What is it that actually gets the attention of today’s consumer and convinces them to grab an item off the shelf? 

The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) held its Spring Outlook and Strategies Conference on Mar. 29-31, 2017, in Charlotte, NC where leaders in the paperboard packaging industry learned the latest in consumer, economic, and policy trends.

The retailer's five new sustainable packaging goals reflect guest expectations, business priorities, industry challenges and areas the retailer can drive the most change.

The global smart packaging market is expected to grow at 5.4% CAGR, hitting about US$52B by 2025. Market drivers include growing market for sustainable printed electronics, the Internet of Things and cloud computing, and rising food safety concerns.

Speed scratch cooking – taking semi-prepared, healthy ingredients and creating a homemade meal – along with zero waste, drinkable soup, grass-fed dairy, microgreens, sea plants, vinegar seen as top trends by industry expert Mareya Ibrahim.

As sustainability issues move to the forefront of the national conversation, we reached out to Tom Egan, vice president, Industry Services, PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, to find out what the future might hold for sustainability initiatives in the consumer packaged goods industry, what considerations brands must heed and what resources are available to brands looking to make a difference.

Packaging Strategies spoke with Laura Phillips, SVP of sustainability for Walmart, regarding the company’s recent sustainability changes.

New packaging formats, sizes and designs, as well as product offerings, are disrupting grocery stores everywhere, leaving behind the popular foods of just 10 years ago.

DuPont Packaging Award judges discuss global trends in second of six-part video.