Overview
ISO 21067-1:2016 provides a harmonized vocabulary of preferred terms and definitions related to packaging and materials handling for use in international commerce. Published by ISO/TC 122 (Packaging) as the first edition in 2016, this part covers general packaging terms used across supply chains and industry sectors. It excludes dangerous goods packaging terms (covered by the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods) and does not include environmental statements (covered by ISO 14021).
This standard was compiled from established national and international sources and is intended as a reference for translators, standard writers, procurement professionals, logisticians and packaging engineers who require consistent terminology.
Key Topics
The document organizes terminology into clear categories to aid practical use:
- Basic distinctions: packaging as a product (containment, protection, handling, delivery, storage, transport and presentation) versus packaging as an operation (processes such as packing, preservation, marking and unitization).
- General packaging types: primary, secondary, inner, distribution/tertiary, consumer/retail and industrial packaging.
- Forms and formats: bag, sack, bale, barrel, bottle, jar, ampoule, box, carton, crate, bundle, drum, pail, jerrican, tube, tray and related vessel types.
- Material and performance terms: absorbent material, barrier material, UV light barrier, cushioning materials, shrink film and stretch wrap.
- Components and constituents: packaging component (removable), packaging constituent (non-removable), component packaging and related assembly terms.
- Auxiliary elements: closure, body, preservation, staple, strapping, tape and pallet definitions.
The standard includes annexes with further material-related terms and indexes to support multilingual and cross-referenced use.
Applications
ISO 21067-1:2016 is valuable where consistent terminology improves operational efficiency and compliance:
- Standardizing procurement documents, specifications and tenders across borders
- Improving clarity in technical documentation, tests and inspection reports
- Aligning packaging design, materials selection and labelling between suppliers and manufacturers
- Supporting translation, glossaries and multilingual thesauri for international trade
Practically, the vocabulary helps reduce misunderstandings in packaging design, transport, warehousing and retail operations and supports interoperability across global supply chains.
Related Standards
ISO 21067-1 is part of the ISO 21067 series and is augmented by packaging-specific standards:
Other referenced documents include UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and ISO 14021 for environmental statements. For users of packaging standards, cross-referencing these documents ensures correct use of terms in regulatory and commercial contexts.
