Brands/Products
The Role of Plastic In Cost-Effective Product Packaging
Packaging is crucial in protecting and preserving goods, from the smallest household items to large-scale industrial products. In recent years, plastic has emerged as one of the most popular materials for cost-effective product packaging.
This article delves into the various aspects of plastic packaging and its benefits, highlighting why it’s become the material of choice for numerous industries.
- The Popularity Of PP Material In Packaging
Polypropylene, or PP material, is a type of plastic commonly used in product packaging. This versatile material boasts numerous advantages contributing to its growing popularity in the packaging industry.
One of PP material’s most notable properties is its high melting point, allowing it to withstand high temperatures without deforming or melting. This feature makes it suitable for microwave-safe containers and other heat-resistant applications.
Furthermore, PP material is resistant to moisture, which helps preserve the freshness and quality of packaged products. Its high tensile strength ensures that the packaging can withstand transportation and handling; this reduces the risk of damage to the product. With these combined attributes, PP material has become popular for packaging applications in various industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. Along with packaging automation for small businesses, plastic can be a fantastic packaging solution.
- Improved Brand Visibility
Plastic packaging can play a significant role in boosting brand visibility. Thanks to its design flexibility, plastic allows for the incorporation of eye-catching graphics, logos, and colors that capture the attention of potential customers. These design elements can help differentiate a product from its competitors and create a strong brand identity that resonates with consumers.
Clear plastic packaging, such as PET or PVC, can also provide a ‘window’ that allows consumers to view the product before purchasing, leading to more informed buying decisions and increased trust in the brand. By investing in high-quality, visually appealing plastic packaging, businesses may make a lasting impression on consumers and build brand loyalty.
- Environmental Benefits Of Plastic Packaging
The environmental benefits of plastic packaging are often overlooked due to concerns about plastic pollution. However, when properly managed, plastic packaging can significantly reduce waste and conserve resources. For instance, plastic packaging often requires less material than alternatives like glass or cardboard, resulting in less waste generated per package.
Moreover, lightweight plastic packaging reduces fuel consumption during transportation, ultimately lowering greenhouse gas emissions. However, it is crucial to emphasize the need for proper waste management and recycling systems to mitigate plastic’s negative environmental effects. Efforts to reduce single-use plastics and promote more sustainable packaging materials should also be considered to minimize the overall environmental impact of plastics.
Businesses can minimize their environmental footprint by choosing plastic packaging and incorporating recycling programs while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
- Customization And Design Flexibility
Plastic packaging offers unparalleled customization options, which can help businesses differentiate their products and enhance brand recognition. With advanced techniques like injection and blow molding, manufacturers can create intricate designs, textures, and embossed patterns.
In addition to custom shapes and sizes, plastic packaging allows for a wide range of color options, enabling businesses to align their packaging with their brand identity. Furthermore, printing technologies like flexographic, offset, and digital printing can be used to apply high-quality graphics and text directly onto plastic packaging, providing clear and durable labeling that won’t fade or peel.
- Enhanced Product Protection
Plastic packaging offers excellent barrier properties, shielding products from moisture, air, and contaminants. These protective qualities help extend the shelf life of products and maintain their quality, ultimately leading to increased customer satisfaction.
In addition to its barrier properties, plastic packaging can provide impact resistance and cushioning, protecting fragile items from damage during transportation and handling. This feature is crucial for products such as electronics, glassware, and pharmaceuticals, where the integrity of the product is crucial for functionality and safety.
- Durability And Strength
Despite its lightweight nature, plastic packaging provides remarkable durability and strength. Different plastics offer varying rigidity, impact resistance, and flexibility, allowing manufacturers to select the most suitable material. For example, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is known for its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for heavy-duty applications. In contrast, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) offers increased flexibility and is better suited for lightweight items.
Moreover, plastic packaging materials can be engineered to provide additional strength through techniques like corrugation or the addition of reinforcing fibers. These enhancements can help ensure that the packaging can withstand the stresses of transportation, handling, and storage without compromising the safety and integrity of the product.
- Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary reasons behind the widespread use of plastic in product packaging is its cost-effectiveness. Plastic is relatively inexpensive to produce and transport compared to other materials like glass or metal due to its lightweight nature, which results in lower shipping costs and reduced energy consumption during manufacturing.
Additionally, plastic materials can be easily mass-produced using high-speed manufacturing processes, such as injection molding and extrusion, further reducing production costs.
The cost savings achieved by using plastic packaging directly benefit manufacturers and, ultimately, consumers too. Lower production and shipping costs can translate into more competitively priced products, which can help businesses gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.
- Ease Of Handling And Storage
From a logistics standpoint, plastic packaging offers numerous benefits in terms of handling and storage. Plastic packages are lightweight, which makes them easier to handle and transport, reducing the risk of workplace injuries and accidents.
