Packaging Trends in 2022 – Where Is The Industry Heading?
If you think about it, packaging in one form or another is everywhere; from the food we eat to the one-too-many online deliveries you promised yourself you’d cut back on!
While the majority of us go about our lives likely not thinking too much about the packaging we encounter every day, if you’re a business owner in the manufacturing industry, you’ll likely be sick of the sight of boxes, packets, and bags!
As we approach the end of Q1, we’re starting to see some clear trends in the industry that look certain to stay. Here, we’ll take a look at packaging trends in 2022, including what’s been popular so far, and where the industry is likely heading.
Sustainability is Here to Stay
Let’s face it; we’ve all known for a while that plastic is on its way out in favour of more sustainable substitutes and biodegradable options. Whether it’s a cardboard replacement or removing packaging altogether, many companies have pledged to reduce plastic within their packaging wherever possible.
The Problem with Substitutes
While it’s all well and good for manufacturers to substitute plastic for something more sustainable, the real challenge is there isn’t currently any perfect replacement for plastic.
Other options are either much more expensive, not as durable, or are just as bad for the environment as plastic!
As 2022 progresses, companies are also moving even further away from black plastic due to difficulties in the recycling process, instead preferring clean or clear packaging to increase sustainability efforts.
Minimalism is on the Rise
In recent years, there has been seemingly endless criticism of companies that use a lot of packaging; think online delivery companies and supermarkets, for example.
Minimalistic packaging that uses more natural, sustainable materials as well as fewer materials overall appears to be the way forward for many companies.
Linking to this, there has been a steady increase in refillable stations in supermarkets, with some business owners even launching a dedicated shop.
Not only does this save on packaging that can’t be reused, but it’s also a great cost-saving exercise for both customers and business owners alike!
Grouping Products
Think about pancake day 10 years ago (stay with us here) – you’d have to make sure you had a pan, pancake mix, syrup etc. and chances are you’d probably have bought them individually, maybe even from different shops, right?
Nowadays, you can simply pop into the supermarket and buy everything you’d need for pancake day in one simple package that means much less waste!
That’s not all businesses are doing to help boost sustainability efforts.
Bulk buying was once thought of as a great way to save money, but, let’s be honest, a bit of a chore! Precariously stacking individual boxes and tins on top of each other took up more space in our homes, and left many of us looking for an alternative.
As membership-only wholesale businesses such as Costco gained popularity, other companies began to follow suit.
Take the frozen food shop Iceland, for example.
They’ve now launched The Food Warehouse, where customers can pick up much larger packs of their favourite products without having to buy multiples. This of course makes things easier for the customer, encourages a higher spend, and boosts sustainability by using less packaging overall.
The Conclusion
Ultimately, the trend of sustainability in the packaging industry is showing no signs of slowing down for the rest of 2022 and beyond.
Businesses are realising that customers care about the environment more than ever and that if they want to keep their custom, they’re going to have to adapt.
Chiorino is a worldwide leader in the production of conveyor and process belts, as well as transmission belts and rubber aprons. If you’d like to find out more about how we can help, contact us today.