Press Room | Flexible Packaging Association

2019 Packaging Design Trend Report - Material Honesty

Aug 30, 2018 03:56 PM

Just taking a deeper dive into our previous trend report “Top 3 Packaging Design Trends Shaping Up For 2019”, we’ve decided to break it up into 3 separate issues: Material Honesty, Rethinking Retail Packaging and Creative Production. Today we are...

Thirty-Four Percent of Shoppers Return an Online Purchase Due to Packaging

Aug 29, 2018 04:00 PM

Esko, alongside sister companies Pantone, X-Rite and AVT released a new study, “Packaging and the Digital Shopper: Meeting Expectations in Food & Beverage,” highlighting what shoppers want from food and beverage packaging. Get inside of the mind...

Looking for Inspiration - Todays Consumers Demand Packaging That Creates a Distinct Brand Experience

Aug 29, 2018 03:58 PM

Good design is not good enough anymore, says Mark Dziersk, a recognized expert in industrial design and brand management. “Packaging really has to inspire people. A brand’s package is its product, and a brand is defined by the experience that...

How Flexible Packaging Trends are Shifting and Why

Aug 29, 2018 03:57 PM

Technological innovation, sustainability concerns and attractive economics are among the reasons for the phenomenal growth of flexible packaging in the last two decades in the U.S. With an estimated $31 billion in sales in 2017, according to the...

7 Ways Efficient Packaging Can Improve Your Bottom Line

Aug 21, 2018 04:02 PM

As a brand manager, production or plant manager, your primary focuses include your bottom line. Packaging affects many aspects of your product line and with that, your business growth. Revenue growth and cost reduction can be tied directly to the...

How to Create Sustainable Packaging for Luxury Brands

Aug 15, 2018 04:04 PM

Sustainable luxury in packaging may seem like an oxymoron, but in today’s consumer-driven marketplace it is becoming a vital component of a brand’s image. Consumers are more aware than ever before of the impact that packaging has on our...

Smart Labels: The Next Big Thing in IoT and Packaging

Aug 14, 2018 04:06 PM

A smart label is an extremely flat item identification slip that is more informative than a barcode. Smart labels include QR codes, Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tags and specially configured RFID tags. The smart labels are created by...

Three Key Issues Facing the Protective and Transit Packaging Market

Aug 13, 2018 04:08 PM

Three industry trends are providing incentives for innovation, and creating new opportunities and threats for players in the global protective transit packaging business. Protective transit packaging is integral to the safe and efficient transport...

Top Three Packaging Trends Shaping Up for 2019

Aug 11, 2018 04:09 PM

The packaging industry today is buzzing with "influencer packaging" to deliver likes, shares and to create an ongoing dialogue across a bevy of social networks. Brands are also becoming aware of the benefits that size audits can deliver to the...

Smart and Sustainable Packaging Trends Can Coexist

Aug 10, 2018 04:10 PM

Smart and sustainable packaging trends have gathered pace across the globe. Recent innovations are demonstrating that both the packaging trends can coexist and grow harmoniously, says leading data and analytics company GlobalData...

In Packaging First Impressions Matter:

Aug 08, 2018 04:11 PM

My mother loved the cliché never judge a book by its cover, but experience tells me most people do just that. A national study conducted by the Paper and Packaging Board shows that 7 in 10 (72 percent) of consumers agree that packaging design can...

Flexible Packaging Growth Takes Hold

Aug 07, 2018 04:15 PM

Developing countries are leading the way in packaging consumption, according to the latest Flexible Packaging Association’s (F.P.A.) research. By 2021, overall retail packaging is projected to expand by 23% in Africa, 18% in Asia, 8% in South...

Digital Printing for Flexible Packaging: How and Why Decisions are Made

Aug 03, 2018 04:18 PM

SGIA and Karstedt Partners recently completed a research study that focuses on the decision-making and evaluation processes flexible packaging converters go through to make their digital investment. What value does digital bring to the flexible...

Digital Print for Packaging - A Broad View

Aug 03, 2018 04:16 PM

New developments in digital printing and finishing as it relates to packaging are unfolding at such a rapid clip these days that anything resembling a comprehensive overview would be difficult at best. But here are a few highlights in the main...

New Report Details Smart Packaging Innovations

Aug 03, 2018 04:12 PM

Chicago-based technology scouting company, PreScouter, released a report detailing companies providing smart packaging technologies available for commercial use. The company believes the report could help companies actively looking to integrate a...

