How to Increase the International Competitiveness of Export Commodity Packaging Design II

2 Packaging design actively meets the regulations of other countries and breaks through technical barriers

The U.S., Britain, Germany, Canada, Japan, etc. have formulated their own packaging laws in accordance with the international packaging regulations and standards to promote the healthy development of the packaging industry and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of domestic consumers, but also as a technical barrier, limiting Foreign product input. Technical barriers cover many aspects of packaging, including trademark rights, patent rights, copyright, the right to stop unfair competition, and the protection of consumer rights. For example, the United States, New Zealand prohibit the use of hay, rice straw, glutinous rice, etc. as packing and filling materials; Britain requires marking of the origin of packaging materials; Germany prohibits the import of cans with external dimensions that are inconsistent with the country.

Since joining the WTO, China's home appliances, agricultural products, etc. have failed to meet the requirements due to the packaging design and have not reached the technical, environmental, and quarantine requirements. In 1998, China’s wooden packaging exported to the United States was damaged by natural calamities. More than one-third of the year's exports of goods to the United States were returned. In 1998, due to the fact that wood packaging could not pass the quarantine requirements of the European Union and other countries, it caused losses of more than US$7 billion.

In recent years, the issue of labeling for export goods has also been very prominent. Although labels are just a piece of land, they are an important part of delivering product information. The requirements for label details in various countries are also increasing. The official decrees issued by the FDA have made clear and specific provisions on the format of food labels, the size of fonts, and even the fine lines. China has yet to improve on the label regulations, such as the date on the food label, China's production date specified by year, month or year, month, day sequence, shelf life by x year or shelf life x month. So consumers also need to calculate whether they are within the warranty period. Most European and American countries will clearly label the best consumption date on the label, eliminating the consumer's trouble.

The use of international standards and foreign advanced standards in packaging design is an effective means of breaking technical barriers: adopting international standards as much as possible. The packaging industry should actively collect the latest international standards of related products and foreign advanced standards as well as technical regulations and standards of WTO member countries so that packaging designers can understand, grasp and consciously meet the standards in the design; packaging companies should strengthen the adoption and promotion of popular international Standards and technology introduction work. At the same time, to strengthen mutual recognition with international certification, with high standards of certification requirements and supervision of packaging design, promote product quality and technology to increase, so as to cross the technical barriers to trade.

3 Packaging design keeps pace with the times

In today's economic globalization and the rapid development of science and technology, social change is changing with each passing day, especially the widespread and rapid diffusion of information. The concept of opening up is fiercer and fiercer. The diversity of social structures, values, aesthetic concepts, etc., and the needs of society and people are increasing. . Packaging design is no exception. It must also be diversified. It is closely related to socio-economic culture and laws and regulations. At the same time, packaging design concepts and design methods must be influenced by the times. Therefore, our design thinking needs to keep pace with the times. Step by step, grasp the trend of the times, keep abreast of the dynamics and requirements of today's foreign target markets, and get involved in packaging design. To succeed in modern packaging design, it is indispensable to explore and discover the popular elements in the target market and find something that is inherently essential. Only by following the pace of the times and paying attention to and grasping the international trend, can it meet the consumer's fashion psychology, create new and unique product lines that conform to fashion trends, and ultimately be unique in the international market and be invincible.

(Author/Cai Xiaoqin Li Daiming Southwest Agricultural University)
Packaging Engineering