Container

Receptacle for storing, packing or shipping a product

This article is about physical containers. For the standardized shipping unit, see Intermodal container. For other uses, see Container (disambiguation).

Simple containers made from gourds being sold for use as calabash in Kenya. Display of a woven basket from the Maya peoples of Mexico. A corrugated fiberboard box. A spine car with a 6 metres (20 ft) tank container and an open-top intermodal shipping container with canvas cover. Intermediate bulk containers, commonly used in industrial settings for the handling, transport, and storage of liquids, semi-solids, pastes, or solids.

A container is any receptacle or enclosure for holding a product used in storage, packaging, and transportation, including shipping.[1] Things kept inside of a container are protected on several sides by being inside of its structure. The term is most frequently applied to devices made from materials that are durable and are often partly or completely rigid.

A container can also be considered as a basic tool,[2][3] consisting of any device creating a partially or fully enclosed space that can be used to contain, store, and transport objects or materials.

## History

[edit]

Humans have used containers for at least 100,000 years, and possibly for millions of years.[4] The first containers were probably invented for storing food,[4][5] allowing early humans to preserve more of their food for a longer time, to carry it more easily, and also to protect it from other animals. The development of food storage containers was "of immense importance to the evolving human populations", and "was a totally innovative behavior" not seen in other primates.[6] The earliest containers were probably objects found in nature such as hollow gourds,[7] of which examples have been found in cultures such as those of the Tharu people,[8] and native Hawaiian people.[9] These were followed by woven baskets, carved wood, and pottery.

Containers thereafter continued to develop along with related advances in human technology, and with the development of new materials and new means of manufacture.[10] Early glass bottles were produced by the Phoenicians; specimens of Phoenician translucent and transparent glass bottles have been found in Cyprus and Rhodes generally varying in length from three to six inches.[11] These Phoenician examples from the first millennium BC were thought to have been used to contain perfume.[12] The Romans learned glass-making from the Phoenicians and produced many extant examples of fine glass bottles, mostly relatively small. By the beginning of the eighteenth century, sizes for retail containers such as glass bottles had become standardized for their markets.[13]

In 1810, Frenchman Philippe de Girard came to London and used British merchant Peter Durand as an agent to patent his own idea for a process for making tin cans.[14] The canning concept was based on experimental food preservation work in glass containers the year before by the French inventor Nicholas Appert. Durand did not pursue food canning, but, in 1812, sold his patent to two Englishmen, Bryan Donkin and John Hall, who refined the process and product, and set up the world's first commercial canning factory on Southwark Park Road, London. By 1813 they were producing their first tin canned goods for the Royal Navy.

For transportation of goods on a larger scale, larger containers remained a problem, as customs officials inspecting imports had to deal with a lack of standardization in this field, and because predominantly wooden containers in use well into the twentieth century were prone to leaking or breaking.[13] The standardized steel shipping container was developed in the 1950s, and quickly became ubiquitous for the large-scale transportation of commercial goods.

Towards the end of the Twentieth century, the introduction of computer-aided design made it possible to design highly specialized containers and container arrangements, and also to make form-fitting labels for containers of unusual shapes.[15]

## Modern characteristics

[edit]

A number of considerations go into the design of modern containers:

> The product characteristics that create utility for a container go beyond just providing shock and moisture protection for the contents. A well-designed container will also exhibit ease of use, that is, it is easy for the worker to open or close, to insert or extract the contents, and to handle the container in shipment. In addition, a good container will have convenient and legible labeling locations, a shape that is conducive to efficient stacking and storing, and easy recycling at the end of its useful life.[16]

## Variety

[edit]

Practical examples of containers are listed below.

* Ceramic cylindrical vessels including:
* Ancient vessels, including Amphoras, Kvevri, Pithos, and Dolium
* Bottles, similar to a jar in being traditionally symmetrical about the axis perpendicular to its base and made of glass
* Jars, traditionally cylindrical and made of glass
* Jug
* Cylindrical vessels including:
* Barrels, made of wooden staves bound by rope, wooden or metal hoops.
* Cans, traditionally cylindrical and sheet-metallic.
* Drums, similar to a can but definitely cylindrical and not necessarily metallic
* Tub
* Rectilinear vessels including:
* Boxes
* Crates, a box or rectilinear exoskeleton, designed for hoisting or loading
* Wooden boxes
* Lift-vans
* Corf
* Dumpsters
* Certain waste containers
* Flexible containers including:
* Bags, such as shopping bags, mail bags, sick bag
* Luggage, including satchels, backpacks, and briefcases
* Packets
* Gunny sacks, flour sacks
* Wallets
* Shipping containers, including:
* Corrugated boxes, made of corrugated fiberboard
* Intermodal containers, a.k.a. ship container or cargo container
* Twenty-foot equivalent units, an industry standard intermodal container size
* Intermediate bulk containers
* Unit load devices, similar to a crate
* Flexible intermediate bulk containers

