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packaging

Secondary Packaging

Packaging used to group multiple primary packages together, often for display or convenience. Examples include cardboard outers, multipack wraps, shelf-ready packaging, and display trays.

Secondary packaging groups individual units of primary packaging together. It serves purposes of branding, display, theft prevention, and ease of handling in retail environments.

Common examples include:

  • Cardboard outer boxes grouping multiple items
  • Shrink wrap on multipacks of bottles or cans
  • Shelf-ready packaging (SRP) / retail-ready packaging
  • Display cartons and trays
  • Blister card backing for hanging products

Secondary packaging can end up in either the household or non-household waste stream depending on whether the consumer takes it home. Multipack wrapping taken home by consumers is classified as household packaging, while shelf-ready trays removed in-store are non-household. This distinction affects which fees apply. The brand owner or packer/filler typically reports secondary packaging.

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