Sudha is a corporate executive and has to attend a felicitation function to be held in her office tomorrow. So she decides to colour her hair. On recommendation of her friend, she purchased 'NATURO' hair colour. After reading essential details such as shade, its ingredients, usage instructions and expiry date mentioned on the box, Sudha opened the box. She took out the colour tube and developer bottle from the box and threw away the box. The level of packaging of box thrown away by Sudha was :
Sudha is a corporate executive and has to attend a felicitation function to be held in her office tomorrow. So she decides to colour her hair. On recommendation of her friend, she purchased 'NATURO' hair colour. After reading essential details such as shade, its ingredients, usage instructions and expiry date mentioned on the box, Sudha opened the box. She took out the colour tube and developer bottle from the box and threw away the box. The level of packaging of box thrown away by Sudha was :
Options
Correct option: (C) Secondary packaging.
Why this is right
- Secondary packaging refers to additional layers of protection that are kept until the product is ready for use and are then discarded.
- The outer box that held the colour tube and the developer bottle is exactly such an additional protective layer — Sudha threw it away once she took the contents out, so it is secondary packaging.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark for selecting (C) Secondary packaging.
- 2Justification: the box is an additional protective layer discarded before the product is used.
Hint
The outer box that holds the tube and bottle and is thrown away before use is which level of packaging?
Quick Oral Answer
The discarded box is secondary packaging — an additional protective layer over the tube and bottle that is thrown away once the product is used.
Analysis & Explanation
An application MCQ on the three levels of packaging in Marketing Management.
Concept — three levels of packaging
- Primary packaging — the product's immediate/direct container that stays with the product till use (e.g. the colour tube and developer bottle themselves).
- Secondary packaging — additional protective layers discarded when the product is used (e.g. the cardboard box holding the tube and bottle).
- Transportation packaging — further packaging for storage, identification or transport (e.g. a corrugated carton holding many boxes).
Why (C) is correct
- The box was an extra layer protecting the tube and bottle; Sudha discarded it before use — the defining trait of secondary packaging.
Why the distractors are wrong
- (A) Primary packaging is the direct container (the tube/bottle), not the outer box.
- (B) Transportation packaging is bulk packaging for transport/storage, not a single retail box.
- (D) General packaging is not a recognised level of packaging (a distractor).
Common Mistakes
- 1Calling the box 'primary packaging' — primary is the direct container (the tube/bottle), not the outer box.
- 2Selecting 'General packaging', which is not one of the three recognised levels.
- 3Confusing 'transportation packaging' (bulk/transport carton) with a single retail box.
Interesting Facts
Packaging is often called the 'silent salesman' because it attracts attention and communicates product information at the point of sale.
The three levels of packaging — primary, secondary and transportation — are a standard part of the NCERT Marketing Management chapter.
Rising environmental concern has pushed brands toward recyclable secondary packaging to reduce waste discarded by consumers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is secondary packaging?
Secondary packaging is an additional layer of protection over the primary package that stays until the product is ready for use and is then discarded — like the cardboard box holding a hair-colour tube and developer bottle.
Why is the box not primary packaging?
Primary packaging is the product's direct container that remains with it until use — here the tube and bottle. The outer box is an extra protective layer thrown away before use, making it secondary packaging.