Packaging evolves with consumer culture, emphasizing sustainability and efficient design. This article describes how social trends drive innovation in packaging for global brands.
Packaging is an ever-changing concern for global brands, due to growing new sentiments that echo throughout consumer culture. When consumers view packaging as wasteful, they seek more sustainable alternatives. Sometimes imagery associated with old branding wears out, requiring new imagery to hold the same buyers. Here are ways social trends keep packaging designers searching for new ideas.
Keeping Packaging Economical
The global economy has a dramatic effect on supply chains, which in turn impact global markets. One of the lessons learned from the pandemic was that the supply chain workforce cannot be taken for granted. Any imbalances can lead to shipping delays, which boosts distribution costs. This fragile situation forces all suppliers to seek preventive solutions to reduce losses in sales and customer base. That's why suppliers research and favor solutions for the most efficient packaging.
Sustainable packaging has become a new norm that visibly impacts the bottom line. Among the most sustainable choices is metal, particularly tinplate, due to its lightweight and easy-to-shape qualities with minimal waste. Brands face pressure from even loyal customers to stay on top of sustainable packaging for both competitive and environmental reasons. Many consumers are less interested in elegant packaging unless they seek luxury items.
Achieving Sustainability Goals
The concept of sustainability is more than a social trend, as it has infiltrated governments and other institutions around the world. Sustainability is an attempt to broaden company visions to have a clearer path toward the future. It not only involves algorithmic-based forecasting, it's all about formulating a plan for long-term business survival. Packaging designers can play a huge role in this planning by focusing on principles that hold consumer attention without resorting to overstated hype.
One way designers can make packaging more sustainable is by creating reasons for consumers to save the packaging for repurposing. The brand can claim success if it can show it has reduced the amount of packaging sent to a landfill. People are less likely to discard packaging made of sturdy and durable material, such as metal. Another reason why metal is highly sustainable is because its air-tight capability protects the product. Food manufacturers that adopt metal packaging can claim to be sustainable in many ways.
The most sustainable packaging should last many years, regardless of its shape or size. Metal is appealing to collectors who seek a wide variety of artifacts for home and business decor. Some collectors build large displays based on metal that has symbolically made its mark in pop culture.
It's important for global packaging designers to be aware of which types of packaging are getting banned around the world. Many local governments are developing strict requirements for packaging as an attempt at waste reduction. The more packaging moves in the direction of eco-friendly solutions, the less manufacturers have to worry about banned materials.
Refining Visual Content
Certain other social issues beyond the environment impact the packaging world. Many consumers, for example, are paying closer attention to products that contribute to better human health. So in order to learn more about the "healthiness" of products, they want to see clear descriptions of ingredients on the packaging. Brands that aim to win the attention of health-conscious consumers should be extremely clear about ingredients.
At one time consumers commonly ignored the labeling on food packages. But now there is widespread awareness that many conventional products are designed with chemicals and materials that might impact health. These consumers want to see transparent labeling that doesn't try to hide chemical compounds that might have harmful effects. That's why it's important for the print to be as clear as possible, so that the consumer doesn't need a magnifying glass.
Beyond ingredients, the overall packaging design should communicate whatever emotion the product is meant to trigger. Consumer emotions are deeply tied to purchasing decisions, based on experiences with the product and the marketing. Since the package is the first point of contact the consumer has with the item, it must convey the same values and feelings as the product.
All the layers of packaging must be functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time, to fit today's social sentiments. The packaging designer must anticipate that concepts of sustainability will become more refined in the future. It's important for a brand to associate its longevity with sustainability to show that its meaningful history has outlasted any given trend.
With over a century of experience, Desjardin.fr remains at the forefront of modern packaging innovations, seamlessly integrating sustainability and cutting-edge technology into our metal packaging solutions. As consumer demands evolve towards eco-friendly and efficient designs, Desjardin.fr continues to deliver bespoke packaging that not only protects products but also aligns with the growing expectations for sustainability. Our commitment to craftsmanship and environmental responsibility ensures that every tin we produce enhances the brand's image while contributing to a greener future. Trusted by global brands, Desjardin.fr leads the way in shaping packaging that meets the demands of today and tomorrow.
