The PSAG (Packaging Solutions Advice Group) was set up in 1996 to provide information and advice about all aspects of packaging to designers and their clients. It is made up of leading players in the UK's packaging supply chain - all experts in their specialist fields. Corus, Decorative Sleeves Ltd, Gilchrist Bros Ltd, Merck (Pigments), The Packaging Development Company, RPC Containers, Tag Labels and Victor International Plastics contributed to this study. Given the different pack materials and technologies used across the PSAG, the study of visual information on packs constituted a generic theme common to all the different members.

A key objective was to give the PSAG an authoritative 'voice' on an issue of social and demographic change which large retailers and brand managers are beginning to see as a major challenge.