Packaging also needs to position, differentiate and sell the product, using materials that comply with regulations. The CRT is currently providing specialist expertise, training and advisory services in this field. The CRT possesses some of the most extensive information base and specialist knowledge to assist governments, trade support institutions and the business community with all aspects related to export packaging.
Advisory services
An international network of highly qualified CRT packaging experts is available to provide advisory services at various levels within the market chain. At the macro level, these experts are mobilized to provide assistance in the development of export strategies for the national packaging industry as well as to advise on the optimization of national packaging supply chains. At the meso level, CRT support institutions with creating and professionally managing packaging information and training centres as well as packaging technical resource centres. CRT experts also work at the sector level by enabling groups of enterprises to optimize their export performance at all stages from harvesting and processing to end market destination.
The CRTs Export Packaging practice can provide advisory services to:
Governments:
The CRT can advise governments to develop a vision and strategic direction in order to ensure that exporting SMEs have the means and resources to:
build local skills in technical packaging
access testing facilities for packaging
utilise a dynamic packaging supply chain in the country that will encourage exporting, including favourable duty and transportation rates.
The CRT can advise government organisations in the set up of national packaging information centres and packaging testing center facilities, including the training of qualified technical staff and the management of such centers. The CRT also assists in setting up national packaging standards and working closely with the relevant standards boards in-country. These include packaging, as well as labelling regulations.
Trade support institutions:
The CRT has been instrumental in the creation of packaging institutions in several countries. The CRT provides a total solutions package that includes the training of staff, training of trainers and the licensing of the CRT package modular learning system. The CRT also assists institutions in the setting up of packaging information centres.
Exporters:
A critical advisory support service to exporters deals with the optimization of the technical performance of the packaging operation, from product sourcing (e.g. post-harvest), through manufacturing (full integration of the production process with the packaging/filling operations) to the final end user (boxing, paletization, shipment, in store merchandizing, user convenience). These services require qualified expert resources in specific fields, from processed food to dangerous goods or cosmetics packaging experts who can cover the whole range of packages, including bulk transportation packs, industrial packs and consumer packs. The technical advisory services also include printing and packaging design. These can be combined with specialized expertise from the CRT’s Export Quality and Supply Chain Management practices.
Packaging and Marketing
SME managers often see packaging as an add-on-cost to the product rather than understanding the value and power of using packaging as an ambassador for the product and the producer. The CRT’s training and information resources enable exporters to better understand the interaction between marketing, communications, promotions and branding to ensure seamless optimization of product packaging and marketing practices. This includes consulting on the competitive environment, consumer needs and wants in the destinations markets, design options, communication requirements and possibilities for promotional packaging. This service is often coupled with other Enterprise Competitiveness advisory services including quality and branding. For more information about packaging design, packaging clinics, and set-up technical institutes contact us.
Training
The CRT provide customized training courses covering all aspects of export packaging. These can be based upon The CRT’s packaging courses.
The CRT packaging training programme covers: packaging technology, design, transport and distribution, materials and specific country studies. Target audiences include packaging producers, packaging users, trade supporters, packaging institutions and government bodies.
The CRT’s packaging course - The integrated export packaging information course for developing countries.
The CRT’s packaging course consists of 40+ concise modules providing expert knowledge on all aspects related to packaging and successful exporting. The modules can be used as standalone reference materials or customized into training tools. These provide practical, hands-on information useful to private sector enterprises or public institutions involved in supporting the export chain.
The CRT’s packaging training programme has been developed in response to the absence of specialized information on packaging for developing countries. Supply chain constraints often contribute to problems of product preservation, protection, presentation and usage. Whilst this was known by international packaged-goods companies, awareness and application of packaging best practices was largely absent in developing countries. With significant internal expertise and a mandate to optimize exports from developing countries, CRT investments within this field drew upon the expertise of world-renowned experts to create The CRT’s packaging course
Today, SMEs and institutions worldwide use The CRT’s packaging course modules as a way of gaining the knowledge to package goods successfully and distinctively for international export competitiveness. The kit is also of interest to those involved in the export value chain such as producers; users and importers of packaging material; those involved in physical distribution; insurance and finance; and business associations.
The modules also provide value-added content for specialized consultants as well as universities and R&D institutions involved in export packaging.
The CRT’s packaging course modules are organized along four pillars:
Packaging Materials: Glass, Metal, Paper & Board, Plastics, Wood
Product sector export packaging requirments: Casting and Forgings, Oilseeds, Chemicals, Processed Food, Cut Flowers, Spices and Herbs, Furniture, Dried Fruits and Vegetables, Handicrafts, Fish and Seafood, Hides and Skins, Food, Natural Products, Fresh Fruit and Vegetables.
Importing country profile: Canada, The EU, Germany, The Netherlands, The USA
Cross Cutting: Health, Safety and Environment, Packaging and Marketing, Packaging Design, Printing, Transport and Distribution
Use of CRT Packaging Modules
Modules are designed to be used independently, or in combination with others;
For example, for a fresh fruit producer from Ukraine exporting to European markets, the customized training include modules on:
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Paper and Board and plastics
Ukrainian packaging supply chain audit
EU import regulations
Transport and distribution
Printing, packaging and marketing cross cutting
The writing style is concise, easy to understand, and supported with useful infographics (schematic diagrams, graphics, charts and visuals).
Package modules can be integrated with other CRT packaging publications, like our glossary of terms.
Modules can also be used in combination with other CRT training programmes such as Supply Chain Management or Export Marketing and Branding.
CRT packaging training ideally complements The CRT’s programmes for sector upgrading
Each CRT packaging module is structured along similar lines:
A brief overview of the subject area, including the main packaging-related features of its world market and distribution channels.
A substantial discussion of the export packaging issues, e.g. selection of appropriate packaging, types of packaging used, relevant packaging materials and alternatives, packaging security, standards, environmental impact, eco-labeling, and procurement.
Coverage of legislation and regulations related to health, safety and the environment in the context of WTO agreements and the importing countries requirements.
A concluding discussion on the impact for developing countries, with recommended approaches for exporters.
Networks
CRT networks with more than 100 leading packaging institutions in the world. In order to achieve sustainable development objectives it is essential to nurture, empower and mobilize networks of local business support institutions. CRT partners with various types of organizations and business development service providers, including private consultancies, trade support institutions, training centers, technical institutes, universities and NGOs. These can be sector-specific or cross-cutting. A key focus is the active management of this global network to continue providing high-quality business development services to end beneficiaries.
There are three different levels of partnerships arrangements with CRT:
Associate Partners
These are institutional partners that have been identified as suitable focal points for coordinating export programmes. Such partnerships can be ad-hoc, with the institution delivering a programme successfully but not being interested in running further programmes, but can also be longer term partnerships.
Licensed Partners
These are partner institutions that license specific products and services from The CRT’s portfolio and commit to wide-scale dissemination of these in their national or regional context.
Strategic Partners
These are licensed partner institutions that run a range of CRT products and services and offer additional services, such as updating and upgrading programme contents or providing training and qualification of advisors on CRT’s behalf. Strategic partners can act as regional hubs to replicate CRT’s export development programmes, in close coordination with CRT professionals and international experts.
For more information on how to join the CRT’s network please contact us.
