REKABENTUK UNIVERSAL UNTUK PEMBUNGKUSAN - PENYELESAIAN SEMUA PENGGUNA

REKABENTUK UNIVERSAL UNTUK PEMBUNGKUSAN - PENYELESAIAN SEMUA PENGGUNA

Semua pengguna tentu pernah mengalami keadaan yang mereka tidak boleh membuka sesuatu bungkusan atau pembalut makanan dan sebagainya. Kesukaran seperti ini pula sering dialami oleh warga emas dan Orang Kelainan Upaya (OKU). Organisasi Standard Antarabangsa (ISO), memberikan satu jalan penyelesaian kepada masalah ini dengan cara membangunkan satu standard untuk cara pembungkusan yang mudah digunakan oleh warga emas, OKU dan semua pengguna lain. Standard ISO 11156:2011, Packaging – Accessible design – General requirements, ini memberikan satu rangka kerja mengenai reka bentuk pembungkusan, iaitu standard ini mengambil kira faktor-faktor seperti keupayaan rangsangan dan fizikal pengguna untuk memastikan ia boleh digunakan bukan sahaja oleh pengguna yang mempunyai masalah penglihatan, pendengaran atau pergerakan, tetapi juga berupaya mengatasi kekurangan yang di alami oleh warga emas yang mempunyai masalah penglihatan atau pergerakan yang terganggu. Secara umumnya ia juga boleh digunakan oleh pengguna-pengguna yang normal5 dan tidak mempunyai sebarang halangan dari segi keupayaan fizikal mereka. Standard ini juga mematuhi standard ISO/TR 22411:2008 and ISO/IEC Guide 71:2001, yang disasarkan penggunaan oleh pereka dan pihak penilai di bidang standardisasi.  Standard in juga boleh digunakan oleh pengeluar, makmal-makmal, penyedia perkhidmatan, golongan pendidik dan lain-lain lagi. Setiap reka bentuk dalam standard ini telah dipilih secara teliti dan mengambil kira pertimbangan dan cadangan yang berasaskan prinsip ergonomil yang penting untuk membuat rekaan untuk pembungkusan berdasarkan produk. Faktor-faktor seperti maklumat penting produk, identifikasi, cara kendalian, pembukaan, pengagihan, penyimpanan , pemisahan dan pembuangan juga diberi perhatian. Reka bentuk Universal adalah penting kerana ia membolehkan pengguna di seluruh dunia menggunakan sesuatu produk dan pembungkusan secara selamat, selesa, kepuasan yang mencukupi, tidak kira umur, halangan keupayaan fizikal, bahasa dan budaya. Isu aksesibiliti atau kebolehcapaian ini telah menjadi semakin penting dengan peningkatan populasi golongan OKU di populasi dunia dan ini telah dibuktikan di konvenyen Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu  (UN) yang menegaskan hak OKU di dunia. Produk yang mempunyai pembungkusan dengan reka bentuk universal mampu untuk meningkatkan kegunaan semua golongan dan membantu barangan diperdagangkan di seluruh dunia tanpa halangan dan sekatan. Mohana Priya Persatuan Pengguna-Pengguna Standard Malaysia

