In this blog, we explore the Packaging Development Plan (PDP) of Garrett Patrick, Senior Manager of Packaging Engineering at The Gorilla Glue Company. And if you're not sure what a PDP is, read on!

The Packaging Development Plan

Our online Certificate of Mastery in Packaging Management (CMPM) is a 12-week, PhD-led certificate program designed for professionals seeking to advance their career in the packaging industry. Through 14 comprehensive courses, personalized 1-on-1 coaching from Dr. Julie Rice Suggs, and the PDP, students who take part in the CMPM program develop a deep understanding of a package's entire value chain—from cradle to grave.

The PDP begins as a 27-page template containing 10 phases that mirror the packaging development and management process. For many CMPM students, this template often morphs into something much larger—some PDPS break over 200+ pages, producing a valuable resource that benefits both the student and their organization.

10 Phases of the PDP

• Project Kickstart

• Project Management Essentials

• Regulations & Sustainability

• Materials I

• Materials II

• Package Labeling & Finishing

• Packaging Development Workflow

• Capital Equipment and Scale Plan

• Supply / Distribution Plan

• Human Factors in Packaging Design

Garrett's PDP Project

For Garrett's PDP project, his role was that of a packaging designer at a consumer packaged goods brand.

The Project

Garrett chose to pursue a concentrated soap brand:

The intent of the project is to provide a sustainable direction for an established eco-friendly brand looking to compete in today's market. This would be a complete reconstruct of existing packaging + R&D formulation, in order to better align with the brand identity and truly appeal to the targeted consumer.

The Strategy

In Garrett's words:

The end objective is to offer consumers an ethical alternative while providing a value at the register. To achieve this, we are proposing a concentrated cartridge system across all soap extensions, and moving away from the single-use products we sell today.

We will offer aluminum bottles for first purchase, that will then be refilled using tap water + concentrate. The consumer will no longer be purchasing excessive packaging and water, and will see direct savings with each refill purchase.

This will also accomplish internal efficiencies / savings for purchasing less component material as well as storage / logistical demands. In an emerging e-commerce market, offering a subscription service for refills will also provide a direct-to-consumer savings, while nurturing consistent sales for the business.

Garrett's Testimonial

The Packaging Development Plan process provided a comprehensive roadmap for how to complete a high-level packaging project, from initial conception all the way through the final implementation phase. The structured framework will be something I can implement moving forward, no matter the project or where I am in my career.

Learn more about the CMPM

Since we launched the Certificate of Mastery in Packaging Management (CMPM) alongside Clemson University's Center for Corporate Learning in 2017, we have trained hundreds of packaging professionals across the industry—from Fortune 500 companies to small family-owned packaging operations.

The CMPM is cohort-based, led by our very own Julie Rice Suggs, PhD! Learn more about the program here: https://packagingschool.com/certifications/get-to-know-cmpm