Study Guide

Objective

After completing the course, the student will be able to comprehensively examine packaging and its supply chain, starting from customer needs, the requirements set for the packaging material and marketing, to the reuse, recyclability, and/or disposal of packaging.

Content

• Life Cycle thinking - ISO 14040:2006 Environmental management, life cycle assessment, principles, and framework.
• Description of the objectives of the planned packaging solution from a customer-oriented perspective; Who are the customers? What are their needs that the packaging solution aims to address, etc.
• The most probable modes and routes of transportation for the package and the requirements they impose on the packaging.
• Requirements set by sales and marketing for the packaging.
• Requirements set by the product to be packaged for the packaging.
• Packaging materials (fiber, plastic, glass, metal, new biobased packaging materials).
• Packaging technologies (aseptic, vacuum, and modified atmosphere packaging).
• Sorting, recycling, and reuse of packaging.
• Project work.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student understands what is meant by the life cycle of packaging. They recognize customer needs and requirements, as well as the basic requirements imposed on packaging by common transportation methods, sales, and marketing. The student is familiar with some packaging materials and technologies and can use them in packaging solutions for the product to be packaged. Additionally, they identify the principles of sorting, recycling, and reuse of packaging.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student is able to apply the principles of life cycle thinking to practical examples. They have the ability to analyze customer needs and create a description of the objectives of the planned packaging solution from a customer-oriented perspective. The student can analyze the impact of different transportation routes, as well as sales and marketing, on packaging solutions. They are capable of comparing the properties of different packaging materials and the suitability of various packaging technologies for packaging solutions for different products. Additionally, they can analyze and propose improvements for the recyclability and reuse of packaging.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student has the ability to critically and comprehensively assess the application of life cycle thinking principles in complex situations. They can evaluate and integrate various customer needs and set goals that cover complex requirements. The student has the ability to design a packaging solution that takes into account complex transportation networks and addresses diverse sales and marketing objectives. They are familiar with the requirements set by the product for packaging and can thus assess and recommend packaging materials, considering environmental impacts, costs, and product needs. Additionally, they can evaluate and choose an appropriate packaging technology, considering product characteristics and manufacturing requirements, as well as sorting, recycling, and reuse.