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PASTIKAN KESELAMATAN ALAT MAINAN KANAK-KANAK

Label merupakan satu perkara yang amat penting pada alat mainan. Anda haruslah membeli alat mainan yang mempunyai pelabelan yang baik. Sebagai contoh, anda harus melihat kepada label yang memberikan maklumat mengenai kesesuaian umur kanak-kanak untuk bermain dengan alat mainan tersebut. Jika alat mainan yang dikhaskan untuk  kanak–kanak yang lebih tua diberi kepada kanak-kanak kecil atau bayi, ia boleh menyebabkan kecederaan. Label yang baik juga harus menyatakan nama, alamat dan nombor telefon pengedar atau pengilang. Kini, pengguna-pengguna harus melihat label MC pada alat mainan kanak-kanak. Label MC merupakan Conformity Mark yang bermaksud alat mainan tersebut mematuhi standard keselamatan yang telah dikuatkuasakan oleh Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan. Tercekik Kanak-kanak kecil, terutamanya kanak-kanak yang berumur 3 tahun ke bawah mempunyai kecenderungan untuk memasukkan alat mainan ke dalam mulut. Alat mainan yang mempunyai tayar seperti kereta, lori, motosikal harus dipastikan supaya tidak mudah tertanggal. Alat mainan juga tidak harus mempunyai bahagian-bahagian lain  yang mudah dikeluarkan atau tertanggal kerana kanak-kanak boleh tercekik jika tertelan. Bagi bayi, alat mainan yang bertujuan untuk digigit haruslah berukuran besar supaya bayi tersebut tidak akan tercekik. Tali Panjang Alat mainan dengan tali yang terlalu panjang juga harus dielakkan kerana tali tersebut boleh tersimpul di leher kanak-kanak dan bayi. Ini boleh menyebabkan masalah tercekik yang serius. Belon juga merupakan sejenis alat mainan yang diperbuat daripada getah. Belon yang belum ditiup boleh ditelan oleh kanak-kanak. Oleh itu, belon yang belum ditiup harus dijauhkan daripada kanak-kanak. Jika terdapat belon yang meletup, sisa-sisa belon tersebut hendaklah dikutip dan dibuang dengan serta-merta. Magnet-magnet dan bateri kecil Bagi alat mainan yang mempunyai magnet, anda harus memastikan bahawa magnet tersebut adalah kuat dan tidak mudah tertanggal daripada alat mainan tersebut. Kecederaan pada salur penghadaman dan bahaya tercekik mungkin terjadi pada kanak- kanak yang menelan magnet. Jauhkan alat-alat permainan yang mempunyai magnet daripada kanak-kanak yang berusia di bawah enam tahun. Sesetengah alat mainan akan mempunyai label yang menyatakan bahawa alat mainan tersebut mempunyai magnet Sesetengah alat mainan menggunakan bateri untuk berfungsi. Bateri-bateri tersebut mempunyai pelbagai saiz. Ibu-bapa tidak harus membenarkan kanak-kanak kecil untuk memasang bateri atau bermain dengannya. Ini kerana kanak-kanak boleh tertelan dengan bateri yang bersaiz kecil. Terdapat pula kanak-kanak yang suka meletakkan bateri ke dalam mulut. Ini boleh menyebabkan bahan kimia yang terdapat pada bateri masuk ke dalam mulut kanak-kanak tersebut di mana ia boleh membawa keracunan logam berat. Tempat memasang bateri juga harus dipastikan ditutup dengan ketat supaya kanak-kanak tidak boleh membukanya. Bunyi yang kuat Alat-alat mainan dengan bahagian dan hujung yang tajam tidak sesuai untuk dibeli. Telinga kanak-kanak adalah sangat sensitif kepada bunyi.Alat permainan dengan muzik yang kuat adalah tidak baik untuk kanak-kanak kecil kerana ia boleh menyebabkan kerosakan pada sistem pendengaran mereka. Bahan Kimia Toksik Beberapa alat mainan atau bahan kosmetik kanak-kanak mengandungi bahan kimia toksik. Kanak-kanak tidak harus dibenarkan untuk mamasukkan Alat mainan seperti cincin, rantai, gelang dan sebagainya ke dalam mulut kerana mainan seperti ini biasanya mempunyai bahan kimia seperti plumbum dan kadmium yang boleh terkeluar disebabkan air liur dan diresap masuk ke dalam badan melalui mulut. Mohana Priya Persatuan Pengguna-Pengguna Standard Malaysia

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Labels

Importance of Labels

Date Updated : 5/2/2012 6:20:15 PM

Label is an identity of a product. It helps business promote their product and catch people’s attention. It is beneficial to consumers as well to let them distinguish goods from one another.