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Soroka, W (2008). Illustrated Glossary of Packaging Terms. Institute of Packaging Professionals. p. 51\. ISBN 978-1-930268-27-2.
2. ^ David P. Braun, "Pots as Tools", in J. A. Moore and A. S. Keene, eds., Archaeological Hammers and Theories (1983), pp. 108–134.
3. ^ Karen Gayle Harry, Stephanie Michelle Whittlesey, Trixi Bubemyre, Pots, Potters, And Models: Archaeological Investigations at the SRI Locus of the West Branch Site, Tucson, Arizona (2005), p. 283: "The perspective taken in this chapter is that ceramic containers are tools (Braun 1983) and, as a crucial part of the technological repertoire, can provide considerable information about activity organization, production technology, food-preparation and storage technology, settlement function, and economic organization".
4. ^ a b Clive Gamble, Origins and Revolutions: Human Identity in Earliest Prehistory (2007), p. 204.
5. ^ David A. Munro, A Place For Everything (1968), p. 92.
6. ^ Bernard Grant Campbell, Human Evolution: An Introduction to Mans Adaptations (2009), p. 306.
7. ^ Chuck Groth, Exploring Package Design (2005), p. 3.
8. ^ Sameera Maiti, The Tharu: Their Arts and Crafts (2004), p. 178.
9. ^ Irving Jenkins, The Hawaiian Calabash (1989), p. 5.
10. ^ Lewandowski, Krzysztof (2016). "Growth in the Size of Unit Loads and Shipping Containers from Antique to WWI". Packaging Technology and Science. 29 (8–9): 451–478\. doi:10.1002/pts.2231. ISSN 1099-1522. S2CID 113982441.8–9&rft.pages=451-478&rft.date=2016&rft_id=https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:113982441#id-name=S2CID&rft.issn=1099-1522&rft_id=info:doi/10.1002/pts.2231&rft.aulast=Lewandowski&rft.aufirst=Krzysztof&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Container" class="Z3988">
11. ^ Perrot and Chipiez, Histoire de l'art, v iii, 734–744.
12. ^ George Rawlinson, History of Phoenicia, 1889, Green Longmans publisher, 583 pages
13. ^ a b Warren Belasco, Roger Horowitz, Food Chains: From Farmyard to Shopping Cart, pp. 98–99.
14. ^ Geoghegan, Tom (2013-04-21). "The story of how the tin can nearly wasn't". BBC News. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
15. ^ Geoff A. Giles, Design and Technology of Packaging Decoration for the Consumer Market (2000), p. 82: "Container designers also found that shrink sleeves gave them new-found freedom to design containers that until then had been viewed as impossible to decorate".
16. ^ Anthony F. Buono, Henri Savall, Socio-economic Interventions in Organizations (2007), p. 231.

### Sources

[edit]

* Yam, K.L., "Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology", John Wiley & Sons, 2009, ISBN 978-0-470-08704-6

## External links

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* Media related to Containers at Wikimedia Commons
* The dictionary definition of container at Wiktionary

* v
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Containers

* Aerosol spray
* Aluminium bottle
* Aluminum can
* Amphora
* Ampoule
* Antistatic bag
* Bag
* Bag-in-box
* Barrel
* Basket
* Bin
* Biodegradable bag
* Blister pack
* Body bag
* Bottle
* Box
* Box wine
* Bucket
* Bulk box
* Cage
* Canister
* Carboy
* Carton
* Cartridge
* Case
* Chub
* Clamshell
* Coffin
* Corrugated box design
* Crate
* Desiccator
* Dewar flask
* Drum
* Envelope
* Flagon
* Flask
* Flexible intermediate bulk container
* Foam food container
* Folding carton
* Food storage container
* Garbage bag
* Gas cylinder
* Growler
* Gunny sack
* Insulated shipping container
* Intermediate bulk container
* Intermodal container
* Jar
* Jerrycan
* Jug
* Juicebox
* Keg
* Kōbako
* Multi-pack
* Nuclear flask
* Padded mailer
* Pail
* Paper sack
* Plastic bag
* Plastic bottle
* Pocket
* Popcorn bag
* Pot
* Pouch
* Pressure vessel
* Retort pouch
* Sachet
* Self-heating can
* Self-heating food packaging
* Shipping container
* Skin pack
* Spray bottle
* Square milk jug
* Tin can
* Tobacco pouch
* Tube
* Unit load
* Vial
* Wooden box
* Zipper storage bag

