Abhijeet Shah
Today, more and more consumers are opening their wallet to buy only eco-friendly products. The recent trends indicate that consumers’ spending on eco-products, from diet to transportation, is on the rise. Therefore, it is not only enough for a business to have a good brand image, but it also needs to have an eco-friendly image to attract these green consumers. This holds true for the packaging industry as well. That is the reason why the trends in the packaging industry are more aligned with eco-friendly and sustainable packaging techniques. Here are a few interesting green packaging trends to look out for in the upcoming years.
#1: Reducing Waste
Companies are demonstrating their involvement and dedication towards the green environment by limiting the waste. Good practices are being shared across all platforms to create awareness and to encourage recycling. Many businesses have now incorporated print inspection in their quality control process. This move will help companies to prevent massive recalls of products and thus reduce waste.
Minimalist packaging is also being used by many businesses as it reduces the waste of storage space and packing materials. Packaging is done by taking into consideration the size of the product to be packed. A small package size for a small product size.
Many companies are now implementing the function of reusability in their packaging. Polybags is an example of reusable packaging. These bags can be used over and over again, thus contributing to sustainable packaging.
#2: Using Clear Packaging
Clear packaging is an interesting trend that is gaining a lot of attention. A packaging that is devoid of color, paint, and design with only a clear and concise label means that not much energy is wasted in manufacturing it. Potential consumers who are pro-environment are quick to notice and understand the dedication of the company towards a greener environment.
#3: Reducing the Use of Energy
Lightweight packaging trend is a win-win situation for both, the business and the consumers. The packaging cost to manufacture lightweight packages is relatively low as fewer materials are used, less energy is consumed to manufacture them and less fuel is used to ship them. Consumers see the convenience associated with lightweight packaging and they also see the less waste that is being produced and that is good for your brand image and your sales.
#4: Using More Recyclable and Biodegradable Materials
Using recyclable materials is the easiest way to make sure that we are contributing our bit towards a sustainable environment. Companies too are demonstrating their level of commitment towards the green environment by using materials like paper, cardboard and recyclable plastics in their packaging.
#5: Using Unique and Innovative Materials
The packaging industry is not new to technology. It has been using unique and innovative materials for sustainable packaging for a long time now. But one trend that is going to be the next big thing is edible packaging. This trend has the potential to achieve maximum eco-friendly goals. It will take time and a lot of research to implement edible packaging across industries. But when it is done, the scenarios would be ideal. There will be no waste altogether.
Consumers will continue to choose eco-friendly products to promote sustainability and because of the demand and expectations of the consumers, companies will employ eco-friendly approaches to their businesses, and if they do not, they will perish. The future seems bright.
Abhijeet Shahis the head of digital marketing for Packing Supply, a leading name in the packaging supply industry. He believes that it’s not only what’s on the inside that matters, but how products are packaged is just as important. Abhijeet stays updated with the latest trends and innovations in the industry and is quick to share them with his readers. He loves traveling and is often tempted to buy products that he comes across with unique packaging from all over the world, which he then adds to his ever-expanding collection of “bags and boxes”.