Unit 6 Packaging[1].doc

Unit Six Packaging Part One TextPackaging Packaging is now considered as “the art, science, and technology of preparing goods for transport and sale” by British Standards Institution, and “a means of ensuring the safe delivery of a product to the consumer in sound condition and at minimum cost”. Packaging is also considered as an important part of the supply chain, and the very proper design and use of packaging not only facilitate on storage, handling in transportation but also on other functions such as production, selling and purchasing. Why the Goods Need Packaging?In the past, packaging in the trade field were frequently ignored or downplayed when the logistics decisions were being made. However, packaging has been definitely affected quite a few respects of the products, not only in the market, but also in customer service levels. From the production side, packaging may also interest production, since production employees often package the goods. The package size, shape, and material greatly affect productions labor efficiency. From the logistics perspective, although packaging is not as costly as transportation, 10 percent of integrated logistics costs can be attributed to packaging. Furthermore, most goods require protection as they move through the integrated logistics system. Packaging can also help prevent theft and damage and also help promote goods and inform the customer. Packaging affects not only marketing and production but also many other integrated logistics activities. The size, shape, and type of packaging material influence the type and amount of material handling equipment as well as how goods are stored in the warehouse. Likewise, package size and shape affect transportation in loading, unloading, and transporting a product. The easier it is to handle a product, the lower the transportation rate will be. The linking of packaging with integrated logistics is no more evident than with transportation.Packing and MarkWhatever mode of transport is adopted, the goods to be transported will require packing. As packing materials used and the ways the goods are packed will, to some extent, determine whether the goods can reach the destination in sound condition, the exporter should attach importance to the packing of the goods. On the part of the seller, he should ensure that the packing can effectively protect the foods from damage and can sustain the long distance of transport. For the buyer, the punctual arrival of goods in perfect condition is of great importance, so he may have specific packing requirements. If so, he should inform the exporter of them before shipment.All the cases, crates or other holders of exported of goods have to be marked for shipping or other transportation. Often a customer will have his own shipping mark so that consignments due for him are more easily recognizable at the port of destination. Sometimes the customer does not specify any particular shipping marks. In this case, the exporter will use his usual shipping marks. But he must notify his customer of the marks used before shipment is made to facilitate his taking delivery of the goods.When you go shopping sometimes, it is necessary for you to learn to recognize a label describing a food, a drug, a cosmetic, or a medical device, which is important in protecting you and your family from buying an inferior product, from misusing a good one, and from unknowingly possessing an item harmful to health. Firstly speaking, the label on a can or package of food must be completely truthful. If a loaf of bread is made with soy flour, the loaf cannot be labeled as white bread. Secondly, either labels or marks used on the package should be clear, in order to cause misleading. Our government is trying to eliminate all misleading labels, the consumer must be always on guard.It is the law, too, that manufacturers must list their names and places on their labels, for goods it must be clearly marked ingredients. If not, there must be the name and address and telephone number of the dealer. The Function of the PackagingPackaging can be divided into industrial packaging and consumer packaging. Generally speaking, consumer packaging, which mainly aims at containing the goods, promoting the sale of it and facilitating use of it is of little value to logistics operation. But industrial packaging has a significant impact on the cost and productivity of logistics. Industrial packaging should perform the following functions to meet integrated logistics requirements. First, it should protect the goods from damage during handling, storing and transportation. Damage caused by vibration, impact, puncture or compression can happen whenever a package is being transported. Hence, package is being transported. Hence, package design and material must combine to achieve the desired level of protection without incurring the expense of over protection. It is possible to design a package that has the correct material content but does not provide a necessary protection. Arriving at a satisfactory solution involves defining the degree of allowable damage in terms of expected overall conditions (because in most cases, the cost of absolute protection will be prohibitive) and then isolating a combination of design and material capable of meeting those specifications.Second, it should promote logistical efficiency. Packaging affects not only marketing and production but also integrated logistics activities. For example, the size, shape and type of packaging material influence the type and amount of material handling equipment as well as how goods are stored in the warehouse. If the package is designed for efficient logistical processing, overall system performance will benefit. The third important logistical packaging function