Changes at the Grocery Store: Modern Innovations in Packaging Food

Aug 01, 2018 04:14 PM

Like everything else in the world, the modern grocery store is full of technological advances to improve the customer shopping experience. Yet in the bustle of day-to-day life, these smart tech enhancements often escape a consumer’s notice. New...

Robots More Vital Than Ever

Jul 28, 2018 04:19 PM

Automation is thriving in packaging environments. That’s according to a study from PMMI Business Intelligence, The Evolution of Automation (download the executive summary), which reveals that a staggering nine out of 10 food processing and...

Data Mining Can Inform and Improve Packaging Design

Jul 19, 2018 04:20 PM

Throughout the business, marketing and insights industries, there’s increasing excitement and buzz around the potential for data to transform our world. But what do terms such as big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence really mean...

How to Leverage Connected Packaging to Improve Consumer Experience

Jul 12, 2018 04:21 PM

Brand leaders know the power of connection. A consumer’s connection to a brand is a powerful driver of trial, purchase, loyalty and advocacy. Connection is maintained through consistency and relevance. For consumer goods, retail and pharma...

New Study Identifies Online and In-Store Shopper Behaviors in Food and Beverage

Jun 29, 2018 03:02 PM

Data and insights on what shoppers like helps fuel innovative product designs with strong value propositions, but knowing how shoppers want to receive products is also a critical piece of the story. For example, shoppers are constantly gathering...

Medical Packaging 101: Basics Medical Device Companies Need to Know

Jun 28, 2018 04:15 PM

In the medical device industry, the product is the main thing. It has to be safe. It has to be efficacious. It has to be…packaged? Packaging often gets short shrift, but it’s so important. Its design affects storage efficiency. Its appearance can...

Internet Connected Packaging

Jun 22, 2018 03:04 PM

Today’s consumers want more information at their fingertips. They want to know if the milk in their chocolate bar is organic or if the fruit juice they’re about to purchase contains allergens. Meanwhile, brands face much higher levels of scrutiny...

Growing Flexible Packaging Demand

Jun 18, 2018 04:16 PM

Advances in film technology and new printing options are also prime contributors to this expansion. Environmentally conscious consumers are looking for packaging that uses fewer resources and less energy than other forms of packaging. Flexible...

IoT and Consumer Packaged Goods Packaging

Jun 18, 2018 03:05 PM

IoT (internet of things) technology is changing the retail shopping experience. Amazon Go allows consumers to walk out the door with merchandise, unhindered by the age-old checkout process we’ve come to accept. The grocery chain Wegmans uses...

A New Culture in Snacking

Jun 15, 2018 04:22 PM

Many well-known brands and start-ups are introducing snack products to take advantage of consumers’ burgeoning hunger for foods and beverages that are consumed between their regular meals. The accelerating pace of product introductions is creating...

Product Transparency Driving Sales Growth in Consumer Goods

Jun 14, 2018 03:07 PM

In the past, shoppers might have based purchases solely on price, convenience or taste. But in today's digital information age, consumers want access to the story behind the foods they are buying and the companies they are buying from...

How Label Transparency Builds Consumer Trust

Jun 14, 2018 03:06 PM

A recent study by Label Insight found that nearly all consumers (94 percent) are more likely to be loyal to a brand that offers full transparency about its products. That means food and beverage manufacturers must deliver with every label and...

Packaging Materials Affect Perceived Value of E-Commerce Shipments

Jun 11, 2018 03:09 PM

A new study conducted by Pregis (pregis.com) and the University of Wisconsin (UW) in Madison shows that the value perception of e-commerce shipments is significantly impacted by the materials chosen to protect them. Even a small increase in...

Personal Care Packaging Must Reflect Consumer Needs & Desires

Jun 08, 2018 03:10 PM

Personal care represents a wide gamut of the consumer packaged goods market, with products ranging from diapers and soaps to high-end beauty products. Consequently, it’s difficult to generalize about the packaging that must fulfill demands for...

Disruptive Technology: Digital Print Finds Its Niche

Jun 07, 2018 10:21 AM

From dog treat pouches that feature a picture of your pooch to a personalized bottle of vodka celebrating your 21-year old daughter’s birthday, customizable messaging on packaging is driving bold brand owners to embrace digital printing...

How to Balance Function and Design in Liquid Packaging

Jun 05, 2018 03:12 PM

Successful packaging is a balance of both functionality and appealing design. Compromising one for the other could create an imbalance that impacts sales, which is why it’s crucial that every aspect of your packaging is ideal and recognizable to...

