Beginner's Guide to Packaging Symbols:
Master All-in-One Guide
Understanding the importance and proper application of international packaging symbols is critical for the safety of items placed within custom packaging boxes throughout handling, storage, and transportation. Read this comprehensive blog post to learn how to utilize the appropriate symbols for user convenience.
Packaging symbols are crucial in ensuring that individuals handle products with the proper level of care. This will help prevent damage during package handling, storage, and transportation. Most of us have become used to seeing various symbols on our custom-printed packaging boxes. Do you know what they represent? Symbols on packages are placed to inform your valued consumers about your products and brand. You're in the proper place if you've scratched your head when you see these packaging symbols. The Custom Boxes puts together a complete list of some of the most common packaging symbols. Keep reading to learn more about these amazing symbols.
What Does The Packaging's Symbol Mean?
A set of visual representations and characters known as international packaging symbols represent the kind of package and its contents. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) controls the symbols and keeps a database of all symbols.
An essential component of international trade is the shipping symbols. Every nation has its symbols of packaging, and each nation is free to create its symbols as it pleases. The symbols frequently provide the client with the first indication of what product is within the packaging. To use a symbol, it must first be registered with ISO.
The Vital Role Of International Packaging Symbols
International packaging symbols are crucial because they offer a means of understanding a package's contents for all recipients, regardless of language. Packaging symbols should be standardized to make it easier for customers to identify potential hazards and know what precautions to take. International packing box symbols are necessary to guarantee that goods are delivered to customers correctly and safely. We'll walk you through each of the most typical product symbols and explain what they imply in this extensive guide. There is a symbol for every kind of goods, from food to cosmetics.
Decoding Packaging Symbols: Understanding Categories
The most widely used symbols found on custom shipping boxes and cartons are as follows: To aid in comprehension, these symbols have been divided into four categories.
- Symbols for Package Protection
- Symbols for Handling Packages
- Symbols on Safety and Health
- Symbols of Recycling
Symbols For Package Protection
For every product that could be damaged during transportation, a protective package and care packaging signs are required. This symbol for boxes indicates the features of the product without revealing what's inside. It is more convenient to recognize products with packaging logos than with a textual synopsis.
1. Delicate Items
Certain products are more likely than others to sustain damage while being shipped. Protection symbols or fragile signs indicate how carefully a package should be handled.
1.1 This Horizontal Position
The symbol pointing up means the presence of a complicated product inside the package that needs to be positioned upright at all times. The contents of the box will sustain significant damage if they are stored, moved, or turned upside down. This emblem is easily recognized as two upward-pointing vertical arrows. Laboratory instruments and heavy machinery are two examples.
1.2 Symbol For Fragile
Fragile Items are those that are prone to breaking or shattering when subjected to sudden shocks or jerks. This symbol represents the fragility of the contents of a cracked wine glass. Glass and porcelain products are two instances.
1.3 Use Caution When Handling
Compared to the symbol fragile, the handle with care symbol offers slightly different instructions. These items resist cracking and breaking, although improper handling might cause harm. Thus, packages bearing this mark, handled with care meaning is it should not be gently set down or stacked. Smartphones, TVs, and laptops are a few examples.
1.4 Avoid Using A Knife To Open
The contents can get harmed if you cut open the custom packaging boxes with a knife. The end user is given safety instructions by these packaging icons. Mattresses, books, and pillows are some examples.
2. Symbols for Safe Storage and Packing
Certain packaging materials are weak against environmental factors like water, UV radiation, and cold. Package storage guidelines are provided by environmental protection symbols.
2.1 Steer Clear Of Direct Sunlight
Most packaging materials allow light to travel through them readily, and exposure to UV radiation can cause certain products to deteriorate. Avoid direct sunlight is one of the symbols that mean protection for the products placed inside the boxes. Posters, book covers, and liquids are a few examples.
2.2 Sensitive To Temperature
Custom designed packages with temperature sensitivity indicators indicate the acceptable temperature range for transportation and storage. For international and long-distance shipping, the symbols on packaging are crucial. Food products and liquids are two examples.
2.3 Keep Away From Magnets
Magnetic fields may cause certain devices or specialized equipment to become sensitive. If this is the case, use this magnet symbol to warn consumers not to place the box near any magnetic objects, such as hard drives.
2.4 Remain Dry
Products that must not come into direct contact with water are denoted by this umbrella with the raindrop (s) symbol. Sometimes this symbol is simply the umbrella, but most of the time it has a raindrop (s) symbol next to it. Paper goods and electronics are two examples.
Symbols For Handling Packages
All the information required to convey a product correctly is included in the handling package icons. Both clients and delivery staff are intended recipients of these instructions. Commonly encountered on commercial products that ship in bulk are the following packaging symbols.
1. Stacking Packages
The information required for package storage is provided by stacking instructions or storage symbols. These guidelines are essential to maintaining the security of the internal contents.
