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2019/05/21 Trends Driving Popularity of Flexible Packaging (part 1 of 2)

Trends Driving Popularity of Flexible Packaging
Majority of Brands Using Flexible Packaging on Some SKUs

Source from: https://www.flexpackmag.com/articles/89926-trends-driving-popularity-of-flexible-packaging
 

Flexible packaging is rapidly replacing solid packaging across the globe for all the good reasons – lower manufacturing costs, enhanced supply chain effectiveness, extended shelf life, light-weight, augmented sales, and greater consumer appeal.

The tag of the newest foe on the bandwagon of environmental adversaries can aptly be attributed to plastics. Consumers, retailers, and brands are now demanding product manufacturers to change the way goods are packaged. Recyclability, waste reduction, and composability are turning from buzzwords to business basics. Flexible packaging, having been at the forefront of packaging modernization, is now becoming increasingly popular, with its deployment having surged across myriad industries. Some of the pivotal reasons why businesses are rapidly turning to flexible packaging are listed below:

·         Flexible packages are gaining momentum primarily due to recyclability and more sustainable end-of-life options than many packaging alternatives

·     They offer greater convenience for consumers by incorporating features such as spouts, zip locks, and resealable closures.

·     These packages are compact and sleek, requiring fewer trucks for transportation, thereby consuming less fuel and generating less air pollution.

·     Prevent product tampering and safeguard perishable/liquid goods against damage during transport.

·     Creative and unique packaging appeals shoppers and boosts sales.
 

With a massive flurry of products, the consumer marketplace is highly saturated. This sea of products presents businesses with a huge challenge to make their product stand out from hundreds of other similar products. This is where flexible packaging comes into play. With flexible packaging one can choose virtually any design, color, size, shape, or surface finish for the package, making their product stand out on the shelves. Driven by the burgeoning craze for innovative and convenient packaging the global flexible packaging market is slated to surpass $250 billion by the year 2024.

According to the statistics consolidated by a Harris Poll commissioned by the Flexible Packaging Association, 83 percent of all brands are presently using flexible packaging of some kind. Additionally, 26 percent of brands have augmented the deployment of flexible packaging over the last 5 years, while 31 percent intend to augment their flexible packaging use in the coming years.


Multi-sensory packaging

Incorporation of multisensory elements is a growing trend in the flexible packaging space. In a fiercely competitive scenario, where various market majors are experimenting with product packages to incubate state-of-the-art, improved packaging solutions, to profitably address market needs for sustainability, a few years ago, Clondalkin Flexible Packaging launched an innovative solution for tactile packaging. Apparently, Clondalkin, the specialized producer of shrink sleeves and lidding solution, took packaging to the next level by integrating packages with pioneering tactile features such as softness and relief. This innovative technology enables brand owners to present a premium experience to shoppers when they hold the product; a critical mark in the buying process. If used sagaciously, with such packages, brand owners can convey vital product characteristics to shape consumer’s perception and emotional connection, and create a positive impact on their buying behavior. This revolutionary flexible packaging technology provides endless opportunities in the domain of multi-sensory packaging.