Top Packaging Trends For 2022 | Eagle Flexible Packaging

Top Packaging Trends to Pay Attention to for 2022

Top Packaging Trends to Pay Attention to for 2022As we race towards the New Year, now is the time that we start to consider what innovations the next 12 months will bring. With how fast everything has been changing in the past year it can be difficult to keep up with the rapidly moving packaging trends, but there are a few items of consideration that Eagle Flexible Packaging has taken note of.

Below we’ve compiled a list of the five top packaging trends we believe will be relevant in the next year.

1.      Sustainability

Consumers’ commitment to sustainability hasn’t waned since before the disruption created by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a 2021 study reported by Trivium Packaging, 67% of consumers are still environmentally aware, the same percentage as the year prior.

With sustainable packaging remaining at the forefront of consumers’ minds, it will be important to consider implementing one or more strategies to make your packaging and supply chain more eco-friendly. The technology for sustainable packaging is rapidly improving, but there are a still changes you can make now to lessen your packaging’s ecological footprint:

  • Refillable parent packaging
  • Bulk dispenser refilling
  • Returnable and reusable packaging
  • Antimicrobial packaging
  • Bioplastics

As the technology for environmentally sustainable packaging advances, the different options are predicted to become less costly and easier to produce, making it a worthy investment in the coming year.

2.      COVID-Safe Packaging

In many ways society is settling back into its normal routine, but COVID-19 is still very much a concern. As the delta variant still surges across the country, and the emergence of the omicron variant raises even more safety concerns, package sanitation is once again a priority.

By receiving AIB International’s Pandemic Prepared Certification your company can take the first step towards ensuring the safety of your consumers, and reassures customers that the provider is prioritizing safety, employee health, and business continuity.

There are five elements a company needs to become pandemic prepared certified:

  1. Pandemic crisis management
  2. Supply chain management
  3. Intermittent operations planning management
  4. Health crisis mitigation measures and management
  5. Pre-requisite program review

Retaining the certification is an ongoing process requiring an investment, active risk management protocols, and continuous refinement.

3.      Artful Packaging

There is more to packaging than the physical quality of the package. The aesthetic quality of a product can have just as much impact on a brand as sustainability, or safety. By developing a unique packaging design for your products, you are more likely to catch the eyes of consumers.

Harkening back to simpler times with vintage style packaging and designs has risen in popularity over the past year, and shows no sign of stopping. Capitalizing on nostalgia and crossing the threshold of luxury packaging gives vintage inspired packaging an opulent feel.

Generally, luxury packaging is used for items that are considered luxury items: fine whiskeys, gourmet foods, and high end technology. It’s identifiable through its multi-layered packaging that is custom tailored to each product to give it a sense of indulgence.

One drawback of luxury packaging is the environmental costs it carries with it. More materials means more environmental waste, but technology is discovering new ways to minimize packaging materials.

4.      Virtual or Augmented Reality Packaging

Virtual and augmented reality packaging is the luxury packaging of the future. Using technology to enhance what may be considered ordinary packaging turns a product into an experience.

Virtual and augmented reality packaging can use QR codes to connect customers to coupons, special deals, games, and other interactive experiences that are exclusive to devices like smartphones, tablets, or virtual reality headsets. This technology can set your business above the rest and create a unique experience for your consumers that will get them talking about your brand.

5.      Flexible Packaging

Flexible packaging is flexible in both its form, and its uses, as it comes in many different varieties for a range of product types. Typically, flexible packaging is made from foils, paperboard, and bio-polymers, but the technology for environmentally friendly forms of flexible packaging is improving by the day. As a less costly and more environmentally friendly form of packaging, flexible packaging is quickly outgrowing its rigid counterparts, with a forecast to grow at an annual average rate of 4.5% over the next five years.

Flexible packaging is most popular within the food industry as it is convenient, re-sealable, and can be tamper resistant. As its popularity increases, though, the more industries will consider incorporating flexible packaging into their production lines.

Contact Us

Eagle Flexible Packaging is always innovating and looking towards the future of packaging. Our dedication towards combining sustainable flexible packaging solutions with both quality and design sets us above the standard.

Contact us today for more information about Eagle Flexible Packaging’s operations!