How to Write a Useful Packaging Brief
Australian Made PackagingShare
A useful packaging brief does not need design jargon. It needs enough accurate information for a supplier to understand the product, the packing process and the result you need.
1. Describe the product
- finished dimensions and weight
- shape, fragile areas and surface finish
- liquids, powders, sharp edges or loose components
- food-contact, temperature or other regulated requirements
- photos or a physical sample where practical
Separate confirmed facts from assumptions. If a measurement or requirement is still unknown, mark it as something to test rather than filling the gap with a guess.
2. Explain the packaging level
State whether you need direct product packaging, an inner protective component, a shipping pack, a pallet solution or a combination. Include how many products sit in each pack and how the pack is opened, stored and handled.
3. Map the real journey
Describe the route from packing bench to end user: storage, stacking, courier or pallet transport, display, opening and possible returns. Note the failure you are trying to prevent, such as movement, scuffing, leakage, crushed corners, difficult handling or inconsistent packing.
4. Include operational constraints
- manual or machine application
- available bench and storage space
- existing equipment that must remain in use
- target packing rate or recurring bottleneck
- rough quantities, frequency and required timing
Quantity and timing can be estimates. They are useful for assessing format and supply options, but they should not hold up an initial enquiry.
5. Supply artwork and label requirements
List every panel or surface that needs print, labels, barcodes, handling marks or regulatory information. Provide editable artwork where available and identify which content is final. Product labels must be truthful, clear and accurate, and some products have specific measurement, food, safety or country-of-origin requirements.
6. Make environmental objectives specific
A request such as “make it eco-friendly” is too broad to guide a sound decision. State the actual objective: use less material, remove an unnecessary component, improve reuse, increase recycled content, or make disposal instructions clearer. Consider the entire packaging system and its local recovery pathway.
The ACCC advises businesses that environmental claims should be accurate, evidence-backed and clearly qualified. Any proposed claim should be reviewed separately from the material selection itself.
7. Agree how the option will be checked
Decide what a successful sample or trial needs to demonstrate. This may include fit, packing time, closure, appearance, storage, transport handling or end-user opening. Record the approved specification so later orders and packing instructions stay consistent.
Packaging brief checklist
- product facts and photos
- current pack and current problem
- required packaging level
- storage, transport and opening journey
- equipment and packing-process constraints
- artwork, labels and regulatory inputs
- specific environmental objective
- rough quantity and timing
- sample or trial acceptance criteria
For custom or specialised supply, send us what you know. Rough information is fine; we can identify the gaps that need confirming.