Packaging innovations for e-commerce

One of the first impressions that consumers have of a product comes from the packaging, especially with food packaging. It’s also one of the main ways to stand out among competitors. But if this isn’t enough for packaging companies to rethink their designs, then the fact that the e-commerce packaging market is expected to reach $98.2 billion by 2025 should be. 

The trend is that many companies focused on food delivery are getting more and more creative with their recyclable materials and packaging printing/designs, thereby managing to grab customers’ attention while lessening their impact on the environment. Some of the most recent innovative food packaging ideas include: 

• Simple / Minimalistic designs: In addition to biodegradable materials, streamlined designs is another way in which the food packaging industry is evolving towards a “cleaner” and more innovative look. This is achieved by eliminating unnecessary packaging parts that don’t serve a purpose and including only the minimal number of materials for safe and efficient food packaging. 

• Intelligent packaging: Thanks to recent technological advances, manufacturers and retailers can use intelligent packaging to detect the food’s temperature, keep track of expiration dates, identify if the food was tampered with, etc. 

• Augmented reality packaging: Since so many people own smartphones (about 85% of Americans have one), the food industry decided to use this advantage by combining it with modern technology. The outcome is an augmented reality experience for the consumer where they can use their phones to:
• Receive food prepping guides
• Connect to games, videos, and more for additional health information
• Examine objects in 3D
• Learn the process of how the food gets from the farm to their plate. 

• Flexible food packaging: By minimising the packaging materials, it is moulded to the product’s shape and size, thereby cancelling out wasted space and the amount of materials that end up in landfills. In addition, it helps to keep food fresher for longer, is more lightweight, plus is so much easier to store and pack. Flexible designs (made from foil, paper, or other materials) can include pouches or even shrinkable packaging. And since these use less water and energy to produce, it’s much better for a greener planet. 

Here at MBA Green, we have over a decade of experience in making sustainable packaging (including branded- and bespoke designs) for all kinds of businesses. Let us help you rewrite the future for your company by starting with what your consumers will see first: your sustainable- and recyclable packaging.