* Category
* Commons
* WikiProject Containers

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Bags and flexible containers

Carried|

* Bayong
* Bindle
* Briefcase
* Bug-out bag
* Dillybag
* Dromedary bag
* Flight bag
* Gaji bag
* Grocery bag
* Hambiliya
* Handbag
* Haversack
* Laundry bag
* Medical bag
* Money bag
* Nuclear briefcase
* Plastic shopping bag
* Red box (government)
* Reticule
* Reusable shopping bag
* Shell purse
* Shopping bag
* String bag
* Survival bag
* Swag
* Tote bag
* Tucker bag

Worn|

* Backpack (Canoe pack, Duluth pack)
* Bandolier bag
* Bivouac sack
* Book bag
* Fanny pack
* Golf bag
* Lightweight Rucksack
* Medicine bag
* Messenger bag
* Pack basket
* Pasiking
* Randoseru
* Sabretache
* Satchel
* Sporran
* Takiding

Luggage|

* Bug-out bag
* Carpet bag
* Diaper bag
* Diplomatic bag / pouch
* Duffel bag
* Garment bag
* Gig bag
* Gladstone bag
* Hobo bag
* Holdall
* Nomadic bag
* Norfolk case
* Portmanteau
* Saddlebag
* Suitcase
* Toiletry bag
* Train case
* Travel pack
* Trunk

Postal|

* Catcher pouch
* Mail bag
* Mail pouch
* Mail sack
* Mail satchel
* Mochila
* Padded envelope
* Portmanteau

Containers|

* Antistatic bag
* Bag-in-box
* Bin bag
* Biodegradable bag
* Bota bag
* Coffee bag
* Flexible intermediate bulk container
* Boil-in-bag
* Fuel bladder
* Mashk
* Milk bag
* Packet (container)
* Paper bag
* Paper sack
* Parfleche
* Pastry bag
* Pipe bag
* Plastic bag
* Purdue Improved Crop Storage bags
* Reusable shopping bag
* Sachet
* Security bag
* Shopping bag
* Stand-up pouch
* Thermal bag
* Tobacco pouch
* Trash bag
* Wineskin
* Zipper storage bag

Purses/handbags|

* Bayong
* Birkin bag
* Coin purse
* Evening bag
* Gaji bag
* Gucci Diana
* Handbag
* It bag
* Kelly bag
* Kinchaku
* Lady Dior
* Messenger bag
* Minaudière
* Money bag
* Reticule
* Tote bag
* Wallet
* Wristlet

Other|

* Body bag
* Burn bag
* Cowboy bedroll
* Doggy bag
* Dry bag
* Electronic flight bag
* Feedbag
* Flour sack
* Gamow bag
* Gunny sack
* Poop bag
* Sandbag
* Showbag
* Sickness bag
* Sleeping bag
* Stuff sack
* Throw bag
* Zuckertüte

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Packaging

General
topics|

* Active packaging
* Child-resistant packaging
* Contract packager
* Edible packaging
* Modified atmosphere/modified humidity packaging
* Overpackaging
* Package delivery
* Package pilferage
* Package testing
* Package theft
* Packaging engineering
* Resealable packaging
* Reusable packaging
* Reuse of bottles
* Shelf life
* Shelf-ready packaging
* Shelf-stable
* Sustainable packaging
* Tamper-evident
* Tamper resistance
* Wrap rage

Product
packages|

* Alternative wine closure
* Ammunition box
* Banana box
* Beer bottle
* Box wine
* Case-ready meat
* Coffee bag
* Cosmetic packaging
* Currency packaging
* Disposable food packaging
* Drink can
* Egg carton
* Evidence packaging
* Field ration
* Flour sack
* Foam food container
* Food packaging
* Fuel container
* Gas cylinder
* Glass milk bottle
* Growler
* Juicebox
* Low plastic water bottle
* Luxury packaging
* Milk bag
* Optical disc packaging
* Oyster pail
* Popcorn bag
* Pharmaceutical packaging
* Pizza box
* Plastic milk container
* Purdue Improved Crop Storage bags
* Sand bag
* Seasonal packaging
* Self-heating food packaging
* Screw cap (wine)
* Single-serve coffee container
* Spray paint
* Toothpaste pump dispenser
* Unit dose
* Water bottle
* Wine bottle