Product labels are made from various material and come from different forms. They are the stickers attached in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), the content printed in plastic containers of bakery products and the cloth tied up on dresses which indicates the brand name. In order for labels to be attractive, the product owner should take some time formulating the looks of this attachment. The design would entirely depend on what merchandise you are promoting. If you are selling toys, it is understandable to make the label painted with vibrant colors to draw kid’s attention. For FMCG, it is a legal requirement to enumerate the ingredients used in producing the product. It allows the consumers to read the label and let them know which one suits their needs. Reading labels has advantages for picky consumers. They will be able to select the product according to the amount of serving they need. Goods containing ingredients that may cause allergic reaction to the consumer will be avoided and those who prefer a healthy lifestyle can point out the total calories a food contains. Food labels also show the date of manufacture and best before date that serves as a mark if the food is still safe to intake.

Another detail that can be found on labels is the company logo which can assist the buyers to easily spot the product even before reading the brand name. Creating a logo can be more meticulous compared to simply printing down the company name and a bunch of words. However, it is a good way for creating a strong impression and establishing brands in the market place. Labels can be sophisticated, simple and colorful but make sure they are creative and unique to make a product distinct from the rest of its kind.

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Why food labels are important for consumers?

Saturday, 19 December 2009 - 10:49am IST | Agency: DNA

• Manjula Pooja Shroff

Checking out food labels can help one choose the right amount of natural vitamins A & C with calcium and iron for kids.

Consumers often compare prices of food items in the grocery store to choose the best value for money. But comparing items using the food label can help us choose the best value for our health. The food label is one of the most valuable tools we as consumers have. For example, someone with high blood pressure who needs to watch salt (sodium) intake may have a choice of five different types of tomato soup on the rack.  One can quickly and easily compare the sodium content of each product by looking at the part of the label that lists nutrition information to choose the one with the lowest sodium content.

Most nutrients are defined on the basis of 2,000 calorie intake a day for women and 2,200 calories intake a day for men, but one does not need to memorize these numbers. As per the regulation the nutrients must be declared on the Nutrition Facts Label as "percent Daily Value" (%DV), which tells the percent of the recommended daily intake to help the consumer create a balanced diet.

As the saying goes "You are what you eat". These days most items contain food preservatives and food colour. Youngsters eat cereal and consume sports drinks that are blue, green and multicolored. Research shows that colour is not good for the body and may even have carcinogenic - inducing cancer- properties. Younger kids eat lollipops and cotton candy which is pure sugar and colour. Checking out food labels can help one choose the right amount of natural Vitamin A & C, calcium and iron for kids and avoid the junk.

In general, while reading the read Nutrition Facts Labels, one is looking for foods that are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals and low in sugar, sodium, cholesterol, and fats (especially saturated fat and trans fat). The diet mantra is to choose foods that are low in fat, low in calories, low in cholesterol and high in fiber.

Typically the Food Labels cover the following information.  Serving Size - Located at the top of the label, this refers to the amount of food; Servings Per Container: About 2. This tells us how many servings are there in the bag. In this case, it says about 2. Calories: One Serving, 170 (Whole Bag, 340); this specifies that consuming half the bag will give an intake of 170 calories. Calories from Fat: One Serving, 110 (Whole Bag, 220). This refers to how many of the food's calories come from fat.

The next section of the label lists the amount of fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins and minerals that the food item offers.

* 5% or less of a nutrient, it's considered a poor source of that nutrient.
*10-20% of your daily recommended amount of a nutrient, it's a good source of that nutrient.
* More than 20%, it's high in that nutrient.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US, requires that all packaged food items including fruits vegetables and poultry carry the complete nutritional information. The European Union is making food labeling compulsory across 27 nations in an effort to check obesity, parents in Australia are demanding that food labeling becomes compulsory so that children get the right and balanced diet. In India however food labeling standard is still in its infancy and suppliers only provide very limited information towards product quality, safety and food value.

