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Speaking of the food industry, we all know the packaging is as important as the food items inside. Yes, your food packaging is the one that markets your item. Moreover, it is the one that extends its shelf life. Plus, your packaging will facilitate long-distance transportation for your food items. Thus, knowing the latest food packaging trends can keep your packaging in the game. So, let’s explore some top trends you should try!
Use Innovative Materials to Create Modern Food Packaging
Before you create trending and new food packaging, you should know some innovative materials to use. After all, you need to use the suitable packaging material anyway.
So, have a look at the options below!
Flexible Materials
Flexible materials are very famous for packaging snacks, dried fruit, and pet food. The best part is that they offer high protection against moisture, air, and light. At the same time, these materials are also lightweight and cost-effective.
Plastic
Plastic is a popular packaging material for food packaging. Yes, it offers versatility, cost-effectiveness, and ease of production. In fact, many food brands still use plastic. You can see that plastic is used for packaging snacks and bakery items. Well, you can use plastic packaging from various types of polymers. The best part is that they come with unique properties.
On the other hand, note that some plastic packaging types can leach harmful chemicals. Even worse, these chemicals can get into your food or the environment.
Metal
Metal packaging might be the most durable option for innovative food packaging. For example, some brands use metal for packing canned items, beverages, and snacks. No doubt, metal provides an excellent barrier against light, air, and moisture. Eventually, it helps preserve your food items’ quality and shelf life. Most importantly, metal packaging is fully recyclable. Thus, this material can be a sustainable option for your food brand.
Paper and Cardboard
Paper and cardboard materials are also famous. These materials are ideal for packing dry food products such as cereal, pasta, and snacks. The thing that makes them preferable is that they are lightweight and biodegradable. Plus, customers can easily recycle and compost these materials.
The Evolution of Sustainability in Packaging Industry Trends
Today, sustainable packaging has become a growing trend in the food industry. Accordingly, many food brands are always seeking eco-friendly packaging options. Well, the reason is quite obvious here.
Eco-friendly packaging options help to:
⦁ Reduce waste
⦁ Minimize non-renewable resources
⦁ Lower the carbon footprint
We can mention compostable packaging and recycled materials for the samples of sustainable packaging materials.
So, what are the key points about the evolution of trends in food packaging?
Historic Materials
Previously, we can see some people used natural materials such as leaves and animal hides to package food. However, later on, we started using materials such as glass, metal, and paper.
Active Packaging
As the name suggests, this packaging actively interacts with your food. For example, you can add oxygen absorbers to packaging. This feature will help you reduce the amount of oxygen ruining your food items. Even better, it will make your food fresh longer.
Sustainable Packaging
We can see a growing concern about the environmental impact of packaging waste today. Well, this is where sustainable packaging comes in. This packaging is all about being environmentally friendly. Thus, biodegradable materials and the effort to reduce the amount of packaging material come in handy.
Modern Materials
These days, many brands create food packaging from various materials like plastics, paper, cardboard, and metal. Accordingly, these packaging materials are very innovative in features. As a result, they work well in ensuring food safety, shelf life, and convenience issues.
Convenience Packaging
In brief, convenience packaging makes it easier for customers to consume your food items inside. For example, you can go with resealable packaging, single-serve packaging, or microwaveable packaging.
The Challenges of Adopting Sustainable Trends in Packaging
Undoubtedly, the food packaging industry faces some challenges in adopting sustainable practices.
What are they?
⦁ Equipment’s suitability
The old equipment’s suitability with sustainable materials is the main challenge. How?
This means that finding new equipment to run more sustainable materials is necessary.
⦁ Experimentation and testing
We know that sustainable practices require experimentation and testing. This way, food brands can meet production and performance requirements. This process includes machine trials. Accordingly, these trials will determine the impact on sealing, heat tolerance, shelf life, and integrity.
⦁ Cost challenge
Sustainable packaging materials can be more costly than traditional material options. Definitely, this higher cost can be a barrier to sustainable adoption. This applies especially if customers are not willing to pay the extra amount.
Despite all these challenges, luckily, opportunities for growth and solutions are available.
To overcome these hurdles, food brands can be more active in:
⦁ Building customer buy-in
⦁ Providing guidance and support
⦁ Sharing lessons learned
⦁ Staying up-to-date about new market trends
How Do Packaging Designs Play a Great Role in Food Packaging Trends?
As a food brand, your design plays a significant role in food packaging trends. Besides, with the rise of e-commerce and online shopping, packaging design has become an essential tool. Undoubtedly, your packaging design can differentiate your brand from competitors. Plus, it works well in attracting more customers.
So, what should you consider when designing your food packaging here?
Focus on Sustainability
Modern customers pay great attention to the environmental impact of packaging waste. To attract them, you should respond to this demand with smart moves.
What are they?
⦁ Using eco-friendly materials
⦁ Reducing packaging size
⦁ Designing reusable or recyclable packaging
Apply Some Bold Colors
Without you realizing it, applying bold colors and creating eye-catching designs can make your muffin box packaging stand out.
