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Consumer Packaging Evolves to Keep up with the Changing Consumer
As consumer lifestyles change, consumer packaging must evolve as well to keep up with current times and meet the needs of the consumer.
Rexam, the world's second largest consumer packaging company, released a Consumer Packaging Report for 2007-08. The report states that in 2006, the consumer packaging market was nearly $400 billion worldwide. This number is expected to increase to $470 billion in 2010. Food packaging accounts for over half of the market value, at roughly $200 billion. Plastic is growing faster than any other material and currently accounts for 40% of global packaging.
According to Rexam’s report, consumer packaging is constantly influenced by changes in lifestyle, demographics and consumer habits. A few known trends are as follows:
• Environmental Concerns: With increasing concerns about the environment, consumers are now paying more attention to the packaging of products and whether or not they can be recycled. This trend has sparked the innovation of new materials, including environmentally-friendly plastic blends.
• General Health: Consumers are becoming more interested in their own well-being, and with this increase, consumers would like the packaging to guarantee the quality of the product. As a result, there has been an increase in tamper-evident closures.
• Packaging Distinction: Brands are distinguishing their products from the competition through various methods, including shape and size. This trend is becoming increasingly important.
• Increasing Ages: As the average age of consumers is increasing (mostly due to developing countries), and birthrates are slowing, packaging is shifting to cater to older consumers.
• Convenience: Busier lifestyles, increases in travel and smaller households have inspired new designs, including resealable packages, microwavable packages and travel sizes.
With these trends, several companies have come up with new innovative packaging for their products. Cryovac®, for one, recently developed a Grip & Tear bag that will end every consumer’s battle with opening vacuum shrink bags. This bag will open by simply pulling on a tab. The convenience of this product is that it increases safety and eliminates messes that may result from cutting open the bag with a knife. Click here to learn more.
 Gerber Graduates®, on the other hand, developed a tray package for their children’s meals that acts as a jar and requires no refrigeration. Other examples of added-value products include breathable films, biodegradable materials, and active packaging that release additives at the point of consumption, as many nutrients diminish before consumption.
In conclusion, packaging serves many functions, including protecting what’s inside of the package as well as standing out from competitive products. Packaging should also add some type of convenience, whether it’s an easy-to-open product, or an environmentally-friendly package. It’s critical to be innovative in packaging design, as what works today might not work in the future since consumers are constantly changing.
For further information on Cryovac packaging, contact Bill Kuecker at William.G.Kuecker@sealedair.com or visit www.sealedair.com.
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