Alexei Volkov
Cigarette packaging has evolved over time, with early examples including cigarette cards featuring celebrity pictures for easy identification. The most common materials used for cigarette packs today are paperboard or cardboard, with foil or plastic lining to protect the contents from environmental factors. Cigarette packs are typically designed with a flavour-protective layer of foil, paper, or plastic and sealed with transparent plastic film. This plastic film, also known as cellophane, is a thin, transparent sheet made from regenerated cellulose, providing protection from dust, moisture, and water while also preserving taste. While the hinge-lid pack is the most popular style, especially in Western markets, other styles include the soft pack, shell and slide pack, shoulder pack, and distribution packs, which can be made of fluted cardboard or wrapped in polyethylene.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Paperboard, cardboard, foil, plastic |
| Plastic type | Cellophane |
| Plastic properties | Thin, transparent, low permeability to air, oil, grease, bacteria, and water, anti-static, high gloss |
| Plastic function | Prevent rust, moisture, pollution, dust, water, loss of taste |
| Plastic application | Dedicated machine, cigarette cellophane wrapping machine |
| Packaging styles | Hinge-lid pack, flip-top pack, soft pack, shell and slide, shoulder pack, clamshell pack |
| Packaging purpose | Protect cigarettes, brand image, attract consumers, create brand loyalty, differentiate products |
| Cigarette quantities | 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 30, 33, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1600 |
| Packaging regulations | Warning messages, plain packaging, minimum pack size, restricted loose tobacco sales |
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What You'll Learn
Cigarette packaging materials
Cigarette packaging has evolved over time, with various materials being used for different purposes. The primary materials used for cigarette packaging include paperboard, cardboard, foil, and plastic.
Paperboard, also known as cardboard, is a common material for cigarette packaging, providing a durable and lightweight option. It is often used for the outer packaging, forming a rigid box that protects the cigarettes from damage. This style of packaging is known as a "
Cardboard is also used for distribution packs, which can hold a larger number of cigarettes, typically in multiples of boxes containing 200 cigarettes. These distribution packs can be made of fluted cardboard or wrapped in polyethylene, a type of plastic. Polyethylene offers a more cost-effective and space-saving option compared to cardboard.
Foil is another important component of cigarette packaging. It is used as a lining inside the paperboard or cardboard boxes to protect the cigarettes from environmental factors that could affect their quality and flavour. This foil lining can be made of various materials, including paper, plastic, or metal foil, and helps to create an airtight seal.
Plastic is commonly used in cigarette packaging in the form of cellophane, a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose. Cellophane is wrapped around the cigarette packs to prevent dust, moisture, and pollution, thus preserving the freshness and flavour of the cigarettes. It also provides a high-gloss finish that enhances the visual appeal of the packaging. Plastic is also used for special types of packaging, such as plastic-foiled sealed clamshells for exclusive cigarettes.
In addition to these primary materials, cigarette packaging may also incorporate innovative designs and techniques to enhance brand image and promote sales. For example, companies may use gold and silver foiling, embossing, perforating, debussing, raised ink printing, and digital printing to create visually appealing and distinctive packaging.
Furthermore, the size and format of cigarette packs can vary depending on the brand and region. While 20 cigarettes per pack is the most common quantity, packs can also contain 10, 25, 30, or even 50 cigarettes in some regions. The number of cigarettes in a pack is influenced by factors such as convenience, pricing, and local regulations.
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Plastic wrapping
Cigarette packs are typically made from paperboard or cardboard, with foil or plastic lining to protect the contents from environmental factors that could affect their quality. The plastic wrapping on cigarette packs is generally called cellophane. It is a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose. Its low permeability to air, oils, greases, bacteria, and water makes it useful for food packaging. Cigarette packs wrapped in cellophane can effectively prevent dust, moisture, and water, and prevent taste from being lost.
Cigarette packs are popular items among collectors. Collectors usually base their collections on various criteria such as cigarette brand, country of producer, time period, warning message, etc. Empty packs are more common and cheaper than full ones. Full packs are considered rare and are therefore often more expensive, especially packs in original cellophane wrapping.
The most common amount of cigarettes in a pack is 20, but packs can sometimes contain 10, 25, or even 30 cigarettes, depending on the brand and region. In some regions, 10-cigarette packs are also widely available and are often promoted as more cost-effective options for smokers who don't wish to commit to an entire 20-pack purchase. However, such smaller packs have been criticised for making cigarettes more accessible to younger people or those trying to reduce their smoking.
There are four main styles of primary cigarette packs: the hinge-lid pack or flip-top pack, the soft pack or soft cup pack, the shell and slide pack, and the shoulder pack or clamshell pack. The hinge-lid pack or flip-top pack is a rigid cardboard pack that protects the cigarettes from damage and is most popular in western markets. The soft pack or soft cup pack is made of paper and offers less protection, but is less costly to produce. The shell and slide pack offers the same protection as the hinge-lid pack but does not provide easy access to the cigarettes. The shoulder pack or clamshell pack is a stiff cardboard pack with a lid that opens like a tin of cigars and is most popular in Russia and the former Soviet Republics.
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Cigarette pack sizes
Cigarette packs are typically made from paperboard or cardboard, with foil or plastic lining to protect the contents from environmental factors that could affect the quality. Cigarette packs are also popular items among collectors. The plastic wrapping on cigarette packs is called cellophane, a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose. Its low permeability to air, oils, greases, bacteria, and water makes it useful for food packaging.
Cigarette packs come in various sizes, with 20 cigarettes being the most common amount. However, packs can sometimes contain 10, 25, or even 30 cigarettes, depending on the brand and region. In Australia, the most common quantity per pack is 25, but some brands offer 26 or the legal minimum of 20, with 30, 40, and even 50 packs also available. In Ireland, it is possible to purchase packs of 27 or 33 cigarettes, while the United Kingdom only sells brands in packs of 20.
