
Packaging is a vital component of export success. Products
need to be preserved and protected in order to reach their destination in
perfect condition. Packaging also needs to position, differentiate and sell the
product, using materials that comply with regulations. ITC has been providing specialist
expertise, training and advisory services in this field for more than 40 years.
It possesses the most extensive information base and specialist knowledge to
assist governments, trade support institutions and the business community with
all aspects related to export packaging.
Information | Advisory services | Training | Networks | Projects
Information
ITC’s export packaging services include the most
comprehensive knowledge database on export packaging available in the world for
developing countries. PACKit is a modular information system consisting of 40
modules with an extensive coverage of packaging technology, specific product
packaging, and regulations. ITC also publishes an internationally acknowledged
multilingual glossary of packaging terms and packaging publications.
The Packaging Practice makes available the following publications, links and information databases:
Publications
ITC conducted a global survey on who does what in the field
of packaging research and education. This survey was conducted by identifying
relevant web sources and auditing their contents. The results of this global survey are contained in the Directory of Packaging-related institutions.
If this directory is of use to you, the Packaging Partner Networks by Country database may also be of interest.
For more information please contact us.
PACKit
For more information refer to Description of PACKit modules.
Advisory services
An international network of highly qualified ITC packaging
experts is available to provide advisory services at various levels in the
market chain. At the macro level, these experts are mobilized to provide
assistance in the development of export strategies for the national packaging
industry as well as to advise on the optimization of national packaging supply
chains. At the meso level, ITC support institutions with creating and
professionally managing packaging information and training centres as well as packaging technical resource centres. ITC experts
also work at the sector level by enabling groups of enterprises to optimize
their export performance at all stages from harvesting and processing to end
market destination.
ITC’s Export Packaging practice provides advisory services to:
Governments:
ITC advises governments to develop
a vision and strategic direction in order to ensure that exporting SMEs have
the means and resources to:
- build
local skills in technical packaging
- access testing
facilities for packaging
- utilise a
dynamic packaging supply chain in the country that will encourage exporting,
including favourable duty and transportation rates.
ITC advises government organizations in the set up of national packaging information centres and
packaging testing center facilities, including the training of qualified
technical staff and the management of such centers. ITC also assists in setting
up national packaging standards and working closely with the relevant standards
boards in-country. These include packaging, as well as labelling regulations.
Trade support institutions:
ITC has been instrumental in the
creation of packaging institutions in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Sri
Lanka and Tunisia. ITC provides a total solutions package that includes the
training of staff, training of trainers and the licensing of the PACKit modular
learning system. ITC
also assists institutions in the setting up of packaging information centres.
Exporters:
A critical advisory support
service to exporters deals with the optimization of the technical performance
of the packaging operation, from product sourcing (e.g. post-harvest), through
manufacturing (full integration of the production process with the packaging/filling
operations) to the final end user (boxing, paletization, shipment, in store
merchandizing, user convenience). These services require qualified expert
resources in specific fields, from processed food to dangerous goods or
cosmetics packaging experts who can cover the whole range of packages,
including bulk transportation packs, industrial packs and consumer packs. The technical
advisory services also include printing and packaging design. These can be combined
with specialized expertise from ITC’s Export Quality and Supply Chain Management practices.
Packaging and Marketing
SME managers often see packaging as an add-on-cost to the
product rather than understanding the value and power of using packaging as an
ambassador for the product and the producer. ITC’s training and information
resources enable exporters to better understand the interaction between
marketing, communications, promotions and branding to ensure seamless
optimization of product packaging and marketing practices. This includes consulting
on the competitive environment, consumer needs and wants in the destinations
markets, design options, communication requirements and possibilities for
promotional packaging. This service is often coupled with other Enterprise
Competitiveness advisory services including quality and branding. For more information about packaging design, packaging clinics, and set-up technical
institutes click here.
Training
ITC provide customized training programmes covering all
aspects of export packaging. These can be based upon ITC’s PACKit suite.
The PACKit training programme covers: packaging technology,
design, transport and distribution, materials and specific country studies.
Target audiences include packaging producers, packaging users, trade
supporters, packaging institutions and government bodies.
PACKit - The Integrated Export Packaging Information Kit for Developing Countries (PACKit).
The PACKit suite consists of 40+
concise modules providing expert knowledge on all aspects related to packaging and
successful exporting. The modules can be used as standalone reference materials
or customized into training tools. These provide practical, hands-on
information useful to private sector enterprises or public institutions
involved in supporting the export chain.
The PACKit training programme has
been developed over the past ten years in response to the absence of
specialized information on packaging for developing countries. Supply chain
constraints often contribute to problems of product preservation, protection,
presentation and usage. Whilst this was known by international packaged-goods
companies, awareness and application of packaging best practices was largely absent
in developing countries. With significant internal expertise and a mandate to
optimize exports from developing countries, ITC invested several million
dollars and drew upon the expertise of world-renowned experts to create PACKit.
Today, SMEs and institutions
worldwide use PACKit modules as a way of gaining the knowledge to package goods
successfully and distinctively for international export competitiveness. The
kit is also of interest to those involved in the export value chain such as
producers; users and importers of packaging material; those involved in
physical distribution; insurance and finance; and business associations.
