Why is cigarette packaging so important?

The packaging of any product plays a critical role in preserving its freshness and utility. Especially for perishable items such as cigarettes, the packaging is even more crucial.

Cigarette packaging plays several roles. Firstly, it preserves the freshness of tobacco to deliver a consistently superior experience every time. Insufficient or poor packaging may deteriorate the taste of tobacco. The tobacco loses its freshness if it becomes too dry or too humid. Therefore, the packaging must ensure an appropriate moisture content to preserve the taste.

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Every time a person smokes, he takes a cigarette out of his pack, lights it, closes the pack firmly, and put it back as he smokes. The cigarette pack stays with the consumer wherever he goes. He constantly takes it out, making packaging an important medium of marketing. This has an important insight for marketers to make packaging an integral part of the brand-building of cigarettes. Packaging should be such that the smoker would like to identify himself with the brand. He should feel good about taking out the pack when he is around people. That is why leading brands focus on making exclusive packaging for cigarettes that reveal their brand statements.

Everything you need to know about cigarette packs: 

A cigarette pack is a rectangular box, usually made of paperboard. To preserve the flavor, the packet has a protective foil, paper, or plastic. An airtight plastic film enhances the seal. The packet opens through the “pull tabs”. Hard packaging is resealable, while soft packs are not. Philip Morris introduced the flip-top hard packs in 1955. They protect the cigarettes against damage when kept in a pocket. Hard packs are very useful for branding purposes. Soft packs, on the other hand, give the convenience of easy opening. They do not occupy much space and are easier to carry than hard packs. However, they do not prevent cigarettes from damage. Also, they are not resealable. Most countries make it mandatory to print a standardized warning about the hazards of smoking. The package size varies according to government regulations in different countries. Then the manufacturers pack these packets into cartons. Usually, each carton contains either 10 or 20 packs of cigarettes.

From time to time, manufacturers launch collectible packs to augment brand loyalty. The iconic cigarette packs from the 1900s are vintage collections. These are one of the most prized possessions of the owners.

How to pack a cigarette pack?

Sometimes when you smoke a cigarette you discover that the lit part at the end crumbles out because the tobacco is too loose. To prevent such a mishappening, you can pack your pack of cigarettes and enjoy a pleasurable smoke experience.

The objective is to hold the tobacco more tightly together in the cigarette. Follow these steps to pack your cigarette pack tightly.

  1. Hold your pack of cigarettes correctly: 

Get a cardboard packaging cigarette pack. Do not remove the cellophane around the box until you are done with packing. Flip the pack upside down with your dominant hand. This will bring the tobacco down to the filter. Hold the pack firmly so that it will not fly out of your hand as you hit it with force.

  1. Hit the pack with force against a surface: 

Use medium force to hit the pack against a flat surface, such as a tabletop. Continue hitting for about 6 to 7 times. Rotate the pack while still in your dominant hand, switching the positions of your thumb and fingers. Now hit the pack again in this new position. This will let the tobacco spread evenly across all the cigarettes toward the filters.

  1. Remove the cellophane and enjoy your cigarette:

Pull the tap on the cellophane strip to open your pack and take out a cigarette. Inspect how tightly the tobacco is packed to get an idea as to how much you have to hit next time to spread the tobacco evenly.

Once you have taken out your cigarette, make sure you seal the pack correctly to preserve the freshness of the remaining cigarettes in the packet. Once opened, a cigarette pack lasts for about two to four days after which the cigarettes become stale. To keep the cigarettes fresh, you can put them in a zip-lock bag and refrigerate them. However, it is best to purchase smaller packets containing ten cigarettes so that you can finish them within four days maximum.