5 Packaging Trends to Follow In 2011

Here is my list of 5 packaging trends to watch closely in 2011:

1. Paper-based Packaging: A Bright future with Water-based coatings
2. Bioplastic concerns and challenges: value proposition?
3. Less is more: Thinning, Lightening and generally Reducing
4. Stand-up pouches: Flexibility, Sustainability and Convenience
5. Sleeve: Aesthetic, Functional and Tamper-evident

1. Paper-based packaging: A Bright future with Water-based coatings

Paper-based Packaging provides versatile and responsible packaging solutions for product manufacturers, retailers, and consumers. Paper has an excellent image as packaging material (renewable and biodegradable). However due to missing performance characteristics and barrier properties (e.g. fat resistance) paper has been largely replaced by polymers (e.g. PE)

The missing performance and barrier properties of paper can be compensated water-based coatings.

With the push towards sustainability, repulpability and recyclability, water-based technologies are gaining acceptance. The packaging will combine the best aspects of two materials: environmentally friendly paperboard and good barrier properties of water-based coatings.

• Functional barrier: Water-based coatings can be custom-formulated to meet the packaging requirements of a wide range of fresh and frozen products
• Sustainable barrier: Can be recycled, repulped and composted 
• Market drivers: Increased focus on recyclability and Increased demand for sustainability

2. Bioplastic concerns and challenges: value proposition?

While bioplastics are being embraced, labelling confusion, scepticism on functional abilities and environmental claims continue to pose challenges and concerns:

• Confusion in terminology: Compostable, biodegradable, Oxo-degradable…?
• End of life hurdles: the puzzle?
• Carbon footPrint: Plant-based plastics not necessarily greener that oil based relatives?
• Compostability: home or industrial?
• PLA production: GMO?
• Big hurdle: price?
• Value proposition: Promoting renewable, biodegradable or compostable?
• Renewability and sustainability of bioplastics are questioned

3. Less is more: Thinning, Lightening and generally Reducing

Concerns about sustainability and environmental friendliness will continue to impact all areas of the packaging industry. Consumers are increasingly interested in their personal impact on the environment and are demanding more from manufacturers. Manufacturers are looking for ways to reduce, down-gauge, lightweight their packaging.

Companies will benefit from these efforts, thanks to material savings and increased demand from green consumers.

4. Stand-up pouches: Flexibility, Sustainability and Convenience

The trend toward stand-up pouches packaging has been mainly driven by companies looking for ways to increase shelf appeal and differentiate their products from the competition and add consumer convenience. Stand-up pouches can be used as an additional marketing tool for brand owners looking to boost sales. From an environmental point of view, pouches are more sustainable than traditional packaging formats (cans, boxes or rigid plastic container). They utilize much less material, improve the product to package ratio and eliminate over packaging and waste. Depending upon the application, pouches can weigh up to 95% less than rigid containers and take up less than 10% of the space typically used by rigid containers. In addition, pouches require much less landfill space than other containers.

5. Sleeve: Aesthetic, Functional and Tamper-evident

Shrink sleeves provide many aesthetic and functional labeling and packaging advantages. Shrink sleeves provide high quality, 360 degree head-to-toe graphics on a series of complex packaging shapes and container geometries. The result maximizes on-shelf impact and appeal and contributes to differentiation in the marketplace. Shrink sleeves also offer tamper-evident capabilities by protecting lids and tops. Shrink sleeves can also reduce inventory by eliminating the need to stock printed containers, and add shelf-life to the product through UV protection. Shrink Sleeves are easily removed in the recycling process resulting in less environmental impact.