We will be experiencing more than 7 trends in food packaging in 2018 going forward. However, for good measure, here are the seven most visible ones, which you have probably experienced at one time or another.
- Flexible packaging
Who wants rigid packaging when they can have flexible, pocket-friendlier and easy to carry a round packaging? Flexible packaging is the next best thing in food packaging as it combined aluminum foil, plastic and paper to safeguard your food. You have seen this in milk, nuts and other foods in the market. Every food manufacturer is set to go this direction sooner than later. If you do not have all the necessary equipment to create the flexible food packages for your business, you can always go for the best food packaging company and outsource your packaging needs. Digital package printing enables you to make your products attractive to consumers.
- Green packaging
Green packaging has come of age. Not only are consumers considering the quality of the food in the packaging, but the size and type of packaging as well. In this again, flexible packaging comes in as the big winner as the use of pouches becomes more advanced. Anything that assures the consumer they are doing the planet some good will sell.
- Rigid plastic packaging for food
That we have flexible packaging does not mean that we are running the rigid plastic out. In fact, the rigid plastic packaging will become more embellished, better looking and will be more versatile. For example, there will be plastic packaging that you can use directly in the microwave.
- Recyclability
This has been around for some time, not only in food packaging but other industries as well. However, in future, it can only get bigger, much bigger. Packaging will be made in such a way that after use, consumers can recycle it correctly. Every packaging bears instructions about how to recycle it, rather than for how to dispose of it.
- Personalized printing on packaging
With the advent of 3D printing, food packaging is taking a huge turn for the better. Today, packaging material speaks right to the intended user, from the pictures, the design and the writings. Some products will have faces of famous people digitally printed on the packaging and for sure, we might even start keeping some packaging materials as keepsakes, in future.
- Packaging has suddenly become more eye-catching
No one is going to buy food that is packed in a drab silver colored tin when they could have the tin with a picture of a hot model eating what is inside. Manufactures have taken this seriously and that is why the food shelves in the supermarkets have suddenly become so eye catching should not be a problem. Many companies have been using brightly coloured plastic sheets to package their products. With digital printing and other advanced technologies for embossing the food packaging material, this should not be a problem. However, the designs have to speak to the intended buyers since the competition will also be doing it.
- Edible packaging – here it comes!
It is not an entirely new trend since for a long time now we have been eating sausages coated in collagen. In this case, the collagen coat is the packaging. This is set to extend to other foods as the market can show. Edible films are usually produced from edible additives like proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. This kind of packaging can also be done with a purpose to increase the shelf life of a product. For example, it can be added to reduce moisture, reduce oxidation and so on.
