Plostica in Italian?!?! The choice to invest in a correct translation

BBLTranslation, Food labelling, Sustainable suppliers

Imagine you are in a café, with your favourite drink in your hands, and you look at the paper cup being served to you. On it you read a word that puzzles you: ‘Plostica’. A typo? No, it looks like a translation error. Yet this is something that can happen even in professional translations, with consequences that are often not sufficiently thought through.

We are used to thinking that a translation is just a matter of words, but it is actually much more: it is about our image, our brand, our reputation. And when we talk about corporate translations, accuracy is crucial. In this post, we will explore a curious and, in some ways, symbolic case of how a translation error – like the one you might find on a cup that says ‘Plostica’ instead of ‘Plastica’ – may seem insignificant, but in reality carries much wider implications.

Why can an incorrect translation cost so dearly?

When deciding whether or not to invest in a professional translation, one of the first pieces of advice we give our clients is to think about how much they are paying for the material on which the translation will be printed. A translation error, no matter how small it may seem, can lead to economic and reputational damage that, in the long run, is much more expensive than the initial cost of a good-quality translation.

Take, for example, the case of a company that orders thousands of paper cups for its take-away coffee, with the word ‘Plastica’ printed on them, but due to a translation error, that writing appears as ‘Plostica’. At first glance, it might seem like a small mistake, easily overlooked. But let me show you how this simple detail can turn into a much bigger problem.

1. Direct economic damage:

Printing thousands of cups with an incorrect translation is not an error that can be easily corrected. Imagine the cost of redoing the process again. The price of printing new cups is certainly higher than the cost of an accurate translation, had it been done in the first place. And we are not just talking about a single print, but an entire production. This is an unnecessary expense that could have been avoided simply by investing in a professional translation from the start.

2. Reputational and image damage:

The greatest damage, however, is reputational. Such an error not only creates confusion among customers, but can also undermine trust in the brand. Think of the message such a mistake can convey: a feeling of carelessness, superficiality, or even a lack of competence in dealing with the international market. In a globalised world where companies compete for consumers’ attention, a small translation error can turn into a huge obstacle to the success of a product or service.

The case of ‘Plostica’ is symbolic of this. It is not just a linguistic error, but a sign of disorganisation. A consumer who notices the error might think that the company does not take enough care of the details, and this might negatively influence their decision to buy the product. And in a market where competition is increasingly fierce, losing even a small group of customers can have a significant impact on sales.

3. The value of professionalism in translation:

The mistake ‘Plostica’ also teaches us the importance of relying on professional translators. A translation is not just a matter of replacing one word with another, but requires in-depth linguistic knowledge, an understanding of cultural nuances and careful attention to detail. An experienced translator not only corrects mistakes, but is also able to adapt the text to the specifics of the target market, ensuring that the message is received correctly.

Relying on non-professional translators or using machine translations may seem like a cheap solution, but in the long run it can turn out to be a much more expensive choice. In fact, translation errors not only affect the quality of the final product, but also compromise the public’s perception of the company and its values.

4. Conclusion: An investment that pays off

Let’s assess how much it would have cost – in terms of both money and time – to correct the error ‘Plostica’ on thousands of paper cups. Probably the cost of a professional translation, which would have avoided the problem in the first place and would have cost less than a coffee. Yet, it is not just a question of immediate savings: it is a question of long-term vision. Investing in a correct translation means protecting one’s reputation, strengthening one’s image and, ultimately, building trust with customers.

In business, every detail counts. And every word, even the smallest, can make the difference between success and failure. Don’t let a translation error, such as ‘Plostica’, ruin your brand. Invest in good-quality translations and you will see the benefits over time.

Remember: sometimes a mistranslation may cost less than a coffee, but the damage it causes can be far greater.

BBLTranslation: Accurate translations for impeccable results

At BBLTranslation, we understand the importance of a perfect translation, not only linguistically, but also technically and graphically. We specialise in translations for the print and design world, working with professional formats such as .idml files, Illustrator and InDesign to ensure that your content is ready for printing without any errors. Each project is treated with the utmost care to avoid inaccuracies and ensure that your promotional material, packaging or any other printed document is perfect in every way.

By relying on us, you can be sure that each translation will not only be linguistically accurate, but also ready for production without any risk of graphic errors. Because every word, every detail, counts when it comes to your reputation.

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Important warning: we recommend that you carefully read the contents of this legal text prior to providing any personal data through the website of Bibielle Global Translations, SL, owner of and responsible for the correct application of the Privacy Policy.
In accordance with the regulations applicable to the protection of personal data, and the new provisions contained in the General Data Protection Regulation (hereinafter GDPR), directly applicable from 25 May 2018, Bibielle Global Translations, SL informs you of the following:
i. Contact details of the Data Controller: Bibielle Global Translations, SL (hereinafter BBL), with Tax Identification No. B65336885, registered office at Calle Cartagena 241, Barcelona, 08025 Spain, and contact e-mail legal@bbltranslation.eu.

ii. Purposes: Data collected through the contact e-mail address, or service quotation request form, will be incorporated into files owned by BBL with the purpose of handling, managing and responding to your request or contact. The data provided will not be used for purposes other than those for which it was collected.

iii. In addition, and on a voluntary basis, you may provide your consent (by ticking the corresponding box or registration) to us sending commercial communications, by any route and/or electronic means, and keeping you informed about the services which, being similar to the current ones, may interest you, and which BBL offers to its Clients and users under more advantageous conditions, and to carry out market or customer satisfaction surveys.

iv. Retention: The data will be retained for the time necessary to achieve the purposes for which it was collected, in order to respond to the subject of your request or contact, and while there continues to be a mutual interest. It will be deleted when it is no longer necessary for such purposes, the commercial or contractual relationship ends, unless its retention is required by law.

If you provide your consent to the sending of commercial communications, personal data will be processed actively while you have the status of User, or until you withdraw your consent.

v. Data communication: In no event will your data be transferred or communicated to a third party, unless required by law; nor will it be transferred internationally, except with the unequivocal consent of the data subject, and prior information about the possible recipients, purpose and, where appropriate, country of destination.

vi. Duty of secrecy: BBL complies strictly with the duty of secrecy and confidentiality of personal data, and for this reason has implemented technical, organisational and security measures to prevent its unauthorised alteration, loss, processing and/or access, taking account of the state of the art, the nature of the stored data and the risks to which they are exposed, all of this as established by Spanish and European legislation on the Protection of Personal Data.

vii. Rights of the data subject:

a. To exercise the rights of access, rectification, erasure and objection, limitation of treatment, data portability and not being the subject of automated individual decisions, by writing to Bibielle Global Translations, SL, Calle Cartagena 241, Barcelona, 08025 Spain or at legal@bbltranslation.eu indicating the subject of your request, and attaching a [copy of your] national identity card or passport.
b. To complain to the Supervisory Authority: if a user considers that their data is not being used properly, and this matter is not addressed by BBL, they may submit a complaint to the relevant data protection authority, which in Spain is the Agencia Española de Protección de Datos.

viii. If you receive commercial communications by electronic means, in accordance with the Spanish Law of Information Society and Electronic Commerce Services (LSSICE), you may withdraw your consent, unsubscribe or modify your data using the same channel, through the e-mail address legal@bbltranslation.eu, which will be specified in each communication.