Teenage Dream: Young Consumers Spend 1,000 Hours Thinking About Food

Jun 04, 2018 04:24 PM

This survey reveals some intriguing statistics for food manufacturers who may wonder how they can influence purchasing decisions where teens are concerned. A majority of teens (7 in 10) say they get their main food knowledge from their parents...

Snacking Appetite Grows to Take a Bigger Bite of US Food Consumption

May 21, 2018 04:25 PM

Consumers are snacking more that ever before. Once viewed largely as a way to indulge or ease short-term hunger, snacking often replaces the traditional three meals a day that dominated American food consumption for decades, with shoppers now...

Frozen Food Fan? As Sales Rise, Studies Show Frozen Produce Is As Healthy As Fresh

May 17, 2018 03:13 PM

Americans are rediscovering the coldest aisle in the supermarket. According to a new report, sales of frozen foods, including vegetables and prepared foods, are now on the rise following a multi-year slump. The uptick is new — and modest...

The Importance of Research in Packaging Design

May 17, 2018 10:24 AM

As a forward-thinking company with your eyes set on growth, you’re likely assessing every factor that drives your revenue and bottom line. Every year, you’re brainstorming ways to improve in the coming year, and that should include your packaging...

Creative Packaging that Tells a Compelling Visual Story

May 17, 2018 10:22 AM

Almost everything you encounter in life tells a story. An inscription inside a book, an old medal in your grandfather’s drawer, even an old movie ticket. These objects all have a story to tell—and packaging is no different. You don’t need to tell...

Half of Brand Managers Plan to Spend More on Packaging, Survey Finds

May 16, 2018 04:26 PM

It’s clear food companies see great value in packaging, as many brands are increasing spending to improve their look and message despite tight margins. It makes sense that many of these packaging initiatives are centered around sustainability...

Creating Competitive Advantage in e-Commerce

May 15, 2018 10:25 AM

Throughout the world and across every product category, our studies have consistently confirmed an underlying universal reality: The e-commerce shopping experience is not well suited for packaged goods products. In physical stores, consumers...

Four Drivers for Luxury Packaging Markets

May 13, 2018 10:26 AM

The distinction between mass-market and luxury products is becoming blurred, prompting luxury brands to turn to innovative technologies and strategies to attract customers to their high-end goods. According to the Smithers Pira report...

How to Design Packaging to Reduce Risk in Transit

May 12, 2018 10:28 AM

These days, your medical devices could be in for quite an adventure. “Medical device supply chains are getting more rigorous by the year,” says Sarah Rosenblum, director of business development and marketing at Packaging Compliance Labs. “With the...

Grocery Store Fruits and Vegetables in Flexible Packaging Pouches

May 10, 2018 04:28 PM

Increasingly, consumers are shopping the perimeter of the grocery stores, as they seek foods they believe are healthier and fresher with minimal additives and packaging. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the produce sections. However, with...

New Packaging Methods Counteract Clean Label Flaws

May 10, 2018 04:28 PM

Long-term freshness is typically thought of as a formulation challenge. But today’s clean label and free-from movements have food manufacturers looking elsewhere to extend or preserve the shelf life of baked foods. While change is slow to come in...

The 5 Trends Driving the Rapid Evolution of Packaging

May 08, 2018 03:14 PM

"Packaging is one of the only growth areas in graphic communications," Harvey Levenson, professor emeritus at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), said during a recent packagePRINTING webinar. "The supplement of television, online...

Five Trends Boosting Intelligent Packaging Adoption

May 06, 2018 03:16 PM

According to new Smithers Pira research, The Future of Active & Intelligent Packaging to 2023, the combined active and intelligent packaging market value will reach $5.68 billion in 2018, with the active packaging market valued at $4.62 billion...

Six Rules for Creating Iconic Packaging

May 04, 2018 10:30 AM

When I started The Biondo Group in the 1960s, the prevailing sentiment was to reject elitism and materialism in favor of conservative consumption. Name brands were pure, and product lines were focused. From a packaging perspective, this meant we...

How to Trigger Emotional Engagement with Your Product Packaging

May 02, 2018 10:31 AM

You may not be a scientist, but as the decision maker for packaging designs of your consumer goods, did you know that you can utilize science in your product packaging designs to drive consumer purchasing decisions? A consumer is more likely to...

Narrow Web Flexible Packaging Booms in US

May 01, 2018 04:18 PM

According to market research firm LPC, narrow web converters printing and converting flexible packaging jobs are showing year-over-year growth rates of 9.73 percent. In some instances, narrow web converters running flexible packaging are showing a...

