A practical glossary to help you understand the language used by packaging designers, manufacturers and suppliers.
Packaging comes with a lot of technical vocabulary, and different suppliers may sometimes use slightly different terms.
You don’t need to become an expert. This page is here to help you understand the words you’re most likely to hear, follow conversations more easily and know when you need to ask for clarification.
Primary packaging
The packaging that directly contains or comes into contact with the product, such as a bottle, jar, tube or pouch.
Secondary packaging
Packaging that surrounds or groups the primary packaging, such as a folding carton around a cosmetic bottle.
Tertiary packaging
Packaging mainly used for transport, storage and distribution, such as shipping cartons or pallets.
Packaging format
The physical type or structure of the packaging, for example a bottle, jar, pouch, carton, tube or box.
Substrate
The material or surface that is printed on or converted into the packaging, such as paperboard, plastic film or another material.
MOQ / Minimum Order Quantity
The minimum quantity a supplier or manufacturer requires you to order.
Lead time
The amount of time required for a stage of the project, such as producing samples or manufacturing the final order.