What trends in food packaging designs are impacting consumers today? In this article, we will look at some of the most talked about trends impacting consumers and how they impact your brand’s success.
The food packaging design trend has changed significantly over the last decade. From simple boxes to sleek containers, the modernized package is now much easier to open and close. In addition, innovative technologies are being integrated into these packages to improve the consumer experience.
These trends include:
- Food safety, including new regulations on how companies label their products; sustainable packaging choices; improved shelf-life; and more nutritious options;
- Consumer preferences for convenience and ease of use; and Food packaging innovations such as RFID tags can make the process of product identification faster and easier.
- Innovative technologies and packaging materials that meet consumer expectations for high quality while maintaining a reasonable price tag.
Today’s packaged foods have become increasingly complex with many ingredients, additives, and processing techniques. These factors add significant costs but also provide benefits such as reduced spoilage or extended shelf life. As a result, it is difficult to predict what will be most popular among consumers. It is important to understand what aspects of food packaging appeal to them, so you can develop strategies to best market your brand. Also check: Diet and Fitness
Future Trends in Food Packaging Supplies
The following trends will help shape future trends in food packaging designs:
- Sustainable Packaging Choices
Sustainable packaging is one of several trends transforming the global food industry. The sustainability agenda includes reducing waste generation, water usage, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions, and improving the health of people and the environment. This approach helps address environmental concerns and reduce the impact on natural resources. While there is no silver bullet solution to achieving greater sustainability, a combination of solutions makes sense.
- Innovative Technologies
Technologies used to package food products are constantly evolving. These include:
- RFID Tags
- Laser Labeling
- 3D Printing
- Integrated Circuits (or ICs)
3D printing allows the creation of customized packaging and even edible objects. While this technology is still developing, it could find its way into the everyday lives of the average consumer.
For example, a person could create custom labels for individual jars or cans of soup and then print the label directly onto the container using an inkjet printer. The same technology could also make possible a range of other useful applications, from personalized medicine capsules to designer toothbrushes.
- Convenience & Ease Of Use
Packages should not only look good but they must also work well. Today’s food manufacturers often employ advanced processes to maintain freshness, control moisture levels and extend shelf life.
Some producers choose to apply heat treatments to increase the shelf life of certain products. All of these steps complicate the packaging process and require the development of unique tools to handle each step.
As consumers become accustomed to seeing sophisticated processes at a glance, they may demand similar advances when purchasing fresh produce, frozen meals, and even ready-to-eat snacks. New technologies could allow shoppers to view nutrition information, temperature controls, expiration dates, and even ingredient lists without having to stop at the grocery store.
- Nutrition & Healthier Options
Consumers continue to seek out healthier alternatives, such as organic milk and whole-grain bread. To satisfy these needs, food manufacturers incorporate more fruits and vegetables into products. Producers also try to incorporate less processed ingredients into their products. Many consumers prefer to buy meat that has been raised without antibiotics and hormones.
- Food Safety Concerns
Consumers want to know whether the food they purchase is safe to eat and free from harmful bacteria. Manufacturers use new technologies to ensure safe and wholesome products. One option is to identify contaminants before they reach the surface of the product.
Another technique involves incorporating active ingredients into the food itself. Other innovations rely on microorganisms that naturally occur within the body to prevent contamination.
- Novelty & Fun
Some manufacturers focus on creating fun flavours or appealing shapes to attract attention. For example, some companies introduce new lines of cookies, candies, or pasta dishes to keep customers engaged throughout the year. A clever marketing strategy like this can pay off in the long run by making existing products seem outdated.
- Innovative Technologies
There are many ways to improve the quality of our food supply. From labelling technology to improving sanitation standards, there are multiple opportunities for innovation. There is much room for growth in all areas of food production.
- Consumer Demand
One trend we have already seen is the increasing popularity of convenience foods. As people become busier with careers, families, and social obligations, they find themselves eating outside of the home more frequently. This means that they need to prepare pre-prepared foods quickly and efficiently.
The next generation of food packaging will take advantage of all of these trends and capitalize on them. It will be important to offer solutions that meet consumer demands while still maintaining the integrity of the finished goods. If you are looking for innovations that will help your business grow, contact a professional food manufacturing to give you reliable advice.
