There are two components of a CD; the Cd itself and its cover. We know why we need a CD. But why do companies spend so much time, money and effort on the CD cover? They could have just used a simple plastic sleeve instead. Indeed. Why are that CD covers famous? There are a few reasons for that. Firstly, they are used to protect the item from any exposure to the environment. The CD could very easily be damaged by any exposure to sunlight, moisture, and even polluted air. The Cd jackets prevented that by giving an airtight and secure environment to the product. Secondly, the packaging helped the safe transportation and handling of the item. We have to take care that there are no scratches or marks on the disc, or it is damaged.
To prevent that, we use these specially designed packages. They stored the item effectively and efficiently. It helps us to carry the product quickly, from one place to another. It makes it convenient to store and display the product on the shelf. There is also another essential function played by the printed CD covers. They were the primary means through which the product details could be provided to the customer. You cannot write on the CD itself, so you need a method of giving that information. Also, they helped to attract the customer. Printed products have the central role of making sure that they attract the customer into making a sale. And that is what these covers did. They were designed and presented in a way that they used attractive themes and designs to boost the appearance of the plain CD.
Ok. So we know what the packaging did. But how did it do that? So many complex functions, all done by a single thing. The packaging. How does it do it? The answer lies in the material used to make the jacket: cardboard. It is one of the most used packaging materials in the world, due to its many uses and properties which make it highly versatile and practical. Let us have a look at the properties of these cardboard boxes, which made them suitable for storing the product.
CDs are sensitive. They need a strong material that will protect them from any external factor. Cardboard is one of the most effective and efficient materials to do that. It is structured and designed in a highly protective way. It offers complete protection, by preventing sunlight, moisture, and other factors to get into contact with the CD.
Also. It has a stable structure, which allows it to be transported and stored with ease. It offers shockproof protection, in case the CD is dropped during transit or by the customer. These factors combine to make cardboard one of the best materials to package the CD in. It is water-resistant and does not bend or change shape easily.
The other function of the packaging was to make sure that the product was recognizable. We all know the colorful design of the GTA CDs and the functional printing of the Windows updates. All of these are examples of customization. Cardboard is none of the most customizable materials. It can be made in any shape and size. Custom Boxes are used by companies to make sure that the customer can recognize their product. Plus, we can easily print anything on this material.
Remember the artistic album covers? That was all possible due to the customizable nature of cardboard. In short, the CD needed to be different to sell. And custom packaging helped it to do that, by allowing manufacturers to design the box in any shape and size. By using creative printing techniques, they could easily create an impression, as well as communicate with the customer.
Scratches are the enemy of any CD. The best thing about cardboard is that it has a smooth and glossy texture. That removed any fears of the CD getting damaged if the product arrived in touch with the packaging.
This is one of the best features of cardboard. It allowed the manufacturers to reduce transport costs and made carrying the CD more comfortable. No one likes heavy and bulky products. By making the packaging light and supple, it is easy for the customers and retailers to handle it.
These are the main factors that were considered before using the material for protecting and storing these delicate and precious means of data transfer. Additional qualities of cardboard include the fact that it is recyclable and biodegradable. It is an essential trait for any packaging. Also, it is easy to produce and manufacture, reducing costs for the company, and leading to lower prices for the customers. Therefore, we can see why we use cardboard for packaging and protecting delicate CDs. Not only is the material one of the most versatile and efficient, but it is also cost-effective as well. The next time you buy a CD, make sure that you look at the packaging and look at the factors which make it so useful.