Packaging Project Brief Template

Identify the business need and the product the packaging must contain, protect, present, or organize.

• Company, contact, project name, and confidentiality needs
• New launch, redesign, line extension, cost review, supplier change, or reorder
• Product name, category, physical form, relevant chemistry, oils, aroma, moisture, particles, or sharp edges
• Fill weight or volume, piece count, bulk density, and headspace
• Direct or indirect product contact and intended market
• Target launch, approval, production, and delivery dates

Describe the desired package in buyer language; unknown technical details can remain open.

• Flexible pouch, rollstock, paper box, label, shrink sleeve, tray, molded component, or coordinated system
• Finished dimensions, fill size, or reference sample
• Opening, tear, zipper, spout, cap, valve, handle, window, tamper evidence, or dispensing
• Single use, repeated use, refill, sample, retail, foodservice, subscription, ecommerce, or shipping
• Shelf stance, hanging, stacking, display, unboxing, and disposal expectations
• Primary, secondary, and distribution packaging components

The package must fit the process and route to market, not only the product.

• Premade-package filling or form-fill-seal equipment
• Machine make, model, co-packer specification, line speed, web, repeat, seal, coding, and trial requirements
• Ambient, refrigerated, frozen, hot-fill, pasteurization, retort, or other processing conditions
• Storage range, humidity, light, chemical, abrasion, compression, drop, vibration, and pallet exposure
• Shelf-life target and existing performance data
• Case count, pallet pattern, shipping method, destination, and fulfillment requirements

State the result the package must achieve and identify how it will be confirmed.

• Oxygen, moisture, aroma, grease, light, puncture, stiffness, seal, leak, drop, compression, chemical, or temperature needs
• Food-contact, product-contact, child-resistant, tamper-evident, sustainability, certification, or market-specific evidence requested
• Compatibility, shelf-life, seal, leak, fit, line, drop, vibration, compression, barcode, rub, or other testing
• Reference specification or approved incumbent sample
• Who owns test design, samples, acceptance criteria, results, and final approval

Separate technical development from SKU count, production scale, and release control.

• Quantity by size, SKU, artwork version, and order stage
• Annual forecast, reorder frequency, launch quantity, and scale-up expectation
• Artwork status, brand guide, dieline, copy source, barcode, color references, and finish targets
• Prototype, plain sample, printed proof, color target, line trial, or production sample required
• Budget or target cost where available
• Delivery address, incoterm or logistics needs, required date, and contact
• Named approvers for specification, artwork, samples, tests, commercial terms, and production release