As Millennials Grow Up, Snack Packaging Evolves

May 01, 2018 10:32 AM

Gone are the days of the structured, three-a-day meals and the unhealthy reputation of snacks. Hectic, on-the-go routines have people looking for ways to get some sustenance during the day in a quick and convenient way. Nutritious snacks fit the...

Flexible Packaging Evolves to Meet Brand and Consumer Needs

Apr 30, 2018 04:30 PM

Flexible packaging has been a consistent growth segment in recent years, as new innovations have made it a strong solution for a wide range of products, and increasingly attractive to a variety of brands. As consumers laud its convenience and...

Strong Demand for Flexible Packaging Industry in Europe

Apr 26, 2018 10:58 AM

Flexible packaging consumption in Europe grew by 2% to around €14bn in 2017, with about the same growth rates in both Western and Eastern Europe, according to research by PCI Wood Mackenzie. Total annual production exceeded €15bn, of which 75%...

Marijuana Goes Mainstream: The Packaging of Pot

Apr 24, 2018 10:59 AM

Cannabis has been used—in varying degrees of legality—for millennia, but is now slowly becoming a fully legalized industry in the U.S. for the first time in the 21st century. We have noticed the rise in cannabis-related businesses on the 99designs...

Harnessing Market Opportunities for Flat Pouches

Apr 23, 2018 11:01 AM

With consumers increasingly preferring small and convenient packages that are easy to transport and whose content can be consumed at any time, flat pouches continue to grow in popularity. Why? They are small, convenient, easy to open and can be...

Storytelling Through Packaging

Apr 19, 2018 11:37 AM

Almost everything you encounter in life tells a story. An inscription inside a book, an old medal in your grandfather’s drawer, even an old movie ticket. These objects all have a story to tell, and packaging is no different. You don’t need to tell...

Packaging Innovations Move Quickly to Keep up with Millennial Preferences

Apr 16, 2018 03:17 PM

100% of beverage industry respondents to Beverage Trends in Packaging and Processing Operations, a new report by PMMI Business Intelligence, say millennials are much more aware and conscientious regarding health, wellness, and the environment than...

Online Grocery Shopping Reshaping Package Design

Apr 12, 2018 03:23 PM

The journey a product takes to get to a consumer is very different from what it was 10 or even five years ago. Click-and-pickup options at grocery stores are becoming more popular, meaning some people may soon see it as strange or overwhelming to...

Digital Print Continues to Disrupt the Packaging

Apr 06, 2018 11:02 AM

According to “The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2022,” a new report by Smithers Pira (smitherspira.com), digitally printed labels and packaging is worth $13.4 billion in 2017. While the label sector has been the early adopter and is...

Packaging Trends on Fire This Year

Apr 05, 2018 11:04 AM

Sustainability, ecommerce, flexible packaging, and plastic packaging advancements and waste challenges continue to capture the attention of packaging professionals, as the list of top articles on PackagingDigest.com from March 2018 clearly shows...

Can Your Current Package Navigate the e-Commerce Supply Chain?

Apr 05, 2018 11:03 AM

While a growing number of people order household products and groceries on-line and wait for Amazon (or another carrier) to deliver, the growth in packaging for e-commerce is still largely about shippers, void fill, and protective packaging. And...

The Times They'll Keep A-Changing

Apr 03, 2018 02:59 PM

In retrospect, the era that constituted my early years as president and CEO of PMMI feels like a tipping point for an evolution in the packaging industry. I’ve seen countless trends come and go over the years, as consumers became more of a force...

Taking a Look at 2018's Packaging Trends

Apr 02, 2018 11:10 AM

With 2018 right around the corner, Mintel, a market intelligence agency, has revealed its five global packaging trends for the new year. David Luttenberger, Mintel's global packaging director, shares why these trends will play a major role in 2018...

Study: Kid-Targeted Food Gets Into Health Trends

Mar 28, 2018 10:36 AM

Analysts have been trying to crack the millennial consumer code for years, and for good reason. According to population projections from the U.S. Census Bureau, millennials are expected to surpass baby boomers as the nation's largest living adult...

Fast Food Chains, e-Commerce Revolutionizing Foodservice Packaging

Mar 27, 2018 10:33 AM

New Persistence Market Research says the level of smartphone and Internet subscriptions have increased the e-commerce business, making almost every commercial food product available online, bringing “significant revolution in online food delivery...

How to Capitalise on the Street Food Movement

Mar 26, 2018 03:00 PM

Colpac shares some tips on how packaging can help make the most of the growing street food movement. From vegan style battered tofu and barbecued jackfruit, to pulled pork brioche baps, there’s no denying the British Street Food revolution is in...

