Packaging and Label Design Packaging & Labeling 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA), net quantity of contents on a US consumer package must appear:
- On any panel the manufacturer chooses
- On the principal display panel (PDP) (Correct answer)
- On the information panel only
- On both the PDP and the back panel
Correct answer: On the principal display panel (PDP)
The FPLA requires net quantity of contents to be conspicuously displayed on the principal display panel of a consumer commodity.
Question 2: Which printing process is most cost-effective for producing very large runs of flexible packaging with consistent color?
- Digital inkjet printing
- Screen printing
- Flexography
- Gravure (rotogravure) printing (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Gravure (rotogravure) printing
Gravure printing uses engraved cylinders that deliver extremely consistent color quality at high speeds, making it most economical for very large production runs.
Question 3: What is 'shelf-ready packaging' (SRP)?
- Packaging pre-labeled with a retail price tag
- Secondary packaging designed to be placed directly on a shelf for display without repacking (Correct answer)
- Single-serve packaging for immediate consumption
- Packaging that meets shelf-life regulations
Correct answer: Secondary packaging designed to be placed directly on a shelf for display without repacking
Shelf-ready packaging (also called retail-ready packaging) is a secondary outer package that can be placed directly on a retail shelf, opening easily to display the inner units.
Question 4: The 'coefficient of friction' (COF) is an important property of flexible packaging films because it affects:
- The oxygen transmission rate of the film
- How the film runs through high-speed filling and sealing machinery (Correct answer)
- The clarity and gloss of the printed surface
- The recyclability classification of the material
Correct answer: How the film runs through high-speed filling and sealing machinery
The coefficient of friction determines how slippery or grippy a film surface is, which directly affects how smoothly it feeds through packaging machinery at high speeds.
Question 5: In label design, what is a 'bleed' area?
- The area where ink colors overlap to prevent white gaps at the edges
- A section of the label reserved for regulatory text
- The region outside the dieline that gets trimmed off
- Artwork that extends beyond the label's edge to account for printing and cutting variation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Artwork that extends beyond the label's edge to account for printing and cutting variation
Bleed is artwork that extends beyond the final trim line, ensuring that if there is slight cutting variation, no unprinted white edges appear on the finished label.
Question 6: Which sustainable packaging certification is specifically focused on compostability standards?
- FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
- BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) (Correct answer)
- How2Recycle
- ENERGY STAR
Correct answer: BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute)
The BPI certifies products and packaging that meet ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards for compostability in commercial composting facilities.
Question 7: What information is conveyed by a UPC barcode on a retail package?
- Product price and current inventory level
- Manufacturer ID and specific product item number (Correct answer)
- Country of origin and production date
- Expiration date and batch code
Correct answer: Manufacturer ID and specific product item number
A UPC (Universal Product Code) encodes a 12-digit number: the first 6 digits identify the manufacturer (company prefix) and the remaining 5 identify the specific product.
Packaging and Label Design Packaging & Labeling 3
Under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA), net quantity of contents on a US consumer package must appear: