Packaging Trends For 2018

As another year comes to a close it’s interesting to reflect on the developments we’ve witnessed in the packaging market and look at the trends likely to be influencing business in 2018.

Lightweight and Flexible Packaging

As air-filled packaging suppliers you’d no doubt expect us to highlight any trend for lighter weight, flexible packaging, and you’d be right in that we’ve long understood the benefits of using the lowest weight packaging possible. The drive to switch to lighter weight alternatives or use lighter packaging materials has had a definite impact on supply chain costs and efficiencies.

In today’s environmentally-conscious market, using lighter and reduced packaging lends itself to companies and brands looking to improve their own environmental credentials and carbon footprint.

Environmental

Although certainly not a new trend environmentally responsible and recyclable packaging has remained high on the agenda with consumers continuing to demand environmental sustainability in packaging, encouraged further by high profile public campaigns to cut out the practice of ‘overpackaging’ items and deliveries, and use the minimum amount of packaging materials necessary.

Smart Packaging

With the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT), a vast, interconnected data network made up of ordinary objects and machines, packaging is increasingly playing its part in the data sharing revolution, whether for tracking products through the supply chain in real-time, or monitoring ongoing product integrity.

Smart and intelligent packaging using near-field communication (NFC), radio frequency identification (RFID), Bluetooth communication and G-force monitoring continues to grow rapidly.

Technology

The continued and rapid development of technology will drive demand for all kinds of new uses and needs for protective packaging. For example, we’ve recently been in development discussions for packaging that will protect essential medical and other supplies if dropped from a drone in remote locations around the world – who could have foreseen that just a short time ago?

Packaging For Online Fulfilment

Packaging requirements from both big and small businesses trading online has been a significant trend for a while now and will no doubt continue to grow rapidly in 2018. Many traditional businesses have turned their attention to the opportunities available from the online channel and this in turn has stimulated a demand for our skills in packaging design and innovation, and consultancy advice with material selection, design, process efficiencies, automation and fulfilment.

2018 will no doubt throw up many new challenges and opportunities for the wider business community as well as everyone involved in the packaging industry. We look forward to the opportunities ahead and hope that all of us will continue to prosper in the year ahead.