In terms of storage, plastic packaging can be easily stacked and stored, resulting in efficient space utilization in warehouses and retail stores. Many plastic packaging designs also include features such as handles, easy-open lids, or resealable closures, providing added convenience for retailers and consumers.
- Consumer Convenience
Beyond the advantages for manufacturers, plastic packaging also offers convenience to consumers. Plastic packages are easy to open and reseal, which adds to their appeal. This feature can be particularly beneficial for food products since it allows consumers to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage after opening.
Additionally, plastic’s transparent nature allows consumers to view the product before purchasing, resulting in more informed buying decisions. In some cases, plastic packaging can also be used for portion control, with products like single-serving snack packs or resealable bags that help consumers manage their consumption.
- Innovations In Sustainable Plastic Packaging
The industry has made significant developments in sustainable alternatives by recognizing the environmental concerns associated with traditional plastic packaging. Innovations like biodegradable plastics, which break down under specific ecological conditions, and plant-based materials, such as polylactic acid (PLA) made from corn starch or sugarcane, pave the way for a greener future in packaging.
These sustainable options help reduce the environmental impact of plastic packaging and allow manufacturers to cater to the growing demand for eco-friendly products. As companies continue to invest in research and development, more sustainable, cost-effective plastic packaging solutions are expected to emerge, further solidifying plastic’s role in the packaging industry.
Conclusion
The role of plastic in cost-effective product packaging is evident across various industries. Its numerous advantages, such as lightweight properties, durability, customization options, and cost-effectiveness, make it an attractive choice for manufacturers and consumers.
As the packaging industry continues to innovate and develop sustainable alternatives, the future of plastic packaging looks promising in terms of economic and environmental benefits.
Brands/Products
Why Your PR Report Must Include CEO Metrics — Or Risk Losing Their Interest Entirely
By Philip Odiakose
Let us be honest — if I had a Naira for every time a CEO said or thinks PR is a “cost center,” I would probably have built a second agency by now. And I get it — PR feels intangible to some folks in the C-suite. It is not always as direct as “We spent X and sold Y.” But here is the kicker: PR is the only business function working daily to maintain the public reputation of the brand that the CEO wakes up every day to lead. Without PR, a brand’s reputation could crumble quietly while the finance team celebrates balance sheets. So when next you hear someone say PR doesn’t bring value, kindly show them this article — and maybe offer them a bottle of water too, because they are clearly thirsty for the truth.
Having stated the value of PR, let us start this conversation with a bit of PR truth serum. If you have ever presented a beautifully designed PR report and watched your CEO flip through it with all the enthusiasm of someone reviewing a phone book in 2025, I feel your pain. And I have lived it. With over 15 years in PR measurement, research, and media intelligence — and having worked across different markets in Africa — one recurring silent theme has always echoed from boardrooms: “This is great, but what exactly does it say about me?”
You do be surprised how fast a CEO’s interest sparks when they see their name with a performance score next to their competitors.
Now, before you roll your eyes and scream “vanity metrics,” hold on. This isn’t about stroking egos or creating a separate report that worships leadership. It is about relatability. One of the major reasons why some executives see PR teams as a cost center — and why they struggle to sign off on measurement budgets — is because they simply can’t connect with the report. Yes, the brand got 500+ mentions. Yes, the sentiment was 80% positive. Yes, you landed an exclusive in a top-tier publication. Yes, you have raised brand awareness. But guess what? If nothing in that report speaks directly to the leadership’s role in that performance, you are missing a critical link.
PR isn’t only about brand exposure and reputation — it’s also about brand leadership visibility.
At P+ Measurement Services, I can’t count how many times PR professionals have said to us during cold calls, “Our CEO isn’t buying into the PR measurement thing; he thinks it is fluff.” And honestly, I get why. When a report is full of brand numbers but doesn’t show how the leadership contributed or is being perceived, it loses the executive audience quickly. That is why in the early years of our agency, we developed a proprietary framework (P+MCA) that captures CEO-specific performance metrics — not just the presence of their names in headlines but how they rank in sentiment, thought leadership, share of voice, and positioning versus competitive CEOs.
You want sign-off on your Measurement and Evaluation budget? Show your CEO how they perform against other CEOs. Then step back and watch the magic.
There was a time we worked with a leading insurance brand in South Africa. The PR team had been practically begging their CEO to take up a keynote speaking slot at an industry event, but the man was adamant: “Not now.” Frustrated, the team approached us for help. We produced a CEO-focused performance audit — showcasing not just his media presence but a comparison of his leadership metrics against rival insurance CEOs. When he saw his score at the bottom of the table, his reaction was priceless: “How can I be last on this scoreboard?” The very next week, he was asking the PR team for the event lineup. That moment right there? That’s what we call data doing the heavy lifting.
