Wood is the oldest packaging materials known to man, and is traditionally used to package a wide range of solid products such as antiques and gold, ceramics and fabrics. Wood is a raw material in the manufacture of pallets, crates or wooden boxes in countries that have a source of natural wood in large quantities. But this time the supply of wood for the manufacture of packaging are also a big issue because of the increasing scarcity of timber producing forests.
Wood packaging design depends on the nature and weight of the product, construction packaging, packaging materials and packaging strength, dimensional packaging, methods and strengths. The use of wood packaging such as boxes, wooden barrels ataupalet very common in the transportation of various commodities in the trade intrenasional. Delivery of handicraft products such as ceramics are often wrapped in a wooden crate in order to protect the ceramic from the risk of rupture.
Wood packaging commonly used as tertiary packaging to protect other packaging that is in it. In designing the packaging timber, the necessary processes and materials alernatif proper technique to make the packaging more economical. Shaped wooden packing boxes and crates remain a role for a variety of products, although it must compete with the drum of polypropilen and polyethylene. Here are some forms of packaging made of wood.
Figure 31. Tomato and mango in wooden packaging and sales in the market
Excess wood packaging is to provide good mechanical protection against material being packed, the characteristics of a good pile and has a compression ratio of appeal against a high weight. The use of wooden packaging for antiques can improve the quality of the product because of the transfer of aroma components from the timber to the product.
Petikayu use for packaging in some countries is still cheaper than other packaging materials. Besides importing countries such as Australia are also asking for a certificate stating that the wood has got special treatment to prevent the spread of disease or insect wood, such as fumigation treatment or other chemical treatment.