is communication or information transfer. To identify package contents of receiving, order selection and shipment verification, etc is the most obvious communication role of packaging. Typical information includes manufacturer, product, container type, count, and Universal Product Code (UPC) number. Ease of package tracking is also important. Effective internal operation and a growing number of customers require that product be tracked as it moves through the logistics channel. This can be realized by the extensive use of Radio Frequency identification, a computer chip is fixed in the package, container, or vehicle to allow the container and contents to be scanned and checked as it passes checkpoints in the distribution facility and transportation gateway. The final communication role of logistics packaging is to provide instructions as to how to handle the cargo and how to prevent possible damage. For instance, if the product is potentially dangerous, such as fireworks and table tennis balls, the packaging or accompanying material should provide instructions for avoiding moisture, vibration and heating, etc. as the case may be. In addition to product protection, packages should be easy to handle, convenient to store, readily identifiable, secure and of a shape that makes best use of space. There are trade-offs that exist between these factors and will concern the product and the material handling. It is important to appreciate that packaging of the product should be given characteristics that assist handling rather than hinder it. Totally speaking, it can be summarized up the following functions:To protect and preserve a product from physical, chemical and mechanical damage, deterioration or contaminationTo facilitate ease of handlingTo communicate information, e.g. safety instructionsTo act as a marketing aid, through appearance and presentationPackaging Reduces Waste Packaging contains and protects goods from the time they leave the producer to the time they reach the consumer. Packaging is a very visible part of household waste although it is less than one third of the total weight. In fact, packaging waste from households accounts for just 3% by weight of all waste disposed of in the UK and other Northern European countries. However, arbitrarily reducing the amount of packaging with the sole objective of reducing the amount of packaging waste we discard risks increasing the amount of goods which are thrown away because they have become damaged or spoiled by heat or damp, or contaminated by other materials. In countries with less well-developed packaging and distribution systems, such as parts of Eastern Europe, as much as 50% of food is wasted and does not reach the consumer. In Western Europe, thanks to packaging and the distribution system, only 23% of food is wasted. Manufacturers must make difficult choices when selecting packaging, to balance the various demands of the package at different stages in order to avoid waste and minimize cost. Using insufficient packaging for goods, so that they are not properly protected, is very wasteful. Packaging Helps Minimize Costs Packaging costs money. To reduce costs, and increase profits, companies want to spend as little as possible on packaging. Often a manufacturer chooses a number of layers of packaging in different materials deliberately to reduce the total packaging required, with each layer serving a different need. For example, a wine box has a cardboard outer box for rigidity, and an inner bag made from layers of polyethylene and an aluminum-coated plastic to provide a barrier against damage from air. Shoppers can buy some items without any packaging, such as loose fruit and vegetables from market stalls. Supermarkets also sell loose fruit and vegetables and unwrapped goods from the delicatessen counter, even though many customers prefer to buy ones which have been pre-packed. It would be a mistake to assume that loose goods do not need any packaging; you could not get melons or oranges, lettuces or runner beans, to shops and markets without packaging. The difference is that we do not see the crates and trays used to deliver these because they are removed before the goods are displayed. Taking into account the fact that goods that are not pre-packed are more likely to be damaged or bruised, there may be as much or more waste from loose goods as from packaged ones. Packaging helps protect against product loss, and saves costs. Words and Expressions:arbitrarily .:btrerli ad. in a random manner 任意地,武断地,专横地bruise bru:z v. damage (plant tissue) by abrasion of pressure 受伤,擦伤compression kmpre()n n. the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together压缩,压榨,缩小consignment knsainmntn. goods carried by a large vehicle, the delivery of goods. 交货, 发货, 运送, 托付物, 寄存物crate kreitn. a container, such as a slatted wooden case, used for storing or shipping.板条箱, 柳条箱delicatessen .deliktesn n. ready-to-eat food products 熟食deterioration di.tirirein n. process of changing to an inferior state 恶化,降低,退化downplay danplei vt. to minimize the significance of; play down不予重视eliminate ilimineit v. terminate or take out, . do away with除去,排除,剔除identifiable aidentifaibl a. capable of being identified 可辨认的incur ink: v. make oneself subject to; bring upon oneself; become liable to 招致,蒙受,遭遇ingredient ingri:dint n. a component of a mixture or compound成分,因素moisture mist n. wetness caused by water潮湿,湿气polyethylene .plieili:n a lightweight thermoplastic; used especially in packaging and insulationn. 聚乙烯prohibitive prhibitiv a. tending to discourage (especially of prices) 禁止的,禁制的,类同禁止的puncture pkt n. the act of puncturing or perforating刺穿rigidity rididiti n. the physical property of being stiff and resisting bending硬,劲直,硬度vibration vaibrein n. the act of vibrating震动,颤动in terms of in respect to 根据, 按照, 在.