0.014 = 14 point
What "plastic" comes from wood? - ANSWER cellophane
What are the three ways to make pulp? - ANSWER mechanical (ground wood),
chemical, semi-chemical
Mechanical way to make pulp... - ANSWER least expensive, doesn't use chemicals,
uses all the wood, low brightness and strength, usually combined with other pulps
Chemical way to make pulp... - ANSWER a) sulfate (kraft =strong) most widely used, b)
sulfite, c) soda, higher quality than mechanical pulp
Semi-chemical way to make pulp... - ANSWER cook wood in chemicals, grind in disc
refiner, not used much except for corrugated media
Paper making - ANSWER start with pulp - fibers suspended in water
How big is paper making? - ANSWER speed: 3000 ft./min.
web width: 30 ft.
production: 800 miles/day
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Definition of packaging - ANSWER it is a field that involves the use of materials,
methods, and machinery to develop and produce the packages that protect and
preserve a product. help market the product and instruct the consumer in its proper use
What are the three M's of packaging? - ANSWER materials, methods, machinery
Earliest packaging - ANSWER packaging provided simple function of containment
Ex: shells, wooden bowls
Made from natural resources
What % of food doesn't get to consumers in underdeveloped countries? - ANSWER
50%
What % of food is wasted here in the U.S? - ANSWER 3% for processed foods and 10-
15% for fresh food
Are we moving away from glass and metals? - ANSWER yes, moving towards more
plastics and composites
Functions of a package - ANSWER containment, protect, inform/sell
Information required by law to sell - ANSWER - contents, nutritional label, warnings,
shipping information
Information not required by law to sell - ANSWER - type of material, shape and size,
color, typography
What additional things do companies put on their products? - ANSWER - symbols,
icons, illustrations, photos, games, recipes
Trade dress - ANSWER Includes shape, color, and print. covered under trademark law
Utility of use for the consumer - ANSWER - easy opening/resealing, squeezable,
microwavable, unit dose
Utility of use for the retailer - ANSWER - size, orientation for shelf display, point of
purchase displays
Utility of use for the shipper/distributor - ANSWER - hand holds, fork truck cut outs,
reusable totes
, What are the four main packaging materials? - ANSWER - paper and paperboard (wood
products)
- metals (steel and aluminum)
- glass
- plastics (petrochemical)
POP - ANSWER principle display panel
What are the applications for wood in packaging? - ANSWER barrels, crates, nailed or
wire bound boxes, pallets and skids
Wood contains... - ANSWER 50% cellulose
30% lignin
20% carbohydrate
Cellulose is - ANSWER structure for paper/paperboard
Lignin is - ANSWER brown, sticky substance
Paper dimensions - ANSWER 0.012" thick or less
Paperboard dimensions - ANSWER 0.012" pr thicker
- 0.001 = 1 point
- 0.014 = 14 point
What "plastic" comes from wood? - ANSWER cellophane
What are the three ways to make pulp? - ANSWER mechanical (ground wood),
chemical, semi-chemical
Mechanical way to make pulp... - ANSWER least expensive, doesn't use chemicals,
uses all the wood, low brightness and strength, usually combined with other pulps
Chemical way to make pulp... - ANSWER a) sulfate (kraft =strong) most widely used, b)
sulfite, c) soda, higher quality than mechanical pulp
Semi-chemical way to make pulp... - ANSWER cook wood in chemicals, grind in disc
refiner, not used much except for corrugated media
Paper making - ANSWER start with pulp - fibers suspended in water
How big is paper making? - ANSWER speed: 3000 ft./min.
web width: 30 ft.
production: 800 miles/day