Let the data speak where words fail. CEOs don’t argue with numbers.
This doesn’t just help you secure leadership buy-in for PR campaigns; it opens up strategic conversations around executive positioning, thought leadership, and industry influence. One of our proudest long-term engagements came from that South African experience — we have supported that team since 2018, helping position their CEO from media-shy to media-smart. Data made that happen.
And this isn’t just relevant for CEOs with PR-phobia. It is vital for CEOs who sit on multiple boards. A chairman might be squeaky clean in one company and still drag your brand into crisis by association. I remember working with a multinational FMCG brand in Nigeria whose chairman also served on the board of a financial services company. When the latter entered crisis mode, the FMCG brand was dragged into headlines it didn’t ask for. Why? Because media doesn’t separate leadership roles — it connects them.
Your CEO’s reputation isn’t siloed. If they sit on multiple boards, so do their risks.
Including CEO-specific metrics and competitive insights helps PR professionals spot reputational risks early. It also helps pre-empt crises. When you know how the media is talking about your leadership, and how that compares with others, you have the leverage to act — not react. And that, dear PR pro, is the difference between being seen as a “cost center” and a strategic partner.
This is your call to upgrade your report. Brand performance is great — but leadership performance? That’s where the real power lies.
So next time you are struggling to justify your PR strategy, your measurement and evaluation budget, or why your CEO should attend that industry event — don’t argue. Just present the data. Let it tell the story, and let P+ help you craft one they can’t ignore.
Philip Odiakose is a leader and advocate of public relations monitoring, measurement, evaluation and intelligence in Africa. He is also the Chief Media Analyst at P+ Measurement Services, a member of AMEC, NIPR, AMCRON, ACIOM and Founding Member of AMEC Lab Initiative
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A partnership aimed to strengthen product safety and compliance measures has been entered into between Temu and Eurofins Consumer Product Testing and Eurofins Assurance.
As part of this initiative, Eurofins Assurance will conduct independent inspection services across multiple product categories, including textiles, apparel, jewellery, toys, outdoor furniture, and electrical products.
These assessments will help ensure that items available on Temu comply with relevant safety and quality regulations before reaching consumers.
Additionally, Eurofins Consumer Product Testing will support Temu’s seller onboarding process by carrying out key product certification tests, such as Toy CPC (Children’s Product Certificate), Adult Apparel GCC (General Certificate of Conformity), Outdoor Furniture GPSR EU EN581-1 Physical Safety Testing, and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) + RoHS Test Reports.
The objective is to support transparency in Temu’s product safety processes, enhance quality control and ensure that products sold on the global e-commerce platform meet rigorous safety and regulatory standards.
Temu’s partnership with Eurofins Consumer Product Testing and Eurofins Assurance reflects its ongoing efforts to enhance quality assurance measures and support consumers in making informed purchasing decisions.
“At Temu, we are dedicated to providing a secure and reliable shopping experience.
“Strengthening our product safety measures is a key priority, and by working with Eurofins Consumer Product Testing and Eurofins Assurance, we are reinforcing our commitment to ensuring that products on our platform meet high safety and compliance standards,” a Temu spokesperson stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
African telecommunications giant, MTN Group, may be foraying into the streaming landscape as part of plans to expand its footprint.
The company planning to develop a new video streaming platform that may compete with the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, and Showmax, owned by Multichoice.
The firm, according to a limited statement, is building a partnership with Synamedia, a video software provider, and will be targeted at mobile and fixed broadband subscribers across Africa.
“This collaboration aims to enhance digital content accessibility and provide a diverse range of viewing options to meet the evolving preferences of audiences throughout the continent,” MTN said in a statement on Monday.
“The service will leverage Synamedia’s advanced, cloud-based technologies to deliver both linear television and video-on-demand content. The platform will offer diverse monetisation models, including subscriptions, ad-supported content and free streaming channels with targeted advertising,” it added.
Each market in which the media platform is launched will “benefit from a curated content strategy, thoughtfully adapted to local cultures, languages and viewing habits – ensuring deep relevance and strong audience resonance across the continent,” MTN further disclosed.
Speaking on this, Synamedia CEO, Mr Paul Segre, said in the statement, “By taking advantage of the breadth of our integrated, cloud-based portfolio to quickly deploy new services at scale, MTN will be able to create a ground-breaking set of offerings for customers and viewers that will drive new revenues.”
It is not immediately clear what the steaming platform will contain but already established platforms like Showmax have varied content including television shows, sports, and films.
Business Post gathered that MTN is expected to provide more details on the move in coming days.
-
Feature/OPED5 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism9 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz2 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking7 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy2 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking2 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports2 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn
-
Technology4 years agoHow To Link Your MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile Lines to NIN