Pakendad

Pakendad is a term in Estonian contexts that denotes packaging materials and the systems used to protect, present, and transport products. The concept encompasses primary packaging (the item in direct contact with the product, such as bottles or wrappers), secondary packaging (retail-facing containers and cartons), and tertiary packaging (bulk handling units such as pallets and crates).

Materials commonly used in pakendad include paper and cardboard, plastics (such as PET, HDPE, LDPE, and PP), glass, metal, and multilayer composites. Biobased or compostable materials are increasingly used to improve sustainability. Packaging design aims to protect product quality, provide information, enable safe handling, and support branding, while minimizing material use and waste.

Environmental considerations are central to pakendad practice. Packaging accounts for significant waste but also offers opportunities for recycling and resource efficiency. The European Union's packaging and packaging waste directive and country-level regulations encourage separate collection, recyclability, and the reduction of packaging weight. In recent years, pakendad practice emphasizes lightweighting, standardization, return-and-reuse systems, and circular economy principles.

Related topics include packaging waste, recyclable packaging, and sustainable packaging.