Mixed Deck — All CPT Topics Flashcards

The term 'misregister' in multicolor packaging printing describes:

Answer: Misalignment between successive color layers

Misregister occurs when color separations do not align precisely, producing blurry edges or color fringing on the printed image.

The packaging trend known as 'connected packaging' leverages technology to:

Answer: Link physical packages to digital content, authentication, and consumer engagement platforms via QR codes, NFC, or AR

Connected packaging uses digital triggers on pack to extend the brand experience, verify authenticity, and collect first-party consumer data.

The trend toward 'right-sizing' packaging is primarily driven by:

Answer: Reducing material use, shipping costs, and environmental footprint while meeting actual use needs

Right-sizing aligns package volume with typical use occasions to cut material waste, freight cube, and consumer frustration with excess packaging.

What is the purpose of corona treatment on plastic film before printing?

Answer: To increase surface energy for better ink adhesion

Corona treatment exposes the film surface to electrical discharge, oxidizing it and raising surface energy so inks and coatings adhere properly.

A cereal company discovers that their packaging converter used an adhesive laminate component not compliant with 21 CFR. Under FDA regulations, who bears regulatory responsibility?

Answer: The food manufacturer (brand owner), as they are responsible for the safety of the finished food and its packaging

Under US food law, the food manufacturer bears ultimate regulatory responsibility for ensuring all materials in contact with their food are compliant, regardless of where in the supply chain the error occurred.

What does the Cobb test measure for paper and board packaging materials?

Answer: Water absorbency of paper and board surfaces

The Cobb test (TAPPI T441) measures the amount of water absorbed by the surface of paper or board under controlled conditions.

Under FDA 21 CFR Part 177, which category of materials is specifically regulated for use in food contact applications?

Answer: Indirect food additives including polymers

21 CFR Part 177 covers indirect food additives such as polymers used in food-contact packaging materials.

What does the term 'functional unit' mean in the context of a packaging LCA?

Answer: A defined reference unit that quantifies the function delivered, enabling fair comparison between packaging systems

The functional unit is the basis of comparison in LCA — for example, 'packaging 1,000 liters of juice to market with 12-month shelf life' — ensuring alternatives are compared on equal terms.

In-mold labeling (IML) places the label into the mold before plastic is injected or blown, resulting in:

Answer: A label permanently integrated into the container wall

IML fuses the label with the container during molding, creating a single-material structure with no visible label edge.

In the context of child-resistant packaging regulated under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA), which federal agency has enforcement authority?

Answer: Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

The CPSC enforces the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, which requires child-resistant closures on certain household substances and medications.

What does a Critical Quality Attribute (CQA) identify in pharmaceutical packaging?

Answer: A property essential to the safety, identity, strength, or purity of the product

CQAs are physical, chemical, biological, or microbiological properties of packaging that must be within an acceptable range to ensure product quality.

A supplier offers a 5% discount for ordering 6 months of packaging inventory at once. The primary risk that must be factored into accepting this offer is:

Answer: Carrying cost of inventory and risk of obsolescence from label or design changes

Buying in bulk trades a unit-cost saving against inventory carrying cost (capital tied up, storage, insurance) plus the risk that designs change before stock is consumed.

Which degradation mechanism makes oxo-degradable plastics controversial from an environmental standpoint?

Answer: They fragment into microplastics without actually biodegrading, leaving persistent polymer particles in the environment

Oxo-degradable additives cause plastics to fragment physically but the polymer chains do not fully mineralize, generating microplastic contamination.

What does GS1 standardize in the packaging industry?

Answer: Barcodes and product identification systems

GS1 is a global organization that develops and maintains standards for barcodes, RFID, and electronic data interchange used in supply chains.

Which certification demonstrates that a packaging supplier's quality management system meets international standards relevant to supply chain reliability?

Answer: ISO 9001:2015 Certification

ISO 9001:2015 certifies that a supplier's quality management system systematically controls processes to ensure consistent product and service quality across the supply chain.

A packaging designer is conducting a 'shelf impact study.' What is the primary objective of this study?

Answer: Evaluating how visible and distinctive the package is within the competitive retail environment

A shelf impact study assesses how well a package stands out and communicates its brand among competing products in a real or simulated retail setting.

Which packaging design change most effectively reduces the Damage Per Hundred (DPH) rate in a distribution system?

Answer: Increasing top-to-bottom compression strength of the shipping case

Increasing compression strength (ECT or BCT) of the shipping case directly resists stacking forces in transport and warehousing, reducing damage rates.

In a co-extrusion process for flexible film, what is the main advantage of using a feedblock die over a multi-manifold die?

Answer: Lower equipment cost and simpler layer profile adjustments

Feedblock dies combine melt streams before the die, resulting in lower capital cost and simpler operation, though multi-manifold dies provide better individual layer thickness control.

Which body publishes the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list used in evaluating food contact substance safety in the United States?

Answer: FDA (Food and Drug Administration)

FDA administers the GRAS program, including the voluntary GRAS notification process for substances used in food and food packaging.

In a Walmart SQEP (Supplier Quality Excellence Program) audit, which packaging failure most commonly triggers a chargeback?

Answer: Non-compliance with pallet height or weight specifications

Walmart chargebacks are frequently triggered when pallet configurations violate published height, weight, or Ti-Hi specifications affecting DC automation.