The number 20 for cigarette packs was not chosen by accident. It represents a balance between practicality and affordability. A pack of 20 cigarettes is compact and easy to carry, and it is a manageable number for smokers who might consume a pack in a day or over several days. From a pricing perspective, manufacturers and retailers find that 20 cigarettes per pack offer a sweet spot that is not too expensive for customers while remaining profitable for businesses.
The flip-top hard pack cigarette case was introduced in 1955 by Philip Morris. This pack style prevents the crumpling of cigarettes when carried in a pocket or handbag. The hard pack is designed so that the smoker sees the brand name and logo on the top of the pack every time they open it, keeping the brand fresh in the consumer's mind and potentially increasing brand loyalty. Soft packs, on the other hand, are made of thin paper and are usually considered inconvenient as they rupture easily and cannot be resealed. They do, however, offer the convenience of not having to open the package each time a smoker wants a cigarette, and they take up less space when fewer cigarettes remain in the pack.
In recent times, the introduction of plain packaging has contributed to improving public health. Studies have shown that plain packaging reduces the positive image of smoking and the possibility of stimulus related to the package design, especially among young people.
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Cigarette pack design
Cigarette packs are rectangular containers, mostly made of paperboard or cardboard, with foil or plastic lining to protect the contents from environmental factors that could affect the quality. The pack is designed with a flavour-protective layer of foil, paper, or plastic, and sealed through a transparent airtight plastic film. This plastic film is typically made of a material called cellophane, a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose with low permeability to air, oil, grease, bacteria, and water, making it useful for food packaging. Cigarette packs often contain warning messages depending on the country in which they are sold. In the European Union, most tobacco warnings are standardised.
There are four main styles of primary cigarette packs. The most significant is the "hinge-lid pack" or "flip-top pack", a rigid cardboard pack that protects the cigarettes from damage and is most popular in western markets. The next most common is the "soft pack" or "soft cup pack", a pack of paper construction that offers less protection to the cigarette but is cheaper to produce. Before the hinge-lid pack, the "shell and slide" pack was popular and still is in some parts of the world. It offers the same protection as the hinge-lid pack but with less easy access to the cigarettes. Lastly, the "shoulder pack" or clamshell pack is popular in Russia and the former Soviet Republics. This is a stiff cardboard pack with a lid that opens like a tin of cigars.
Cigarette packs typically contain 20 cigarettes, although they can also contain 10, 25, or 30, depending on the brand and region. Some countries have banned packs with fewer than 20 cigarettes due to concerns about public health and encouraging smoking by lowering the cost of entry. Larger packs with 40, 60, 80, or even 100 cigarettes are becoming more common, as are duty-free packs containing 400, 600, 800, 1000, or 1600 cigarettes.
Tobacco companies use different techniques to create a stylish impact on their packaging, such as gold and silver foiling, embossing, perforating, debussing, raised ink printing, digital printing, and screen printing. Packaging plays a significant role in advertising and promoting tobacco products, creating brand loyalty, and driving brand image to attract new consumers. The introduction of plain packaging has been shown to improve public health, particularly among young people, as it reduces the positive image of smoking and the possibility of stimulus related to the package design.
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Cigarette pack distribution
Cigarette packs are typically made from paperboard or cardboard, with foil or plastic lining to protect the contents from environmental factors that could affect the quality. Cigarette packs are distributed in different quantities, with the most common amount being 20 cigarettes. However, packs can also contain 10, 25, or even 30 cigarettes, depending on the brand and region. In some countries, larger packs with 40, 60, 80, or 100 cigarettes are available, while duty-free packs can contain up to 1600 cigarettes.
The distribution pack can hold 3000, 5000, or even 10,000 cigarettes, consisting of up to 50 boxes of 200 cigarettes. The distribution pack can be made of fluted cardboard or wrapped in polyethylene using a stretch bander or shrink wrapper. The advantage of cardboard is that it provides a rigid and strong container for the packs. On the other hand, polyethylene produces a less expensive pack that takes up less space during distribution.
There are different styles of primary cigarette packs, with the most popular being the "hinge-lid pack" or "flip-top pack," which is a rigid cardboard pack that protects the cigarettes from damage and is widely used in Western markets. Another style is the "soft pack" or "soft cup pack," which is made of paper construction and offers less protection to the cigarettes but is cheaper to produce. The "shell and slide" pack, popular in some parts of the world, offers the same protection as the hinge-lid pack but with less convenient access to the cigarettes. The "shoulder pack" or "clamshell pack" is commonly used in Russia and the former Soviet Republics, featuring a stiff cardboard pack with a lid that opens like a cigar tin.
The use of plastic in cigarette packaging is typically in the form of cellophane, a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose. Cellophane has low permeability to air, oils, greases, bacteria, and water, making it effective for preserving the freshness and taste of the cigarettes. It also has a high gloss and bright colours, making it attractive for printing graphics and advertisements.
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Frequently asked questions
No, cigarette packages were not always wrapped in plastic. Cigarette packs are typically made from paperboard or cardboard, with foil or plastic lining to protect the contents from environmental factors that could affect their quality. The plastic wrapping used on cigarette packs is called cellophane.
Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose. Its low permeability to air, oils, greases, bacteria, and water makes it useful for food packaging. Cigarette packs wrapped in cellophane can effectively prevent dust, moisture, and water, and prevent taste from being lost.
Cigarette packages are mostly made of paperboard or cardboard. The pack is designed with a flavor-protective foil, paper, or plastic, and sealed through a transparent airtight plastic film.