The new age design of food labels are easy to read and are so friendly that even young children understand them. Following the labels helps one in creating balanced lunch boxes for kids, picking up the right nutrients for ailing or elderly people or selecting the right dietary mix for the fashionable.

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Packaging

Packaging

With the increased importance placed on self-service marketing, the role of packaging is becoming quite significant. For example, in a typical supermarket a shopper passes about 600 items per minute, or one item every tenth of a second. Thus, the only way to get some consumers to notice the product is through displays, shelf hangers, tear-off coupon blocks, other point-of-purchase devices, and, last but not least, effective packages. Considering the importance placed on the package, it is not surprising that a great deal of research is spent on motivational research, color testing, psychological manipulation, and so forth, in order to ascertain how the majority of consumers will react to a new package. Based on the results of this research, past experience, and the current and anticipated decisions of competitors, the marketer will initially determine the primary role of the package relative to the product. Should it include quality, safety, distinction, affordability, convenience, or aesthetic beauty?

Various Packaging Designs, including labeling

Packaging refers to the physical appearance of a product when a consumer sees it, and labels are an informative component of packaging.

Common uses of packaging include:

• Physical protection: The objects enclosed in the package may require protection from, among other things, mechanical shock, vibration, electrostatic discharge, compression, temperature, etc.
• Information transmission: Packages and labels communicate how to use, transport, recycle, or dispose of the package or product. With pharmaceuticals, food, medical, and chemical products, some types of information are required by governments. Some packages and labels also are used for track and trace purposes.
• Marketing: The packaging and labels can be used by marketers to encourage potential buyers to purchase the product. Package graphic design and physical design have been important and constantly evolving phenomenon for several decades. Marketing communications and graphic design are applied to the surface of the package and (in many cases) the point of sale display, examples of which are shown here: .
• Convenience: Packages can have features that add convenience in distribution, handling, stacking, display, sale, opening, re-closing, use, dispensing, reuse, recycling, and ease of disposal.
• Barrier protection: A barrier from oxygen, water vapor, dust, etc., is often required. Permeation is a critical factor in design. Some packages contain desiccants or oxygen absorbency to help extend shelf life. Modified atmospheres or controlled atmospheres are also maintained in some food packages. Keeping the contents clean, fresh, sterile and safe for the intended shelf life is a primary function.
• Security: Packaging can play an important role in reducing the security risks of shipment. Packages can be made with improved tamper resistance to deter tampering and also can have tamper-evident features to help indicate tampering. Packages can be engineered to help reduce the risks of package pilferage.

Labeling

A label is a carrier of information about the product. The attached label provides customers with information to aid their purchase decision or help improve the experience of using the product. Labels can include:

• Care and use of the product
• Recipes or suggestions
• Ingredients or nutritional information
• Product guarantees
• Manufacturer name and address
• Weight statements
• Sell by date and expiration dates
• Warnings

Symbols Used in Labels

Many types of symbols for package labeling are nationally and internationally standardized. For consumer packaging, symbols exist for product certifications, trademarks, and proof of purchase. Some requirements and symbols exist to communicate aspects of consumer use and safety. For example, the estimated sign notes conformance to EU weights and measures accuracy regulations. Examples of environmental and recycling symbols include the recycling symbol, the resin identification code, and the "green dot."

Labeling Laws

žIn some countries, many products, including food and pharmaceuticals, are required by law to contain certain labels such as ingredients, nutritional information, or usage warning information (FDA). For example, a law label is a legally required tag or label on new items describing the fabric and filling regulating the United States mattress, upholstery, and stuffed article industry. The purpose of the law label is to inform the consumer of the hidden contents, or "filling materials" inside bedding & furniture products. Laws requiring these tags were passed in the United States to inform consumers as to whether the stuffed article they were buying contained new or recycled materials. The recycling logo, , needed to be displayed on the label. The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) is a law that applies to labels on many consumer products that states the products identity, the company that manufactures it, and the net quantity of contents.