Meeting Retail & Consumer Demand for Food Packaging Conformity

Mar 24, 2018 03:02 PM

Daniela Verhaeg, a Product Inspection specialist with Mettler Toledo (mt.com/us), explains how advanced detection technologies can meet retailer and consumer demand for packaging conformity in the food sector. Why is packaging conformity so...

How to Package Online, Lifestyle Phenomena into a Brand Poised for Success on Shelf

Mar 15, 2018 03:03 PM

Many of today’s successful new brands are created by upstart innovators and built on engagement with millions online. They catch the eye of big-box retailers looking to translate the online following into in-store traffic and sales. Tone it Up...

Designing for Millennials

Mar 12, 2018 03:04 PM

Like most of you, I’ve read many articles about millennials, each one describing how this generation differs from previous ones. Being the first generation to be brought up in an environment that promotes “instant gratification” through technology...

How Manufacturers Can Develop Packaging for the Health-Conscious Consumer:

Mar 06, 2018 03:05 PM

There are two ways manufacturers can leverage packaging to meet the busy, health-conscious consumers’ time sensitivity needs: Communicating nutritional value and designing it to complement the on-the-go person. Consumers who want a healthy snack...

Five Key Business Opportunities in the Packaging Services Sector

Mar 05, 2018 11:14 AM

According to a new Smithers Pira report, “The Future of Business Models and Services in Packaging to 2020,” the market for packaging services in 2017 was worth $33.7 billion, and by 2022 will be worth $50 billion—an annual growth rate of 9.5%...

Snacking Happens

Mar 01, 2018 11:20 AM

It’s official. We are a nation of snackers. Snacks take the place of meals. Snacking takes place anytime and anywhere. And most Americans say any food can be a snack. Meals have generally been defined by time, cultural traditions, the appropriate...

Ingredion CEO: 'Food Anywhere' Trend is Putting Pressure on Ingredients Makers

Mar 01, 2018 11:19 AM

As consumer schedules become increasingly hectic, demand for convenient, ready-to-eat meal solutions — or "food anywhere" — shows no sign of slowing down. The rapid shift has not only challenged manufacturers, restaurants and grocery retailers to...

Facing e-Commerce Packaging Challenges

Feb 26, 2018 10:35 AM

It’s no secret that E-commerce has expanded rapidly in recent years — everyone knows at least one person who has an Amazon Prime account they can use to get free two-day shipping, and even your mom is ordering K-Cups on her phone. But it’s also...

Packaging Design Opportunities Abound in the 4th Dimension

Feb 20, 2018 03:08 PM

Digital technologies like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT) and virtual reality are transforming companies and their relationships with consumers. Applying these and other technologies to the business of packaging offers myriad...

Innovation and Technology in Products a Key Factor to Fuel Industry Growth

Feb 20, 2018 03:07 PM

As mentioned in my last blog post for ICE USA, steady growth and expansion of the flexible packaging industry is going to rely on three growth factors: Innovation and technology in products; Growth in new and existing markets; and the ability...

The Shift from Traditional Materials to Flexible Packaging

Feb 17, 2018 03:09 PM

Consumer trends have contributed to a gradual replacement of rigid pack formats by flexible packaging during the last decade or so. This trend is outlined in Smithers Pira’s new report, “The Future of Flexible Packaging to 2022,” which values...

The Power of Packaging: 2018 State of Industry Report

Feb 08, 2018 03:11 PM

Now more than ever packaging plays a vital role in determining the success of a brand. According to a recent survey of BRANDPackaging readers, companies plan to invest more resources in packaging-related design, marketing and materials this...

5 Building Blocks for Winning at the Digital Shelf

Feb 08, 2018 03:10 PM

By 2022, e-commerce will claim an average 10 percent of all CPG sales, according to the data analytics firm IRI. CPG companies can seize this growth opportunity, but the industry will need to evolve in order to excel. [1] At a time when physical...

From Home Delivery Meal Kit Competition to Greater Distribution Challenges, CPGs Reveal Pain Points in Vision 2025

Feb 05, 2018 03:12 PM

Fifty CPGs and OEMS participated in Vision 2025, conducted last Fall at Pack Expo LAS VEGAS. CPGs report that there is a disconnect between what consumers say and their purchasing behaviors. For instance, most consumer polls show they want less...

When Its Time to Snack, Americans Prefer the Pouch

“Snackification” of America is presenting opportunities for flexible packaging, a packaging official at one of the nation’s largest food company says. Busy people are increasingly relying on snacks to replace formal meals, said Tom Miller...