Pack Expo 2013 is the country's biggest show in packaging, and after exploring the exhibitor halls for two days, Food Dive saw three trends emerge that are driving the food packaging industry as a whole.
From the rise of the on-the-go consumer to the reason why pouches are in, here are the three trends that are shaping the future of food packaging:
1. SUSTAINABILITY
When making packaging decisions, food manufacturers are increasingly taking end-of-life considerations into account. Sustainable packaging is naturally a hit with increasingly conscious consumers and, as a result, the food packaging industry is taking note.
We saw a huge number of vendors that touted their packaging's eco-friendliness. Whether it's using better materials or having less surface area, the food packaging industry is finding ways to meet manufacturer's needs and customer demand for increasingly sustainable packaging. For example, pouches are all the rage in the industry right and Pack Expo was no exception at vendor the show's vendor displays.
Pouches are not only a safe and reliable method of packaging, but they take up less space and are far more sustainable than, say, clam shell packaging. If you want to identify one of the rising trends in food packaging, look out for more pouches.
2. PORTABILITY
As our culture becomes more hyperactive, consumers are looking to new delivery systems and packaging for their food. Gone are the days of eating breakfast before you go to work; welcome to the new era where consumers want to eat breakfast on the way to work. After all, why do one thing after the other when you could do both at the same time?
To meet the needs of the emerging on-the-go consumer, the food packaging industry is coming up with new disposable, single-use packaging solutions. Whether it's re-sealable pouches or edible packaging, look out for on-the-go packaging as another big trend that's here for the foreseeable future.
This package for frozen lemonade showcases yet one more example of a product with an on-the-go delivery system that comes in yes—wait for it—a pouch.
3. SAFETY
Food safety has always been a concern for the food packaging industry, and packaging manufacturers are constantly trying to find ways to raise the bar. Food Dive saw a lot of packaging at Pack Expo that prided itself on extending shelf life, keeping food fresh and, most importantly, protecting the product from contamination.
Emerging trends such as the rise of ethnic flavors and increased consumer access to information is accelerating the push towards making products safer—and food packaging is a big part of that. In new packaging designs, new materials and new processes, food packaging is essential to keeping food safe and consumers healthy and happy.
Berry Plastics' new Versalite coffee cup actually showcases all three packaging trends. The cup is safer to use than foam coffee cups, comes designed on-the-go consumers and is both recyclable and reusable.
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