METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO ASSESSING PACKAGING QUALITY IN COMMODITY EXPERT EXAMINATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH EUROPEAN STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS AS A FACTOR OF UKRAINIAN ENTERPRISES’ EXPORT READINESS

Abstract. The article substantiates a methodological approach to assessing packaging quality as a component of a product within commodity expert examination, taking into account current European Union requirements for the sustainability of packaging solutions, their suitability for collection, sorting, reuse and recycling, as well as the integrity of labeling. It is shown that traditional packaging assessment focused primarily on functionality, ergonomics and aesthetics is methodologically limited, since for products with identical consumer properties, different packaging materials and designs result in different environmental footprints and different levels of compliance with market requirements and supervisory control. A review of foreign and domestic sources confirms a shift toward verifiable criteria: from declarative “environmental” claims to evidence-based indicators and verification procedures. An updated model of packaging consumer properties is proposed and supplemented with two groups: “information integrity” (clarity and substantiation of labeling and sorting instructions, and the absence of unsubstantiated environmental claims) and “circular suitability” (design for recycling). A system of packaging quality assessment indicators based on a three-level scale and an algorithm for commodity expert examination are developed, enabling the calculation of an integral packaging quality index as a generalized criterion for comparison and for developing recommendations to improve packaging solutions. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of applying the proposed packaging quality assessment toolkit in the activities of enterprises and expert institutions, which will contribute to Ukraine’s European integration aspirations and enhance the competitiveness and export opportunities of domestic enterprises.