Bin packing can be seen as an optimization problem. In 2D, consider a scenario where you need to cut shapes from a sheet of plywood or sheet metal while minimizing waste; finding the optimal orientation of these shapes reduces material loss. In 3D, you might imagine packing objects into a container or cargo space, or sculpting a collection of 3D shapes out of a known volume of material, where you'd optimize the arrangement and orientation to minimize waste.