INTRODUCTION ON PROCUREMENT OF PACKAGING

This is not a BLOG in the traditional sense but focuses exclusively on technical and commercial aspects of packing procurement. Production and use of packages and packaging materials, which most blog concentrate on, are referred to in the text only if relevant to the procurement process. In particular, such data is sometimes needed for the establishment of the proper specifications for procurement and for quality control of incoming material, or where modifications in manufacturing and distribution methods can affect the final packaging costs.

                                                 In an effort to make the blog of this handbook more "user friendly" a somewhat unusual approach has been employed. The contents are not divided in the traditional way according to type of packaging material(wood, paper, metal etc). For maximum ease of access, the blog should have been divided according to the product to be packed.

This would, however, have resulted excessive length. Instead, therefore the contents have been divided by the type of package used, e.g. bags, bottle, cans,boxes etc. Being well aware of the risk for duplication of packaging material references from one chapter to another which could arise from this format, the authors were interested to note during the writing and editing process that overlapping was much less than expected.

                                        A major feature of the blog is that it has been written primarily with the interests of the packaging user the packaging user/purchaser in mind. The intention is to provide the packaging buyer with technical and commercial information and arguments for his negotiations with the supplier(s). In this context the blog has three major objectives.

•  to help towards an unambiguous communication between all parties involved in the process of development and purchase of cost effective packaging;
• to encourage the use of written, technical specifications and adherence to relevant international, regional or national standards in procurement process;
• to establish a base of agreed technical and commercial condition which can be referred to in quality assurance operations and in connection with settlement of claims.

This blog is a new venture the collecting of comprehensive background data needed for procurement of packages, packaging materials and equipment. It is there probable that its contests can be enhanced and corrected for possible later editions. Users of the Blog on procurement of packaging are therefore invited to put forward suggestion for improvements which will help it to fulfill its role as a comprehensive tool for the achievement of cost effective packaging procurement in developing countries also developed countries.