BEFORE 1800s

Did The
Ancient world
need
packaging?

In ancient times, food was produced and

consumed locally so there was no need for
packaging.
So when did
packaging
start?
But as the civilizations grew, the need to
contain, protect, and transport food
supplies became critical. Primitive man
used vessels and containers made of
natural materials in form of tree leaves,
bamboo, lotus leaves, palm leaves, gourds,
coconut shells, shells and animal skin.
Ancient Indus
Valley
Pottery

Indus Valley Civilization consists chiefly of

wheel made wares both plain and painted while
the plain pottery is more common than the
painted ware.
Ancient Egyptians
Glass & wood
in Ancient
Egypt In Ancient Egypt, glass was costly and
regarded as a precious stone typically
reserved for royalty. However, it was this
obsession with glass that eventually lead the
Egyptians to discover glass blowing
technology which let them mould glass into
containers for food and water storage. This
ancient glass was not transparent however --
that wouldn’t be discovered for another 500
years.
Flexible
packaging in
Ancient China is credited for inventing flexible
Ancient China packaging due to their innovations in developing
paper – i.e. the oldest example of flexible
packaging. Historians believe that in the first or
second centuries, the Chinese began to use
treated mulberry bark to wrap foods. In later
centuries, when the Chinese perfected their
paper-making techniques, paper also began to be
used for packaging items such as medicine and
parcels of tea.
Wooden
barrels in
Medieval
Period
The middle ages saw a rise in popularity in
using wooden barrels and wood boxes as
storage and transportation devices. Barrels
were typically used for travelling across
oceans to store items such as rum, dried
food, and fresh water.
AFTER 1800s
 Industrial Revolution

Industrial revolution created a sudden demand for better products as

trade flourished and more goods became available to the consumers.
Since materials were expensive, packaging was limited to luxury
goods only.
1805 Nicolas Appert
Known as the ‘Father of Canning’ — invented a
method to preserve foods. He devised the technique
of packaging the food in glass jars, sealing with wax
and cork, and keeping them in boiling water. Appert
founded modern preservation techniques after
Napoleon announced to offer 12,000 francs to
anyone who could develop a way to preserve the
food supplies for his army.
1817
During this period, the first commercial
paperboard box was developed in England.
1847
Richard March Hoe invented the lithographic
rotary printing press. It was much faster than
flatbed printing technique of the time.
1884
One of Unilever's earliest products was
also the first brand it brought to India. The
English industrialist William Hesketh Lever
launched Sunlight, in 1884 as a laundry
soap to lessen work for women and
The First Sunlight
increase hygiene.
soap!
1886
Atlanta pharmacist created a new type of
soda, and the world was never the same
again. The birth of Coca Cola.
1890
Robert Gair devised the concept of the
paperboard folding carton. It was invented
after a metal rule that was used to fold bags
changed its position and cut the bag. Later,
How the cardboard box was
he found that by slicing and folding
accidentally invented in a paperboard in one operation, he could
NYC factory. produce prefabricated cartons.
1896
National Biscuit Company (NABISCO) was
looking for a better and attractive way to
package their crackers. They came across
Gair’s folding cartons and started utilizing
it. They ordered the production of 2 million
units. This led to the birth of the folding
cartons as ideal packaging material.
1906
The Kellogg Company became the first
entity to use cardboard cereal cartons for
packaging.
1906
By 1906, Coca-Cola created a new bottle
with a new logo to differentiate it from
competitors.
1915
In 1915, the design became closer to the
bottle we know and love today.
This design is more similar to the one used today, but
still not quite there. It was created to be both
recognizable and to discourage competitors from
selling imitations. It was patented by the Root Glass
Company of Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1915, who wanted
people to be able to recognize it simply by touch.
1920s
The '20s also saw Coke bottles sold in
six-packs for the first time, increasing
convenience — and sales.
Coca-Cola ran the first of their iconic Santa
Claus ads in the 1920s, effectively changing
how people see Santa.
1960
The first Coke can was introduced to the
public in 1960. The design featured the
outline of a Coke bottle so customers
wouldn't get confused.
1993
Coca-Cola made the switch to PET plastic
bottles almost half a century later, in 1993,
in order to minimize its environmental
impact.
1908
Swiss textile engineer Jacques E
Brandenberger invented cellophane.
However, it was patented in 1917. It
paved the way for the plastic usage in
packaging.
1926
Eckert and Ziegler patented the first
commercial modern plastics injection
molding machine
The Great
Depression!

1929 – 1933
The Great Depression marked the rise of
supermarket culture and it drastically
changed distribution and consumption
patterns worldwide. This behavioral
change of self-service model called for
Rise of packaging as packaging to assume the role of a
we know it as today. ‘silent-salesman’.
1934
The year is known for liquid packaging
breakthrough with the invention of the
Gable-top milk carton.
WWII
1940 -
1949
Frozen food packaging idea was
introduced
1951
Driven by the concept of tetrahedron
packaging, developed by Erik
Wallenberg, Tetra Pack was invented.
1954
Polypropylene came into existence that
transformed the packaging industry.
1960s
1960
The first pop-top aluminum can
was produced by Ermal Fraze.

For the first time cans were

available widely that led to the
expansion of the soft drinks
market.
1966
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act was
launched in the US. It required labels on
consumer goods to disclose the identity of
the product, net quantity, the name of the
place of the manufacturer, distributor, and
packager.
1970 -
1971
The recycling symbol was introduced. It
was designed in 1970 by a student Gary
Anderson.

This symbol came as an entry for a

graphic design competition held by the
Container Corporation of America.
1980s
1982
The incident of Cyanide-laced Tylenol
Capsules killing led to the revisions of
the packaging design of medicines and
over-the-counter products. The reforms
emphasized the invention of
tamper-proof packaging designs.
1990s
1996
UK Food Labelling Regulations of 1996 was
founded. The act introduced fundamental
requirements to all food packaging entities
in the UK. Food must be branded with the
original name, percentage mark of specific
ingredients, use before date and storage
conditions, and so on.
1999
The Food Standards Act was introduced to
the House of Commons. The act was
devised to set up the Food Standards
Agency in the United Kingdom. This kept on
influencing the food packaging industry.
2000s
2000
The 2000s also brought us the classic
Coke can we all know and love today.
2001
After the New Coke debacle, Coca-Cola
waited a long time before introducing new
variations. Coca-Cola with Lemon
appeared on the scene in 2001.
2005
The Producer Responsibility Obligations
(Packaging Waste) Regulations were
introduced. It required businesses in the
UK to recycle and recover specified
amounts of packaging waste.
2005
In 2005, the packaging got an update.
Coca-Cola announced the "M5" bottles, for
which the company teamed up with five
different design firms to create
limited-edition aluminum bottles.
2014
In 2014, Coca-Cola introduced Coca-Cola
Life, the first new Coke since 2006. The
green cans/labels had many people
confused