The Future of Packaging Technology and Design

1. E-commerce emergence and sustainability pressure.

The emergence of the pandemic provided e-commerce with a meteoric rise, which initially gained excellent traction in the early 2010s. With no in-store experience or customer service opportunities during lockdown, e-commerce is gaining momentum rapidly and is set to replace traditional retail as the main mode of shopping.

The advent of e-commerce as a necessary shopping method has presented the packaging industry with enormous opportunities to specialise and tailor its products further using new, innovative packaging technologies.

As e-commerce giants such as Amazon take the lead, the shopping experience is becoming increasingly customer-centric throughout the process. This is why e-commerce is a significant factor in determining the future of the packaging industry. However, as previously mentioned, it is not the only driving force.

Maintaining the planet

The second driving force behind the future of the packaging industry is sustainability. The concept of sustainability was already a trend in most industries outside of packaging. People were already inclined towards a more environmentally friendly shopping experience, and this trend is becoming increasingly prevalent over time.

Although environmentally friendly alternatives are not currently as cost-efficient, consumer expenditure on such products continues to increase. SurveyMonkey also found that one in three consumers prefer environmentally friendly products, with 35 per cent of the surveyed population willing to pay more for a product that is better for the environment than cheaper alternatives.

With an increasing number of companies taking on the role of environmental protection and smart consumers demanding greater eco-responsibility, sustainability has already become a key concern for the packaging industry.

Trends such as waste minimisation, effective box space utilisation, reduced carbon footprint and recycling are already becoming popular, and this trend is set to continue. Therefore, sustainable packaging could replace traditional plastic packaging, which is still widely used.

When considering the future of the packaging industry, the decline of plastic is something that cannot be ignored. Plastic has been very convenient and durable, and has been widely used, but it has come under growing criticism because of its environmental impact. The ugly reality of plastic pollution has opened people's eyes, and consumers and businesses are seeking more sustainable options. This has resulted in the adoption of new technologies and materials that are better for the planet.

2. New Tech Packaging: Technologies of the Future

As consumers demand greater convenience and eco-friendliness, as evidenced by the popularity of e-commerce and sustainability, new opportunities must be created to enable businesses to capitalise on these trends.

Fortunately for them, the industry is experiencing a technological renaissance, with new packaging designs and innovations being introduced to the market at a steady pace. So, what are these new packaging technologies? Let's take a closer look!

--Edible alternatives

One of the new sustainable options is edible packaging, which reduces our reliance on plastics and could help to significantly reduce our carbon footprint. It is the best solution to meet consumer demand for eco-friendly initiatives.

Made from natural substances such as algae, plant fibres, seaweed or crops, edible packaging offers the food industry a wide range of options in terms of colours, designs, etc. Consumers can even consume the package, providing a unique experience and leaving no trace in landfills or oceans.

Consumer packaging is not limited to edible packaging. Some edible packaging options can be consumed by animals and nourish them rather than poison them, as is the case with traditional plastics.

--Flexible packaging and space saving

However, innovations are not only occurring in the way consumers dispose of packaging. Storage and transportation are evolving as well. The mass production, transportation and storage of packaging is also detrimental to the environment, and surplus stock ends up in landfill sites. Fortunately, we are witnessing more space-saving solutions and innovations in efficiency.

This implies that we are moving towards flexible packaging that can be stacked and stored efficiently. Flexible packaging is one of the best trends, especially in the food industry, where consumers seek convenience and versatility.

It is lightweight, robust and highly adaptable to different types and sizes of products. It can be a resealable stand-up pouch, a convenient bag or sachet. In any case, flexible packaging makes storing, transporting and consuming products easy, with minimum waste and environmental impact. Its cost-effective use of resources and other innovative features, such as portion control and increased product protection, benefit both consumers and the planet.

3. Smart Tech Packaging

However, you might be surprised to learn that there are more advanced concepts trending in the industry than edible and flexible packaging, which is already a developed concept. Smart packaging, also known as intelligent or active packaging, has grown in popularity over the last few years. Grand View Research estimates that smart packaging revenues totalled 10.8 billion in 2015 and expects this figure to increase to 26.7 billion by 2024.

Smart packaging promises brands and companies a new realm of communication, where consumer behaviours can be easily monitored and recorded to offer a more customised experience to target markets, enabling businesses to better serve consumer needs.

Technologies such as printed electronics in the form of near-field communication (NFC), radio-frequency identification (RFID), ambient intelligence, smart LEDs/OLEDs, miniature power sources, displays and sensors, and data storage provide consumers with a degree of interaction and sophisticated infotainment, digital sales aids, and online connectivity never experienced before.

Nanotechnology is also being used to minimise packaging waste and increase sustainability, with bio-nano composites being used instead of non-biodegradable, petroleum-based plastic due to their protective qualities, which are ideal for hygienic and antibacterial packaging — particularly for medical, pharmaceutical and food products. Nanotechnology is just the beginning, and further innovations are expected.

