The advent of packaging goes back thousands of years, stemming from the need to store and transport food and water. Both the ancient Egyptians and Chinese used packaging in this way. The former would blow glass to make containers for food and water, while the latter used mulberry bark to wrap their foods. As they honed the ability to make paper, they used it to pack teas, medicine, and foods—potentially the earliest form of flexible packaging.

Fast-forward to the Middle Ages, where the prevalent method of packaging involved wooden barrels and crates. They were rigid but not fragile, could keep food and water from open contamination, and were strong enough to hold valuables—all of which was important considering the vast Medieval trade routes network.

The next major evolution in packaging occurred with the First Industrial Revolution, from which came the cardboard box and tin can. While excellent inventions that are still used today, cardboard boxes and tin cans were not affordable commodities back then. Other than being used for packaging food and water, they were reserved for luxury goods—quite the contrast to today, where our grocery stores are brimming with both.