1.1 Avoid Stacking
Certain customized packaging boxes are made with aesthetics in mind rather than structural integrity. The packing material for these products will give way under the weight if they are stacked on top of one another. This symbol consists of two stacked boxes with the top one marked with a cross. For instance, customized gift boxes.
1.2 Height Of Stacking
Even robust packaging has its limitations and is only able to support a specific weight. These products have a stacking height guide included. This symbol depicts several objects safely stacked up to a predetermined height. The maximum permitted stacking height in this case is indicated by the number in the middle. Milk and juice cartons are two examples.
2. Information About Weight
Correct information about the weight of the package is also crucial to avoid damage during handling, storage, and transportation. For this purpose, weight icons for packaging are used for the convenience of the consumers.
2.1 Package Weight
The supplier would frequently write the product's weight on the box for bigger items. This symbol displays the total weight in the required units.
2.2 Gravity Center
The majority of the package's weight is centered in the center of gravity. The side with this sign will weigh more in long packages because it bears the majority of the product's weight.
3. Taking the Package Up
Moving instructions that outline the advised lifting technique are frequently printed by manufacturers and included in the package.
3.1 Needs Two Persons To Lift
This icon packing indicates that a package is too large or too heavy for one person to handle. You might be able to lift such packages by yourself, albeit it is not recommended.
3.2 Avoid Attempting To Lift
Significantly heavy packages are marked with a "do not lift" symbol. This sign is especially helpful for tiny packages that appear quite weighty.
3.3 Using A Trolley To Lift
This symbol is used for bulky items that are hard for one person to lift even with assistance. Weightlifters or trolleys are highly advised for such packages.
3.4 Never Lift Something With A Hook
Packages that are too big or heavy for a hook to lift are marked with this symbol. Such packages will rip open at the bottom if they are carried by hooks.
Symbols On Safety And Health
To guarantee safety, volatile or ignitable materials must be declared on the package surface. You may also include a statement on the box informing the recipient if your shipment meets specific health and safety requirements.
1. Product Safety
Safety symbols indicate a quality control inspection of the product and its packaging has been completed.
1.1 Food Safety
Food packaging symbols indicate that the material used for packaging is safe for use in custom food packaging. Most governments have little control over food safety. It is primarily a manufacturer's responsibility to print food package symbols on the boxes. Fruits and vegetables are two examples.
1.2 CE Labeling
Conformité européenne, or European compliance, is what CE stands for. Packages with this emblem must adhere to European safety and health regulations. If you use the CE logo without authorization, you risk legal repercussions.
2. Potential Hazard
Hazard warnings must be posted on packages containing volatile ingredients or posing an igniting risk. Proper packaging accurately communicates all the important details regarding how a product should be handled.
2.1 Combustible
When there is a chance that a package's contents could catch fire, this sign is utilized. Paper goods are one example.
2.2 Exercise caution
This symbol always has additional wording at the bottom and is a general hazard warning. Batteries and chemicals, for instance.
Symbols Of Recycling
Recycling information is not required by government agencies but is greatly appreciated. These international packing symbols refer to both the contents of a shipment and the custom cardboard boxes.
1. Packaging Properties
Some recycling symbols include useful information about the packaging materials.
1.1 Recycle Symbol
The Mobius loop symbol indicates that the packaging material is recyclable in theory. A percentage symbol in the center of the symbol indicates the percentage of recycled material used in the packaging.
1.2 Tidy Man Symbol
The tidy-man sign, created by the "keep Britain Tidy" campaign, does not directly relate to recycling, but it serves as a reminder to dispose of the packaging properly.
2. Certifications For Packages
You can print the third-party certified package's symbol on it if it has one.
2.1 Forest Stewardship Council, or FSC
The FSC will certify that the product packaging uses wood from responsibly managed forests. This guarantees that the packaging satisfies the relevant sustainable standards, which is not a requirement set forth by law. Note: Permission from the FSC is necessary before utilizing the FSC's symbol.
2.2 Reusable Cardboard
This symbol indicates that cardboard packaging is recyclable. It does not state whether the package is composed of recycled cardboard. Additional unapproved symbols are available to let clients know that their cardboard packaging is made of recycled materials.
3. Symbols For Plastic Recycling
Information that is essential to regional recycling initiatives is communicated by these packaging marks. These plastic varieties especially relate to your carbon footprint. Plastic-type symbols have a number in the center and resemble Mobius loops.
3.1 Recycling Plastic
You can use the plastic recycling symbol as a reference to identify the kind of plastic that was used to make your product.
Bottom Lines
The purpose of all these packing symbols is to guide how to handle, store, and send packages. Several of these symbols might need to be placed on the same package, depending on the particulars of your items and how best to protect them throughout shipment. Following that, the workers handling your packaging will take the necessary precautions.
Do you have any inquiries regarding the symbols that must be included in your packing for your items to be shipped securely? Speak with The Custom Boxes staff! Depending on your demands, our packaging firm will provide you with information and recommendations. Follow us!
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