方面thanks to because of 由于to account for to make up a particular part or amount占比例to take into account to take into consideration 重视, 考虑Special Terms:consumer packaging消费包装contents内有的物品count总数industrial packaging工业包装integrated logistics综合物流labor efficiency劳动效率packaging包装port of destination目的港pre-packed预先包装好的商品Radio Frequency identification射频识别shipment verification装运认证shipment出货, 装运shipping mark发货标记,运输标志supply chain供应链trade-off交换, 协定, 交易, 平衡Universal Product Code通用产品码，通用货单代码warehouse仓库Notes to the Text:1. The easier it is to handle a product, the lower the transportation rate will be. 产品越容易处理，运费越低。The structure“the more, the more”is used in the sentence, which means that when you do something or something happens, a particular situation will be the result(越, 越). For example: The more preparation you make at present, the more confident you will be.2. The linking of packaging with integrated logistics is no more evident than with transportation. 包装与一体化物流的关系最明显体现在运输上。The structure “no more evident than”has similar meaning to “the most evident”(最明显的).3. As packing materials used and the ways the goods are packed will, to some extent, determine whether the goods can reach the destination in sound condition, the exporter should attach importance to the packing of the goods.因为采用的包装材料和包装方式在一定的程度上决定了货物是否会以未受损坏的状态到达目的地，出口商应该对货物的包装予以重视。The causal adverbial clause is led by“as”in the sentence here. And the subject of the clause is made up by two parts connected by “and”.“to some extent”acts as the parenthesis in the same clause. The clause led by “whether”acts as the object of the verb“determine”.4. For the buyer, the punctual arrival of goods in perfect condition is of great importance, so he may have specific packing requirements. 因为对于购买者来说，货物以良好的状态准时到货特别重要，他们可能对包装有特别的要求。The prepositional phrase “of great importance”has similar meaning to the adjective “important”. 5. When you go shopping sometimes, it is necessary for you to learn to recognize a label describing a food, a drug, a cosmetic, or a medical device, which is important in protecting you and your family from buying an inferior product, from misusing a good one, and from unknowingly possessing an item harmful to health. 有时在你购物的时候，你要学会识别描述食物，药品，化妆品或医疗器械的标签。这一点对于防止你和你的家人买到劣质产品，使用劣质产品，或在不知情的情况下拥有对健康有害的产品有重要的作用。Leading a non-restrictive attributive clause ,“which”modifies the subject of the sentence.6. Arriving at a satisfactory solution involves defining the degree of allowable damage in terms of expected overall conditions (because in most cases, the cost of absolute protection will be prohibitive) and then isolating a combination of design and material capable of meeting those specifications.得到令人满意的解决办法涉及到两方面。第一方面指在预期总体条件方面，对可接受损坏程度的定义；另一方面涉及到把符合这些规范的设计和材料的组合筛选出来。7. This can be realized by the extensive use of Radio Frequency identification, a computer chip is fixed in the package, container, or vehicle to allow the container and contents to be scanned and checked as it passes checkpoints in the distribution facility and transportation gateway.通过广泛的使用射频识别技术，这一点可以实现。把电脑芯片安装在包装，容器，或运输工具上，当通过物流设施的检查点和通道时可以扫描和检查容器和里面的物品。8. In addition to product protection, packages should be easy to handle, convenient to store, readily identifiable, secure and of a shape that makes best use of space.除去商品保护的功能，包装还应该易于处理，方便存放，容易识别，安全，且拥有把空间最大化利用的外形。9. However, arbitrarily reducing the amount of packaging with the sole objective of reducing the amount of packaging waste we discard risks increasing the amount of goods which are thrown away because they have become damaged or spoiled by heat or damp, or contaminated by other materials. 如果以减少包装后产生的废品为主要目的任意减少包装量冒着扔掉更多商品的危险。商品可能因热度和潮湿受损，也有可能被其他材料污染。The gerund（动名词） “reducing the amount of packaging”acts as the subject of the sentence, and it is modified by the prepositional phrase “with the sole objective”.10. Often a manufacturer chooses a number of layers of packaging in different materials deliberately to reduce the total packaging required, with each layer serving a different need.通常情况下，生产者有意选择不同材料的几层包装，而每层包装起到不同的作用；以此来减少需要的包装总量。Here, the phrase “with each layer serving a different need”is absolute construction (独立结构).11. For example, a wine box has a cardboard outer box for rigidity, and an inner bag made from layers of polyethylene and an aluminum-coated plastic to provide a barrier against damage from air.举例来说，葡萄酒盒子中包括一个硬纸板做的外层的盒子来保证硬度，而数层聚乙烯和铝膜塑料构成的内袋提供了防止空气损害的保障。12. Supermarkets also sell loose fruit and vegetables and unwrapped goods from the delicatessen counter, even though many customers prefer to buy ones which have been pre-packed.超级市场也出售散装水果和蔬菜并在熟食柜台出售散装货物，即使有很多的顾客喜欢购买那些已预先包装好的商品。13.It would be a mistake to assume that loose goods do not need any packaging; you could not get melons or oranges, lettuces or runner beans, to shops and markets without packaging. 这将是一个错误的假设。如果松散的商品不需要任何包装;你不能到商店和市场中买到瓜或橙子，莴苣或豆类。14.The difference is that we do not see the crates and trays used to deliver these because they are removed before the goods are displayed. 不同的是，我们看不到用来送货的包装箱和托盘，因为在商品展示之前他们被除去了。15. Taking into account the fact that goods that are not pre-packed are more likely to be damaged or bruised, there may be as much or more waste from loose goods as from packaged ones.考虑到没有提前包装好的货物更容易损坏或擦伤这一事实，散装货物的浪费情况和包装好的货物的浪费情况可能至少一样严重。The clause after “fact”is appositive clause(同位语从句).ExercisesAnswer the following questions:1. What is the definition of packaging?2. What kind of influence can packaging have on integrated logistics activities?3. Why does the exporter consider packaging of the goods important?4. What is the benefit brought by the typical shipping mark?5. What is the aim of consumer packaging?6. What are the functions of industrial packaging?7. What kind of information can be transferred in packaging?8. Why doe