Year after year, there are changes in consumer habits and in the food industry that lead to new food and agricultural packaging trends. For 2016 in particular, packaging trends for the next generation have taken a really interesting turn to include more minimal, customized, and eco-friendly packaging than previous years. We’re excited to break down each trend for you so you can utilize these trends in your own custom take away packaging, food packaging, and much more.
Trend #1: Compact Packaging
Minimalism isn’t just a trend, it’s a way of life for many conscious shoppers and consumers. Having compact packaging that not only uses the littlest amount of materials possibles saves on space (making the kitchen and fridge look less cluttered) but it also is helpful for the environment, which is something more and more consumers are coming on board with.
Trend #2: Flexible Packaging
Another space saver is flexible packaging. This agricultural food packaging trend is considered modern by about 32% of consumers and is often more inexpensive to produce. This kind of packaging, in particular, is great for instant meal products that involve the stove or microwave.
Trend #3: Environmentally Responsible Packaging
As we mentioned earlier, taking care of the world is not just a 2016 packaging trend, it’s a way of life for many consumers worldwide. By stepping up your “green” game and making compostable and biodegradable products you are standing out to consumers who are starting to get used to seeing packaging made from recyclable materials. Even plant-based packaging is on the rise!
This new theme in packaging can be an advantage to those that want to market disposable products. While, yes, disposable anything isn’t good for the environment – creating a “more green” disposable line can help consumers that are trying to decide between convenience and environmental concern. Creating paper coffee cups that are made of plant-based materials or can compost in a consumer’s backyard could have great appeal.
Trend #4: More Packaging Sizes
Since consumers are now becoming much more accustomed to thinking ahead of their purchases and planning out meals, not everyone needs the same sized products. Having items like soup cups, noodle boxes, convenient meals, and other items in a variety of sizes is good for consumers that want to try before they commit to larger meal portions for their family. Having personal sizes, medium serving sizes, and then extended family-sized packaging will help suit all kinds of consumers.
Trend #5: Personalized Packaging
Packaging that involves a personalization element to it, meaning something that people can relate to their own life, is a great way to grab more interested consumers. This would be great for lunch boxes and other food-related packaging. Examples of this could be the Coca-Cola “Share a coke” personalized digital printed labels. It encourages people to buy Coke products whenever they see their name or a bottle that relates to them.
Overall, food producers have a great opportunity to try these 2016 packaging trends, especially since these different kinds of custom items are available with the Barry Packaging team. Putting everything together yourself in terms of design and then production can be overwhelming, so get in contact with us and we can add you to our design queue and get you into this new market of packaging options.
