Maintaining Packaging Compositions

Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Maintain packaging compositions

Manage Packaging Compositions

Packaging Compositions

Packaging compositions define which packaging elements belong to a product during a specific time frame. Multiple products can be assigned to a single packaging composition but the time frames during which they are assigned cannot overlap.

Packaging compositions can be created in two ways:

  • Data import using a file or the API
  • In the Manage Packaging Compositions application

Packaging elements can be added to packaging compositions that were imported. But it is not possible to delete or change imported items.

Packaging compositions can be created and edited in the Manage Packaging Compositions application. In this application, you can add or remove packaging elements or products that were created using the application. For these items the source system is indicated as RDP.

The information below provides in-depth explanations of some attributes of packaging compositions. To see a complete table of all of the data that packaging compositions consist of, see PackagingComposition_Template.xlsx.

Packaging Compositions

TermDescription
Base quantityBase quantity is a reference quantity that is defined for the packaging composition. It contains the header quantity of the packaging composition. Item quantities refer to this header quantity.
QuantityIndicates the item quantity, referring to the base quantity. For example, base quantity 20 cases – item quantity 1 pallet. This means that 20 cases fill one pallet.
Packaging elementIndicates the packaging element that is assigned to a packaging composition.
Packaging levelThe packaging levels are predefined. There are four possible values for packaging elements:
  • Primary: A packaging element that directly touches the product, for example, bottle, crown cap, yoghurt cup, envelope. The difference towards the sub-primary level is significant because packaging that touches the product can be subject to a different reporting classification that is subject to a special fee, for example, hazardous packaging.
  • Sub-primary: A packaging that faces consumers but is not in direct contact with the product, for example, a carton around the tube of toothpaste, a handle, a sleeve, an aid to use the product, or an instruction leaflet if it is regarded as packaging.
  • Secondary: A packaging that does not face consumers. This level is often required to differentiate between commercial waste and household waste.
  • Tertiary: Transport packaging that is meant to shield the product during transport or for stock keeping, for example, pallet, outer carton, shrink wrap, strap band. This level is often required to differentiate between commercial waste and household waste.
EPR groupAn attribute that can be used to define groups of packaging elements on the same packaging level. There are EPR reports where items with the same EPR group are treated as one single packaging element. The EPR (disposal) group can be used for this purpose. For example, it might be required that the label and the bottle have a different group from the cap on the bottle, but the same packaging level. This way it is indicated that cap and bottle are disposed separately. There is a special case for how PROs can treat compounds that also concerns EPR groups. Compounds are packaging elements that consist of different basic material fractions that cannot be separated from each other by the end-consumer. If a compound consists of several packaging elements, it may be treated as one packaging element if the following conditions are true:
  • All related packaging elements belong to the same EPR group.
  • All related packaging elements are marked as 'compound'.
  • All related packaging elements belong to the same packaging level.
WWF groupAnother attribute that can be used to define groups of packaging elements on the same packaging level. These groups are defined by the WWF (World Wide Fund For Nature) and they can be used to create a report for the WWF. Usually the grouping is done per packaging level. Groups on deviating packaging levels are calculated separately. Groups on transport level are usually not considered.
Source systemThe system where the data has been created. 'External file' indicates that data was imported. 'RDP' indicates that data was created in SAP Responsible Design and Production.

How to View Packaging Compositions

Select Watch Demo to start the simulation.

How to Manage Packaging Compositions

Select Watch Demo to start the simulation.

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