Packaging industry certifications are extremely complex and varied. They exist to verify that manufacturers are adhering to the highest possible standards in various areas of packaging manufacturing, from processes and practices to customer focus and supplier relationships. But how does a packaging manufacturer obtain a certification and why would they want one.
How Are These Various Packaging Industry Certifications Obtained?
Each certifying organization is different and will have different procedures. But basically the process will go something like this:
- A packaging manufacturer decides on a certification it would like to obtain
- The manufacturer will then purchase the certifying organization’s standards requirements and study them
- The manufacturer will compare the standards and procedures it uses with the ones the organization requires
- The manufacturer may hire a consultant to aide in implementing the standards and procedures if they feel they need help
- If the manufacturer believes they are in compliance, they will pay for a registered third party to audit their facility
- After the audit, they will address any non-compliance issues, and once those are taken care of, the packaging manufacturer will acquire their certification.
- Usually these certifications need to be renewed (reviewed and paid for) every year or every several years.
Why Would A Packaging Manufacturer Want Packaging Industry Certifications?
Why would a packaging manufacturer pay someone to meddle in their business and then be forced to adhere to certain practices and standards just to get some piece of paper, which, in many cases, can cost a very significant sum?
Well, the main reason for this is to attract big business. Most large or Fortune 500® companies have very strict demands for their suppliers.
For example, if a big frozen food manufacturer is looking for a company that has AIB certification for their boxes, they will not even consider a company who does not have this packaging certification already in place.
The other reason would be, and in the true spirit of these packaging industry certifications, for a packaging manufacturer to obtain and abide by the guidelines simply for the overall good of their business. Increased efficiency, smaller carbon footprint, improved reliability and packaging quality, and healthy and humane working conditions are just some of the benefits depending on the certifying body’s purpose and objectives.
Where Do These Demands for High Standards Come From?
The need for the high standards that these certifying organizations aspire to provide is dictated by the interests of:
- the company buying the packaging
- the company buying the product for resale (retailer)
- the consumer
There are a lot of packaging manufacturers in the world, an incredible amount in fact. Some are great, some are so-so and some are just plain terrible! So quite simply, a company buying packaging wants to be assured that the packaging manufacturer they use (or intend to use) for their product packaging follows best practices and has high quality standards. This ensures that everyone involved does not waste the two most precious commodities in business: time and money.
The next in line are the companies buying the products – the retailers. Let’s say you manufacture cereal and your buyer (the distributor or grocery store) needs to know that your packaging is sustainable, you’ll need either an SFI or FSC symbol on your packaging. Retailers like Walmart, or big grocery chains, have very strict demands for all their suppliers.
Which brings me to the third reason for many of these packaging industry certifications – the consumer. Consumers have tremendous power, (sadly, more than they realize) and this forces all the players in the marketplace from the product manufacturer to the distributor and retailer to prove they are worthy of the ultimate goal – the purchase of their product by the consumer.
In addition, the consumer can also punish an “unworthy” company with a barrage of bad press that can really damage the bottom line. And we see this happening in the news to major brands almost daily.
When you are in the market for a packaging provider, take some time to learn whether the companies you are considering have any packaging industry certifications. If nothing else, it will affect the level of confidence you have in the packaging company and help you make a more informed decision.
This has been a part of my tutorial series called How to Buy Packaging 101. So click the link below to head back if you haven’t finished reading it yet. 🙂