Packaging Trends to Look Out for in 2020

2020 is here, and with the new year comes a wave of packaging trends that are predicted to take the industry by storm. Here we consider some of the top trends to look out for and what you need to know about them:

1. 100% Recyclable

Sustainability has been on the rise for a while with businesses picking up on how a vast number of consumers care for the environment. Now more than ever you can’t go a day without seeing news stories about plastic reduction and climate change. In turn, more organisations are vouching for sustainable packaging to reduce their own environmental impact and please potential consumers. Opting for cardboard packaging and protective inserts which can be recycled and reused for easy returns are effective ways of achieving 100% recyclability and a step towards zero waste.

2. Storytelling

Storytelling has long been a successful marketing tool to entice customers. While most brands provide some background information on their website, its just as easy to tell a story and convey a message on the physical packaging that consumers receive. It’s especially important for e-commerce businesses, where customers do not have the opportunity to see, touch or taste a product in real life. When it comes to storytelling, creativity is key to stand out from the crowd. Don’t be afraid to tell the story of how your brand came to light or the benefits of your product!

3. Bigger, Better Details!

While minimalism will always have a place in the packaging industry, we’ve seen several brands switching to maximising details to set themselves aside from other packaging designs. Whether it’s colour, text, pattern, texture or a flamboyant logo, brands are opting for head turning designs to ensure their products are picked from the shelf. In the age of social media, consumers are constantly looking for aesthetic value, so this year try to focus on a way you can enhance the details of your packaging to make it worthy of a social post!

4. Smart Packaging

QR codes are a great way to draw customers
back to your website to find out more about
your brand and product!

Augmented reality has already sparked interest among consumers shopping for furniture or shoes with certain brands as they get to trial and visualise items as if they have already purchased them! As technology continues to develop, there’s no doubt we will see more ‘smart’ technology incorporated into packaging as well. If it seems daunting, one of the simplest ways to update your packaging into the tech age is by displaying a QR code. QR codes are a great way to draw customers back to your website to find out more about your brand and product! They can also be used for the purpose of a rewards program or competition as incentives to purchase your product over another.   

5. Custom Fits

To keep up with the demands of e-commerce orders and cut down costs, the custom-fitted approach is increasing popularity in order to save waste, time and money. Using custom-fitted packaging allows companies to eliminate using excess materials for protection like Polystyrene. Instead, with custom-fitted packaging, businesses can get exact, made-to-measure packages to fit the needs of their product range. This includes protective inserts which can be made from cardboard for an eco-friendly option.

At PPI, our in-house team of packaging designers and engineers will work with you to understand your packaging needs. We offer custom solutions that are economical, protective and environmentally friendly.

Connect with us or call us now on 1800 25 8000 to book your FREE initial packaging consultation in Melbourne. We’ll work to ensure your packaging requirements are met, if not exceeded.

 

4 Easy Ways to Reduce Plastic in your Packaging

We regularly hear about the plastic-free revolution on the news. If you haven’t heard, it’s a movement involving people cutting down on their individual plastic consumption, particularly single-use plastic items like straws which pollute and damage the environment. Every day, we’re seeing consumers and businesses make changes for the sake of the environment. Supermarkets in Australia now follow the European approach to combating single-use plastic and charge a fee for their plastic bags, while local cafes offer discounts to customers who bring in reusable cups.

More companies are vouching to do their part for the environment and cut down on plastic use. So, what can your business do to join the plastic free revolution? Here we look at some plastic-free alternatives to packaging and their benefits:

1. Opt for Cardboard

Cardboard is one of the most ecofriendly options when it comes to packaging. While cardboard packages can be recycled, many boxes already comprise of 100% recycled materials. Not only is carboard better for the environment than plastic but it’s also durable, suitable for a vast range of products and it can be easily adapted to showcase a brand through printing, colour and specialised design.

2. Use Eco-Friendly Inserts

Unfortunately, plastic inserts or protective materials like bubble wrap which are used to protect items during transit frequently end up in landfill. This is because these materials cannot be recycled unless they are taken to specialised places such as 830 REDcycle Drop Off Points across Australia. To avoid using wasteful protective materials, instead opt for eco-friendly inserts. Cardboard inserts are strategically designed to fix products in place so they can’t move, mitigating the risk of being damaged during shipping.

3. Apply Biodegradable Tape

Most sticky tapes and packing tapes are unable to be recycled but thanks to advances in technology there are now some biodegradable options which are equally secure and reliable to use! Biodegradable tape is extremely useful because often people forget to remove the tape from packages which hinders them from being recycled. But if you use biodegradable tape then it doesn’t matter whether it’s removed or not from a package.

4. Choose Custom-Made

 

Do you need to freight fragile, odd shaped or even hazardous items? Cardboard inserts are 100% recyclable, extremely durable, versatile and perfect for protecting products.

While standardised packaging might seem like a straightforward option, if the logistics of your product packaging is poorly designed then you’re at risk of losing sales, disappointing customers and having to pay costly redelivery expenses. Getting your packaging custom-made ensures you receive the best advice on environmentally friendly, safe and secure, and reliable options for your product line. Custom packaging considers all elements of design and engineering, so your business receives the most efficient solutions for eliminating waste, cutting down on costs and satisfying your customers.

At PPI, our in-house team of packaging designers and engineers will work with you to understand your packaging needs. We offer custom solutions that are economical, protective and environmentally friendly.


Connect with us or call us now on 1800 25 8000 to book your FREE initial packaging consultation in Melbourne. We’ll work to ensure your packaging requirements are met, if not exceeded.