Go with Innovative Shapes
You can experiment with innovative shapes and designs. For example, you can create your custom chocolate boxes in a heart shape. This way, you can create a unique look for your items.
Interactive Packaging
You can create packaging that engages customers. Yes, you can do this through QR codes.
By incorporating an interactive element into your packaging, you can create a memorable customer experience. You can proudly promote your food items in this highly competitive market.
Top Trends in Food Packaging You Should Try!
Let’s get to the main point: how to create trendy packaging for your food items?
Check out the top trends in food packaging you should try below!
Emotional Engagement Packaging
We know that those customers always want to get more than just a product. Instead, they want to be part of your brand’s story. In fact, some people love to get more emotions rather than information when making decisions. This is why emotional content is getting popular. Yes, emotional content is all over advertising and social media. Plus, it comes with positive sentiments leading the way.
Smart Packaging Solutions
Smart packaging is always a clever way to package your food items. The good thing is you can now apply technology right into your packaging. For example, you can include QR codes. Or else, you can use smart labels that provide more information about your food items.
Transparent and Clear Labelling for Food Packaging
About 38% of customers are willing to purchase a newly launched product. Yet, they prefer to buy products that come with clear product information.
In other words, we know that people are conscious of what they eat. However, although your food packaging provides information on ingredients, reading the print can be challenging. To tackle this issue, you can use transparent and clear labeling.
Yes, you can easily list out the ingredients of your food items. You need to realize it so that clear labeling can help you upscale your brand identity. Most importantly, it will assist those customers in making the right purchase.
Vintage-Inspired Packaging Design
Vintage designs come with a lovely, nostalgic value. Better yet, these designs can evoke happy feelings, reminding people of their memorable times.
Basically, the term “vintage” refers to any design or hint of a time gone by. So, we can say that this could be a single era or a combination of eras. Well, vintage designs can trigger emotions beyond appealing to many people. Even better, these designs will also help you appeal to millennials, who probably never experienced that period.
Better Portability
In these modern days, some customers have an ‘on-the-go’ lifestyle. In this regard, they are looking for food options that are easier to grab, eat, or carry. So, to meet this need, you should put in extra effort. Simply, this means you should make your food packaging portable.
Minimal Designs
Minimalism is always a huge trend in packaging design. Even more, the packaging industry today is not about flashy typefaces and cluttered designs. Instead, many brands rely on using clear labeling and packaging.
Thus, minimalism is here to stay because of its nature. Better yet, this design helps highlight the value of your food product. Plus, it does not overpower customers with graphics. This design trend is visible in almost every modern food packaging. Yes, we are talking about snacks or paper packaging for takeaway food.
The best part is that keeping the design simple not only makes the packaging look clean. Far better, this design will also reduce the cost of your packaging production.
Personalization
We know that personalization has always been an essential part of food packaging. Plus, it is one of the leading trends these days. With the increase in production speeds, food packaging personalization ends up becoming a reality.
For example, we can mention big names like Coca-Cola here. After it successfully launched bottles printed with names, personalized gift orders on its online store have been getting a massive boost in sales.
Gradient Color
Do you know that 70% of customers find graphics, color, and shape the most attractive aspects of packaging?
Yes, gradients are a growing trend in multiple areas of design. Whether it’s for custom cupcake boxes with logo or a simple food packaging, gradient adds a level of depth and complexity. Different from minimalistic or vintage packaging that uses solid colors, gradients can bring attention to your food items. You can also learn more about Colored Dots On Food Boxes.
Sustainability
Over the last few years, we all can see how the food packaging has become greener. In addition, eco-friendly solutions have driven many food brands to ditch single-use plastics. They use biodegradable, recyclable, or reusable packaging as a smart alternative.
Overall, whatever trend in food packaging you want to follow, make sure that the trend aligns with your brand’s personality. Moreover, you can work with professionals at The Custom Bakery Boxes to design your packaging according to your desired trend.
Wrapping Up
Indeed, the innovation in food packaging brings various trends you should try. So, you should choose the right material and level up your design. Also, you must focus on sustainability to create trendy food packaging!
FAQs
How can a design play a role in modern food packaging trends?
A packaging design plays a great role in making modern food packaging look trendy.
What are some innovative packaging materials being used in the food industry?
Innovative packaging materials in the food industry include plastic, metal, and cardboard.
How is the packaging industry evolving in terms of sustainability?
Sustainable packaging today is evolving with more food brands shifting to eco-friendly packaging options.
What challenges to apply sustainable practices in the food packaging industry?
The challenges faced by the food packaging industry regarding sustainable practices include equipment suitability, cost challenges, along experimentation and testing.
How do food packaging trends impact consumer preferences and choices?
All the trends in food packaging play a great role in shaping consumer preferences and choices. Today, consumers are mindful of the packaging design before making purchasing decisions.
How should businesses stay updated with the latest packaging trends and innovations?
Businesses can stay updated with the latest trends by browsing the type of packaging in the market.
What are the current trends in food packaging?
The current trends in food packaging are smart packaging solutions, emotional engagement packaging, vintage-inspired design, and more.
