What the Future Holds for Packaging
When anyone considers how to predict the future for packaging, without having to look into a crystal ball, it's always prudent to see where packaging was yesterday and where it is today, including all positives and areas of improvement needed. With all the landfills, wasted energy, space, and labor, it's critical we evaluate our resources and understand some key trends a good packaging company can help you with.
Regardless of whether or not you are a large business, just getting started in business, or an existing small business, here are five keys trends and areas where we see the future of packaging heading:
- Ecommerce
- Sustainability and eco-friendly
- Design concepts
- Personalization
- Manufacturing and delivery
* Ecommerce 
Let's start with the dramatic expansion of ecommerce and how that will impact the future of packaging, and the future of the packaging industry. With the continued growth of ecommerce, led by the king of ecommerce, Amazon, and further driven by COVID-19 and how that limited the ability of consumers to visit brick and mortar stores, ecommerce is growing dramatically and setting the stage where consumers now look to shop online first before even considering a brick and mortar location.
Ecommerce companies are targeting consumer brands and analyzing consumer behaviors to drive their products. Giant ecommerce companies like Amazon and Walmart will continue to focus on reducing waste, eliminating packaging where applicable, and delivering a sustainable, eco-friendly package to their consumers. Additionally, packaging will need to continue to deliver an unboxing experience for consumers through protection, safety, elimination of waste, and focusing on brand awareness.
* Sustainability and Eco Friendly 
Sustainability and eco-friendly are the key buzzwords in packaging, and they are the biggest trends taking place today within packaging and the packaging industry. Not only will this trend continue as consumers show they are willing to pay more for an eco-friendly package, but companies like Amazon are setting standards for sustainability by guiding their suppliers to minimize packaging and charging penalties when not adhered to.
Going forward, reflecting a commitment to the environment, and a huge push by consumers, packaging suppliers will be required to minimize waste, maximize the use of recycled materials, and focus on packaging that reduces the carbon footprint and energy needed to manufacture and ship their products.
Packaging suppliers will deliver packaging made from natural starches, utilizing vegetable and algae-based materials that are edible or dissolvable. In some cases, returnable packaging will make a comeback, just like in the days of milk bottles on your doorstep! Consider laundry and dishwashing detergents and the trend in dissolvable packaging going on there. How many medicines are encased in pill format that we dissolve routinely? Consumers and consumer products companies will finally begin to pick materials that are truly sustainable based on material contents and recycled content. They are willing to pay a premium for this service to the environment. This is where the future of the packaging industry will need to go to satisfy consumers!
* Design Concepts 
Design concepts are critical for packaging being cost-effective, waste-conscious, practical, and eye-appealing. The future of packaging will have different shapes and sizes designed to utilize packaging efficiencies for space, storage, and serving portion sizes.
With ecommerce growth, many consumers, especially singles, will demand smaller portions. Smaller serving sizes will also be designed to increase shelf life for foods. Easy-open features on packaging will take the forefront of design as more consumers continue to get their products online. The less packaging the better!
Additionally, brand owners will seek to protect their product authentication through RFID labels and smart tags, all part of the new design concepts. Space-saving packaging will also be the rule, utilizing squares and corners on the packaging. Consider a pizza box, square forever, yet with a round pizza inside. This will change! Printed electronics will be a part of the new design as they will be intended to show usage, brand identity, and "pop," including tracking consumer usage. Manufacturers and distributors will know when it's time for you to reorder and will remind you accordingly!
* Personalization 
Personalization will play a role in the future of packaging, whether through adding your name to a product or adding colors that match a holiday or just focusing on any event that's important to you. Just as recent Coke bottles have had names on them, you will be able to get your products personalized and perhaps even get your name on the products you choose to buy. This future personalization will drive consumers to purchase more of a specific brand as it focuses on the consumer, their buying and spending habits, and what they desire.
* Manufacturing and Delivery 
When it comes to the future of packaging, there will be the need for manufacturing and delivery to be centered on speed and the emerging ways in which products are delivered.
With driverless cars, trucks, and drones becoming more prominent in the future, products will be delivered to your doorstop quicker through smart warehouses, those that utilize empty warehouse space and are closer to the consumer. Safety, efficiency, reduced accidents, less fuel consumption, and improved transit times will all be drivers of adopting driverless trucks and drones. Companies are racing today to try and compete with Amazon and how they alert when a product is delivered through media like Alexa.
Also, manufacturers will utilize 3D printing to a greater degree, such that the packaging is eye-catching, reflects brand awareness, and is affordable. Automation, through robotics in the warehouse and at distribution centers, will also speed up delivery as consumers will want their products that are made to order to arrive just in time, and only in the amounts needed.
* The Future Awaits
In summary, what the future holds for packaging is definitely being driven by the waste and inefficiencies of the past and present, focusing on customer satisfaction, with sustainable and eco-friendly packaging the key to the future. Suppliers that recognize these trends in their markets through customer interaction, and revolutionize packaging and the customer experience, while protecting our environment, will be the leaders of the future!
Ashtonne Packaging is experienced in providing packaging and display for many markets and is poised for the future! We have helped many of our customers create, optimize, and improve the ROI for their packaging and displays. Here are some of the markets that Ashtonne Packaging serves:
Would you like to increase brand awareness and influence repeat buying behavior with custom-designed packaging, and be prepared for the future? If you are a small business, or start-up business, or even an existing business launching a new product line, and need help, don't waste a minute more and click below to schedule a meeting with us!
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Bill Madl, Consultant, coach, and trainer serving the packaging industry since 1967
