Packaging Trends You Should Leverage in 2021
This year has been one full of unpredictable events and unique challenges. Many markets and industries have had to fight harder than they ever have, while others were able to swing a massive growth in product sales and leads.
If we’ve gained any takeaways from these highs and lows, it’s that we can’t quite predict what the future will hold. With that being said, businesses should be doing everything possible to amp up their branding and packaging game, and set themselves up for success and milestones.
When it comes to your business brand identity, packaging is a major key to communicating with your customers, adding incremental value, and building a positive experience with your business. Today, we’ll take a look at some emerging trends for 2021, to help you step it up and bring it on!
Go green with sustainable packaging
Consumers love supporting companies that care about the environment. From innovating your packaging to source sustainable materials, to giving back to the community with Earth-friendly initiatives, your hard work will not go unnoticed.
Although this trend has been popular for some time, climate change concerns have made it increasingly important for many of us. Many small efforts can add up, and you too can make a difference in the world.
According to Global Web Index, 61% of millennials are likely to pay more for eco-friendly or sustainable products. Many companies have released packaging trends that include tactics such as reducing carbon emission by 26%, improving recycling infrastructure and incorporating at least 30% recycled content into plastic packaging.
Design for Recycling
More recycling is, of course, a great development. The question is how to enable a net positive effect on the environment and the economy. In order to be recycled, post-consumer packaging has to fulfill a long list of requirements (e.g., separability, cleanliness, labeling and coloration). Manufacturers trying to fulfill those requirements may have to use more material and energy when they produce the packaging than they have done up until now.
Additionally, just because a packaging product is designed for recycling today does not automatically mean that it will be recycled. And even if it is recycled, the environmental footprintmay not be improved. Most recycling technologies currently require a lot of energy and the quality of the recovered material is lower than virgin material. Hence, the designed packaging often has a less-than-desirable net impact on the environment. And this doesn’t even include the effects of having less feedstock for incinerators to recover energy from.
Designing for recycling is certainly imperative to future-proof one’s business, our economy and humanity itself. But first we need to ensure recyclability equals recycling, preferably in a closed-loop system.
Add personalization and customization to the mix
Adding an element of personalization catered towards your customers clients will allow them to relate to you on a new level. In 2021, customization will be more important than ever, as customers are looking for both relatability and empty amidst times of isolation, lockdowns, and social distancing.
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