Food packaging trends

Food packaging over the years has taken on many sizes, shapes, purposes and even causes – but in today’s market, it has to do it all. Consumers want fresher, healthier food with fewer ingredients – packaged in smaller sizes. They want to be able to access food products in the most convenient way for them – whether it be at a local retail outlet, club store or online. They seek sustainability, waste reduction and improved food safety. Food packagers are continually challenged to meet these consumer demands.

As consumers continue to become more comfortable ordering groceries online, the rules of packaging for this expanding e-commerce marketplace continue to change. With e-commerce, packaging acts as a brand ambassador. How the product appears, how it is protected, even how the product is packed – for example, whether there is too much packaging and if it is recyclable – can reflect positively or negatively on the brand. New packaging options and solutions are being looked at to improve this important and growing market segment. At the same time, the industry is seeking some type of standardization of the packaging for e-commerce to improve efficiencies, streamline distribution and facilitate cross-branding.