copackaging

Copackaging, or co-packaging, is the practice of outsourcing the packaging of a product to a contract packaging organization (CPO) or co-packer. The co-packager may handle primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging, including labeling, barcoding, blister packs, cartons, bags, and palletization, as well as related services such as kitting, assembly, and repackaging.

Co-packaging is used across industries—food and beverage, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals—to convert formulations into market-ready packages, support private-label programs, introduce trial SKUs, or scale production without building internal packaging lines.

Benefits include faster time to market, access to specialized equipment and process knowledge, reduced capital expenditure, flexibility to adjust run size, and risk sharing on quality and compliance; co-packagers often provide validated packaging configurations, stability testing, and regulatory documentation.

Typical engagements involve supplier qualification, design and artwork verification, material compatibility testing, packaging lines setup, serialization and traceability, quality control checks, and audits to meet GMP, ISO, and local food or drug regulations.

Challenges include maintaining brand integrity across multiple suppliers, ensuring regulatory compliance across jurisdictions, protecting intellectual property, quality risk management, and potential supply chain disruptions; sustainability considerations are increasingly integrated through material optimization and recycling programs.

The relationship between a brand owner and a co-packer is usually governed by a contract that specifies service levels, change control, pricing, and confidentiality, often with long-term partnerships for volume production or seasonal campaigns.