Packaging of products is one such aspect of the modern-day that we take for granted. It has been so well integrated into our day-to-day lives that we rarely wonder where it all started. Who was the first person to think about packaging? Machines like Bobst foil stampers or Bobst die cutters machines were not around from the beginning of time. Let us look at where the story of packaging begins and what transpired from those days to the modern era that we are now able to use high-tech and advanced machines like Bobst die cutters, Bobst foil stampers, etc.
Where it all begins
The need to store and transport food and other materials has been around since the beginning of humanity. Though there is no specific date, the people have been transporting food and materials from nomadic times as hunters and gatherers. At those times, for packaging, they used materials like leaves, animal skin, etc. The earliest recorded use of the packaging of products can be found among the Egyptians and Chinese.
Egyptians were the first to master glass-blowing technology around 1400 BCE. The Egyptians started using this technology to turn glasses into containers and bowls for storing food and water. While Egyptians were focused on glass, the Chinese are known for developing papers in the year 105CE that resulted in the flexible mode of packaging that we see today. The invention of paper is credited to Cai Lun, an official at the court of the Han dynasty. They shifted from mulberry bark to wrap foods and essentials to paper soon after.
The medieval up-gradation and the impact of the industrial revolution
Medieval times saw a rise in wooden barrels and boxes. Wooden barrels and boxes were the results of the increase in trade as they provided a sturdy option to carry goods from one place to another. They were generally used to travel across oceans from one country to another and store food, water, rum, and other essentials.
The industrial revolution was a big boost when it came to the advancement of packaging technology. The demand for good packaging material was all-time high as people wanted to transport the products that are being made by industries to reach the far corner of the globe. There were a lot of packaging advancements that took place during the industrial revolution, such as,
1- Napoleon food preservation prize
In the year 1795, Napoleon offered a 12,000 Francis prize money for anyone who could invent a way to preserve the food for a longer period of time. This gave rise to the development of a glass container that was invented by Nicolas Appert around 1810. Nicholas Appert is therefore known as the father of canning.
2- The rise of tin
It was also around 1810 that Peter Durand, an Englishman, invented the tin can to store food which later became one of the most prominent modes of transporting preserved food from one place to another.
3-The introduction to the cardboard box
Though the cardboard was invented by the Chinese much earlier, the first cardboard box was invented by Sir Malcolm Thornhill around 1817. These boxes were not corrugated until 1871 but were highly useful for transporting moths and eggs, especially by silk traders.
The later Advancement in Packaging
The late 1800s and the early 1900s saw a gradual improvement in the quality of packaging along with the introduction of various packaging methods. Some of the examples are
- The introduction of the first paper bag-making machine was in 1852.
- The first carton was in the year 1879.
- The First Cereal box was in 1906.
- The invention of cellophane was in 1908.
- The invention of Saran Wrap in the year 1933
Modern Packaging
Modern packaging has become much more efficient, and faster thanks to the machines like Bobst die cutters, Bobst foil stampers, etc. These modernized machines have revolutionized the whole packaging process and made it easier for various multinational companies to transport their products in bulk across the nations. Check this if you are looking for a custom printed box manufacturer.
Conclusion
Packaging is considered an important aspect of today's business and has been directly linked to brand value. It is expected that a product from a good brand will have superb packaging. History suggests that packaging has been an essential aspect of our society from the beginning and something we have used from the nomadic era.