Containers|

* Aerosol spray dispenser
* Aluminium bottle
* Aluminum can
* Ampoule
* Antistatic bag
* Bag-in-box
* Bag
* Barrel
* Biodegradable bag
* Blister pack
* Boil-in-bag
* Bottle
* Box
* Bulk box
* Cage
* Case
* Carboy
* Carton
* Chub
* Clamshell
* Corrugated box design
* Crate
* Disposable cup
* Drum
* Endcap
* Envelope
* Euro container
* Flexible intermediate bulk container
* Flexible tank
* Folding carton
* Glass bottle
* Gunny sack
* Inhaler
* Insulated shipping container
* Intermediate bulk container
* Jar
* Jerrycan
* Jug
* Keg
* Mesh bag
* Multilayered packaging
* Multi-pack
* Packet (container)
* Padded envelope
* Pail
* Paper bag
* Paper sack
* Plastic bag
* Plastic bottle
* Retort pouch
* Salvage drum
* Sachet
* Water sachet
* Security bag
* Shipping container
* Shipping tube
* Skin pack
* Spray bottle
* Squround
* Stand-up pouch
* Steel and tin cans
* Tetra Brik
* Thermal bag
* Tub (container)
* Tube
* Unit load
* Vial
* Wooden box

Materials
and
components|

* Adhesive
* Aluminium foil
* Bail handle
* Bioplastic
* Biodegradable plastic
* BoPET
* Bubble wrap
* Bung
* Cellophane
* Closure
* Coated paper
* Coating
* Coextrusion
* Container glass
* Corrugated fiberboard
* Corrugated plastic
* Cushioning
* Desiccant
* Double seam
* Flip-top
* Foam peanut
* Gel pack
* Hot-melt adhesive
* Humidity indicator card
* Kraft paper
* Label
* Lid
* Linear low-density polyethylene
* Liquid packaging board
* Living hinge
* Low-density polyethylene
* Meat absorbent pad
* Metallised film
* Modified atmosphere
* Molded pulp
* Nonwoven fabric
* Overwrap
* Oxygen scavenger
* Package handle
* Packaging gas
* Pallet
* Paper
* Paper pallet
* Paperboard
* Plastic-coated paper
* Plastic film
* Plastic pallet
* Plastic wrap
* Polyester
* Polyethylene
* Polypropylene
* Pressure-sensitive tape
* Pump dispenser
* Screw cap
* Screw cap (wine)
* Security printing
* Security tape
* Shock detector
* Shock and vibration data logger
* Shrink wrap
* Slip sheet
* Staple (fastener)
* Strapping
* Stretch wrap
* Susceptor
* Tamper-evident band
* Tear tape
* Temperature data logger
* Time temperature indicator
* Tinplate
* Velostat

Processes|

* Aseptic processing
* Authentication
* Automatic identification and data capture
* Blow fill seal
* Blow molding
* Calendering
* Canning
* Coating
* Containerization
* Converting
* Corona treatment
* Curtain coating
* Die cutting
* Die forming (plastics)
* Electronic article surveillance
* Extrusion
* Extrusion coating
* Flame treatment
* Glass production
* Graphic design
* Hazard analysis and critical control points
* Hermetic seal
* Induction sealing
* Injection moulding
* Lamination
* Laser cutting
* Molding
* Package tracking
* Papermaking
* Plastic extrusion
* Plastic welding
* Printing
* Product development
* Production control
* Quality assurance
* Radio-frequency identification
* Roll slitting
* Shearing (manufacturing)
* Thermoforming
* Track and trace
* Ultrasonic welding
* Vacuum forming
* Vacuum packaging
* Verification and validation

Machinery|

* Barcode printer
* Barcode reader
* Bottling line
* Calender
* Can seamer
* Cap torque tester
* Cartoning machine
* Case sealer
* Check weigher
* Conveyor system
* Drum pump
* Extended core stretch wrapper
* Filler
* Heat gun
* Heat sealer
* Industrial robot
* Injection molding machine
* Label printer applicator
* Lineshaft roller conveyor
* Logistics automation
* Material-handling equipment
* Mechanical brake stretch wrapper
* Multihead weigher
* Orbital stretch wrapper
* Packaging machinery
* Pallet inverter
* Palletizer
* Rotary wheel blow molding systems
* Seed-counting machine
* Shrink tunnel
* Staple gun
* Tape dispenser
* Turntable stretch wrapper
* Vertical form fill sealing machine

Environment,
post-use|

* Biodegradation
* Can collecting
* Closed-loop box reuse
* Environmental engineering
* Extended producer responsibility
* Glass recycling
* Industrial ecology
* Life-cycle assessment
* Litter
* Packaging waste
* Paper recycling
* PET bottle recycling
* Plastic recycling
* Recycling
* Reusable packaging
* Reverse logistics
* Source reduction
* Sustainable packaging
* Waste management

Category: Packaging

Authority control databases

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Japan
* Israel

Other|

* Yale LUX

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