5 most famous printing technology trends in 2021
Globalization, new technology, and rising consumer expectations for individualization and sustainability are transforming the packaging business. Find out which five major trends will shape the packaging sector in this blog article
Sustainability: A Packaging Megatrend
Sustainability has recently been a major trend in the packaging business. So long as “green” packaging does not disproportionately increase product costs and perceived product quality is maintained, environmental compatibility and multi-purpose adaptability will be important buying considerations in the future.
Purchasing choices will therefore increasingly be decided based on values, resulting in a new generation of LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability). LOHAS is an important target demographic for brand makers due to their high level of education and above-average wealth. This group wants organic goods, but also eco-friendly packaging.
Trend Collection Boxes
In the future years, packaging companies will be more required to integrate sustainability into their marketing strategies and secure it via product developments.
Puma – The Smart Little Bag
Puma’s sustainability approach includes decreasing CO2 emissions, waste, and improving custom coffee boxes. In the end, a clever little bag made of cardboard and bag was born.
Product safety is vital
Product and food safety are two additional trends in the packaging business that are gaining traction. This topic ranges from food migration to product piracy and counterfeit protection.
Retail needs are rising.
On one hand, printed packaging with its variety of materials is vital in H5 packaging since it protects the food from unwanted elements. Mineral oil residues in foodstuffs are a problem that concerns the packaging business.
As an example, discount giant Aldi Süd recently called on producers of his brands to prohibit mineral oil residues from products, specifically considering packaging.
Save Food encourages active packaging
The Save Food Initiative was founded in 2011 to spur innovation in the fight against global food waste and loss. In terms of shelf life and food safety, the packaging sector is critical. The goal is to create “active packaging” that increases shelf life and minimizes food waste.
Freshness, temperature, and opening indications should assist consumers to evaluate product safety beyond the stated expiration date. Intelligent recycling systems can extract food components from packaging and reuse them in several recycling procedures.
Product piracy necessitates creative packaging.
The global harm caused by counterfeit goods has grown a hundredfold in the past 25 years. Numerous packaging and product counterfeits in the pharmaceutical sector demonstrate that product piracy not only harms brand manufacturers’ revenues but also endangers customers’ health. The development and deployment of new anti-counterfeiting technologies are therefore vital. Optical security elements should be added to first opening protection and track & trace technology to provide maximum protection against product piracy.
Digital printing conquers mass manufacturing
In the next few years, digital printing will continue to grow. The packaging business is seeing an increase in product variety, shorter product cycles, and an increase in individualization and serialization.
Digital printing will therefore no longer be restricted to limited editions and one-off items, but will increasingly be utilized for mass-market package design. Demands for more process and procedure flexibility are pushing the digitalization of package manufacturing technologies.
NFC and Bluetooth are replacing QR codes.
The smartphone-packaging interaction has entered a new technical phase. Consumers have yet to embrace QR and text-coded h5 packaging owing to the tedious handling. Also, direct consumer interaction was highly restricted. NFC and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLW) are the future technologies that will enable new interactive communication channels between all parties involved. Customers will be able to obtain information about the product and contact the business through NFC in virtually limitless ways. Promotional, competition and bonus programs may be added endlessly. Also, each NFC chip has a unique serial number given by the manufacturer, which verifies the goods’ authenticity.
Globalization: Global businesses seek global suppliers
The medium-sized packaging sector is now under intense pressure to internationalize its manufacturing to satisfy global consumer demands. However, expanding overseas may pose existential threats. Inadequate planning or the wrong approach may spell disaster for a business.
Often, the first step towards internationalization is a familiar neighboring country. Due to poor wages and a lack of qualified employees, starting your own business is sometimes the only choice. As globalization advances, so do packaging needs. Innovative and “global” packaging that meets difficult criteria will determine the industry’s future.
Future trends point to a vibrant sector.
Consumers, markets, and technology are rapidly evolving. Internationalization, technical advancement, and constantly changing consumer demands are increasing difficulties for packaging businesses. In addition to environmental and product safety, future customers will value creative, lifestyle-friendly packaging. The significance of a continuous information chain on transport stations and active packaging is growing with internationalization. So the packaging market will grow rapidly in the future years. Our “Trend Collection Packaging Industry” provides an overview of the industry’s future difficulties.
