'Curious Conversations' podcast: Laszlo Horvath talks about the complexities of packaging
Laszlo Horvath joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the complexities of packaging, specifically highlighting the multiple factors to be consider during packaging design. Horvath also shared insights related to affordability and sustainability as well as how international tariffs and other supply chain disruptions can impact packaging and ultimately customers.
Takeaways
The vast majority of products include some form of packaging, which can greatly differ depending on a variety of factors including the environments the product with be shipped in, the mode of shipping, the customer experience, affordability, and sustainability.
Tariffs and other disruptions to the supply chain and how packages travel can greatly influence packaging requirements and ultimately how much they cost.
High-performance packaging significantly impacts product quality, such as the multi-layer plastics used for food preservation and the modified atmosphere packaging that extends the shelf life of meat.
About Horvath
Horvath is associate professor in the College of Natural Resources and Environment and director of Virginia Tech’s Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. His research interests include packaging sustainability, smart and connected packaging, and unit load Interactions, which is highlighted by generating information used to create a commercial pallet design software.
Learn more
Virginia Tech students drive the sustainable future of packaging at PackEXPO
Industry partnerships fuel packaging lab improvements that enhance student learning
Virginia Tech researchers examining how packages are treated before arriving at your door
About the podcast
"Curious Conversations" is a series of free-flowing conversations with Virginia Tech researchers that take place at the intersection of world-class research and everyday life. Produced and hosted by Travis Williams, assistant director of marketing and communications for the Office of Research and Innovation, university researchers share their expertise and motivations as well as the practical applications of their work in a format that more closely resembles chats at a cookout than classroom lectures. New episodes are shared each Tuesday.