The modules also provide
value-added content for specialized consultants as well as universities and
R&D institutions involved in export packaging.
PACKit modules are organized along four pillars:
Packaging materials
|
Products sector export
packaging requirements
|
Importing country profile
|
Cross-cutting
|
Glass
|
Casting & Forgings
|
Oilseeds
|
Canada
|
Health, Safety &
Environment
|
Metal
|
Chemicals
|
Processed
Food
|
EU
|
Packaging & Marketing
|
Paper & Board
|
Cut Flowers
|
Spices & Herbs
|
Germany
|
Packaging Design
|
Plastics
|
Furniture
|
Dried
Fruits & Vegetables
|
The
Netherlands
|
Printing
|
Wood
|
Handicrafts
|
Fish
& Seafood
|
USA
|
Transport & Distribution
|
|
Hides
& Skins
|
Food
|
|
|
|
Natural Products
|
Fresh
Fruits & Vegetables
|
|
|
For more details, visit the Description of PACKit Modules page.
Usage of PACKit
modules:
Modules
are designed to be used independently, or in combination with others;
For example, for a fresh fruit producer from
Zimbabwe exporting to European markets, the customized PACKit would include
modules on:
- Fresh
Fruits and Vegetables
- Paper
and Board and plastics
- Zimbabwe
packaging supply chain audit
- EU
import regulations
- Transport
and distribution
- Printing,
packaging and marketing cross cutting
- The
writing style is concise, easy to understand, and supported with useful
infographics (schematic diagrams, graphics, charts and visuals).
- PACKit
can be integrated with other ITC packaging publications, like the Glossary of
Technical Packaging Terms or the Transport Packaging Fitness Checker.
- Modules
can also be used in combination with other ITC training programmes such as Supply Chain Management or Export Marketing and Branding.
- PACKit ideally complements ITC’s programmes for
sector upgrading
Each PACKit module is structured along similar lines:
- A
brief overview of the subject area, including the main packaging-related
features of its world market and distribution channels.
- A
substantial discussion of the export packaging issues, e.g. selection of
appropriate packaging, types of packaging used, relevant packaging materials
and alternatives, packaging security, standards, environmental impact, eco-labeling,
and procurement.
- Coverage
of legislation and regulations related to health, safety and the environment in
the context of WTO agreements and the importing countries requirements.
A concluding discussion on the impact for developing countries, with recommended
approaches for exporters.
Networks
ITC networks with more than 100 leading packaging
institutions in the world including the World Packaging Organization and the International Association of Packaging Research Institutes.
To achieve sustainable development objectives it is essential
to nurture, empower and mobilize networks of local business support
institutions. ITC partners with various types of organizations and business
development service providers, including private consultancies, trade support
institutions, training centers, technical institutes, universities and NGOs.
These can be sector-specific or cross-cutting. A key focus is the
active management of this global network to continue providing high-quality
business development services to end beneficiaries.
There are three different levels of partnerships arrangements
with ITC:
Associate Partners
These are institutional partners that
have been identified as suitable focal points for coordinating export
programmes. Such partnerships can be ad-hoc, with the institution delivering a
programme successfully but not being interested in running further programmes,
but can also be longer term partnerships.
Licensed Partners
These are partner institutions that
license specific products and services from ITC’s portfolio and commit to wide-scale
dissemination of these in their national or regional context.
Strategic Partners
These are licensed partner
institutions that run a range of ITC products and services and offer additional
services, such as updating and upgrading programme contents or providing
training and qualification of advisors on ITC’s behalf. Strategic partners can
act as regional hubs to replicate ITC’s export development programmes, in close
coordination with ITC professionals and international experts.
For more information on how to
join ITC’s network of Packaging partners, please contact us.
Projects
ITC is currently providing technical assistance and support for the following packaging related projects.
- Promoting Intra-regional Trade in Eastern & Southern Africa
- Strengthen the laboratory facilities of Zambian Bureau of Standards with equipment to carry out package testing
- Setting up a Packaging Service Centre for the Small Industries Development Organisation of Tanzania to provide design, advisory services and training of SMEs
- Establishment of a Packaging Information Centre for SIDO
- Design and sourcing of high quality packaging for the SIDO Honey Processing factory at Singida, Tanzania
- EIF Lesotho Agriculture Productivity and Trade Development Project: Procurement of package testing equipment and development of traceability and barcoding services in Lesotho.
- Sector Competitiveness and Export Diversification Project – The Gambia: Design of high quality packaging and sourcing of packing machines to improve the quality of cashew nut, groundnut and sesame in the Gambia.
- Programme EDEC efficacement défini et mis en œuvre - Maroc: Strengthen the capacity of TSIs and export advisers to provide advisory services on packaging in the agrifood, seafood and leather sectors
- Amélioration de la compétitivité des exportations des filières vanille, d’ylang ylang et girofle – Comores: Build the capacity of TSI to provide advisory services on packaging to producers of vanilla, ylang ylang and cloves in Comoros
For more information please contact us.