Even augmented reality, which for a long time was confined to the realm of science fiction, is now within reach. The introduction of AR technology has convinced us of its enduring impact on the future of packaging design. Over the next decade, consumers will be able to virtually test-drive products, explore different packaging options, and interact with gaming elements, as companies strive to create brand recognition and provide new entertainment opportunities through packaging and products.

Overall, smart technology will increase interaction with your product and provide loads of consumer data that can be used to deliver quantifiable results and value to customers.

4. Material trends: Sustainable, flexible, corrugated

We have discussed design trends and the emergence of smart packaging, but what about materials? Similarly to new packaging designs, materials are guided by the drivers of e-commerce and sustainability. While we have already discussed edible and flexible packaging as design trends, it is also worth mentioning the materials used.

Edible and other sustainable materials, such as bamboo, plant fibres and starches, are quickly becoming popular alternatives to traditional materials like plastic.

While plastic is still in use for flexible packaging materials, these materials are growing tremendously. As the e-commerce trend, dietary habit shifts and processed and packaged food availability continue to grow, flexible packaging remains a viable alternative to traditional plastic packaging. This is because it uses fewer materials, meaning less waste and less space during transportation, while also enabling food and beverage products to have a longer shelf life.

Although it may not be a new material, the final trending material is corrugated materials, which remain popular. The global corrugated box market was valued at 155 billion in 2017 and is projected to double by 2025. This is due to the fact that e-commerce businesses are booming, and despite the flaws of corrugated materials, they remain a good alternative thanks to their strength, cost-effectiveness and recyclability.

5. Advancements in 3D printing manufacturing

It's not just the designs and materials that are transforming the packaging industry. Production is evolving as well. Thanks to growing technologies and the invention of new, efficient methods, unique packaging has never been easier to make.

Over the past few years, additive manufacturing technology has captured our imaginations. This technology allows us to produce complex shapes and designs on the spot that would otherwise have been impossible or extremely resource-intensive to produce using conventional manufacturing methods. The future of 3D printing is expected to set the bar even higher with print-to-order production.

In the case of packaging prototypes, for example, 3D printing will be a significantly better choice than existing methods due to its flexibility, efficiency and cost savings. It will blur the boundaries between design and production.

Although 3D printing is still a young technology, you will soon be able to witness the transition from small-scale specialised manufacturing to large-scale printing across all industries! Additive manufacturing processes will provide personalised, on-demand packaging solutions, restricted only by imagination, as early as 2028.

6. Intelligent warehousing: AI and machine automation

As we have already discussed in this article, the new technology is not only restricted to packages; it also covers smart packaging. As the world becomes more connected, consumers require made-to-order products to arrive quickly. This is made possible by cognitive computing, robotic process automation (RPA), Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, and other emerging technologies.

These technologies will combine to create a comprehensive fulfilment solution that will satisfy consumers' rising needs through smart warehousing.

Predictive maintenance: as opposed to waiting until something fails, systems will anticipate issues and address them proactively.

cobots (robots that co-operate with humans);

IoT standardisation to permit successful network connection,

, and integration of print-to-order manufacturing.

As robots perform an increasing number of tasks, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will become ever more prevalent in the future!

7. Shipping and logistics: Blockchain technology

Similar to the areas of warehousing, manufacturing and packaging design addressed in this paper, shipping and logistics are also undergoing technological integration in the form of blockchain technology. Although Bitcoin was not a successful cryptocurrency, the technology behind it is set to transform the packaging industry.

Logistics expenses in the United States are estimated at 1.5 trillion dollars per year, and as the industry continues to grow, two major problems plague it: systematic inefficiency and fraud. Fortunately, we are on the verge of a blockchain technology revolution.

By providing a decentralised digital registry, blockchain will eliminate the need for intermediary shipping costs, documentation and other ineffective, exposed and inefficient practices. It will simplify shipping operations, offering tracking, security, transparency, counterfeit protection and cost-effectiveness like never before.

The emergence of this disruptive technology will soon directly impact shippers, carriers, brokers, vendors and consumers.

8. Automation in delivery to consumers

With so many innovations and technological advances occurring over a relatively short period of time, it is no wonder that one can feel overwhelmed. Nevertheless, technology has been developed to simplify our lives, and we must embrace change. With that in mind, we have arrived at our final destination: automatic deliveries.

The way we know delivery will be different in 2028 and beyond. Automated home delivery is becoming a reality through innovative projects such as Amazon's drone programme and Uber's self-driving cars. In 2016, Otto, an autonomous startup acquired by Uber, made the first ever commercial delivery using self-driving technology, covering 120 miles to deliver 2,000 cases of beer.

Other alternatives, such as underground transport tubes, autonomous air taxis, crewless cargo ships, river shuttles and pavement delivery robots, are also being researched and explored. Engineers all over the world are developing software, sensors, artificial intelligence, vehicle-to-vehicle communication (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication (V2I), as well as intelligent lockers and boxes, to pave the way for this future.

9. The future is now!

We are in the midst of a technological revolution. As the world moves quickly towards this and other sustainable practices, packaging manufacturers and consumers will benefit from the efforts that will transform customer experience, manufacturing, shipping and environmental protection.