What is an example of a primary packaging layer?

The primary packaging layer is designed to directly enclose and protect the individual item being packed. This layer is key for ensuring the item's safety, integrity, and hygiene as it travels through the supply chain. A vacuum-sealed bag for individual items exemplifies primary packaging because it tightly encases one specific product, minimizing exposure to environmental elements such as air and moisture, which can compromise quality or freshness.

In contrast, options like a cardboard box for multiple items serve as secondary packaging, which groups primary packages for shipping or storage purposes rather than protecting an individual item. Similarly, a plastic container for bulk storage functions as tertiary packaging by holding multiple primary packages together, and shrink wrap for pallets is typically used for stabilizing multiple packages during shipping, also classifying it as tertiary packaging. Thus, the selection of the vacuum-sealed bag aligns perfectly with the definition and function of primary packaging.