Labels Indicating Recycled Material

Laws were passed in the United States to inform consumers as to whether the stuffed articles they were buying contained new or recycled materials.

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What's On The Label?: how Consumers Evaluate Product Labeling

2005-06-01

What consumers look for on package labels varies depending on the lens through which they approach a product, such as diet needs (i.e., wheat allergies, lactose intolerance), diet choices (i.e., low-carb diet), and their overall involvement with wellness. Within the world of wellness, core, mid-level and periphery consumers have different approaches to the label components on a package. The most important label components for the core consumer are the ingredient list and the nutrition facts, while the mid-level consumer will look at the product description, the ingredient list, the brand and the nutrition facts. Finally, periphery consumers look to product description, the brand and the health claims to evaluate a particular product. For example, core consumers will largely ignore a product descriptor - "macaroni and cheese" - and will instead read the ingredient list to determine "what a product is." Periphery consumers, however, use the product descriptor to determine "what a product is" among categories and will rarely use ingredient lists.

Label Components	Core	Mid-Level	Periphery
Brand	Brand is used to look for new flavors and types within already "investigated" brands (typically organic): "I buy Nature's Path...I know about them."	Important in the selection of conventional brands. Still experimenting with organic brands.	Brand is critical. Also note that consumers may switch frequently between brands based on price and promotion.
Product description	Mostly unimportant: reads all ingredients, then decides "what the product is."	Important as a tool to compare between conventional and organic categories.	Important as a tool to compare between conventional categories: Uses product description to know "what a product is."
Nutrition facts	Considers nutrition facts a critical label component, looking at: protein, saturated fat, sugar and carbohydrates.	Considers nutrition facts a critical label component, looking at: calories, fat and fiber.	Considers nutrition facts panel a relatively non-critical component, looking at: serving size, calories, fat, then carbohydrates.
Ingredient List	The ingredient list is the most critical driver of purchase: Nearly always used and constitutes the "inspection" of a product. May read every ingredient on a new product, looking for organic. Prefers short lists.	The ingredient list is a fairly critical driver to purchase: Used very frequently. Looking for sugar as second or third ingredient rather than the first. Looking for short lists.	The ingredient list is non-critical and only occasionally used: Will look at ingredients only if making a "healthy purchase." May check a list to see if it is short, but not necessarily for specific ingredients to avoid.
Content claims	Can influence if consumer is a vegan or shopping with health conditions in mind.	Can influence if shopping with health conditions or diet in mind.	Will only influence if shopping with a health condition in mind.
Health claims	Resonate most to whole grain, no preservatives, GMO-free, organic, no artificial colors or artificial ingredients.	Resonate most to whole grain, low-fat, organic, high fiber, natural and rich in calcium.	Resonates to light or low; rich in calcium and low-carb.
Origin	Some trust organic products themselves to be from "safe origins," others will look for country.	Relatively little concern but has heard about pesticides on imported produce.	Little to no concern.

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Packaging and Labeling

Packaging refers to the physical appearance of a product when a consumer sees it, and labels are an informative component of packaging.

Key Points

• The role of packaging in marketing has become quite significant as it is one of the ways companies can get consumers to notice products.
  
• A common use of packaging is marketing. The packaging and labels can be used by marketers to encourage potential buyers to purchase the product.
  
• Packaging is also used for convenience and information transmission. Packages and labels communicate how to use, transport, recycle, or dispose of the package or product.
  
• Labels serve to capture the attention of shoppers as well as provide useful information regarding the product.
  
• Labels are attached on the product package to provide information such as manufacturer of the product, date of manufacture, date of expiry, its ingredients, how to use the product, and its handling.
  

Term

• Packaging
  Physical appearance of a good prepared for retail sale

Example

• The packaging of perfumes, for instance, attempts to appeal to the sensibilities of its target consumer. For instance, a perfume geared towards younger females may have colorful, feminine packaging, but a perfume for older professional women may have more subdued and sophisticated packaging.

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