Consumers started to become more picky about packaging in recent decades as a reflection of cultural and technological change. At the same time, global brands have had to rethink packaging in terms of what's most economically efficient. The metal packaging model has become a popular choice that benefits both producers and consumers.
The internet directly contributed to the rise of global brands in the nineties, since it could reach every segment of the commercial world. As consumers began to order products online either directly through manufacturers or online marketplaces such as Amazon, practical packaging became a more significant issue.
It became clear that consumers expected products arriving on their doorsteps to be free of damage or defects. The returns on broken items hurt the bottom line and customer satisfaction, so global brands had to discard inferior packaging that was subject to compromise during the shipping process. Tin has emerged as a solid choice for protecting a wide variety of products during both warehouse storage and distribution.
Tin is a strong choice for global distribution of products because of its hard material and ability to be shaped into air-tight containers. Not only does it have a longer shelf life than paper or plastic packaging, tin can be reused by consumers over and over for many years. It's one of the best materials for ensuring that products will arrive via mail without damage.
Part of a shipped product's integrity involves how it's secured to avoid leakage of the contents. Lids must encompass this security, but must also be easy to understand for the consumer. If the lid is unconventional compared with traditional easy-to-open tops, it can cause frustration that degrades the consumer experience. So design of lids must take both factors into consideration.
At the same time, a lid can add to the aesthetic quality of the product and the brand. Lids can include the logo or just complement the color of the package. The type of product can affect the decision for a lid, while certain items require at least two layers for a seal. The lid must also look clean and strong, which contributes to consumer perception of sustainable packaging.
Tin containers can have metal or plastic lids. While smaller containers are more appropriate for either material, the larger the package, the more indestructible the container and lid should be. Made of low density polyethylene, plastic lids can be reusable and contribute to sustainable quality. But such plastic lids often come with a metal layer in between.
A common type of lid for liquid products in round tin containers is a cone top can constructed with unlined metal. These cone lids are useful for protecting against chemical leakage with their threaded steel caps. They are commonly used for 12 oz. and 32 oz. chemical products such as solvents. Containers meant for pouring liquids in a unified stream can accompany reversible plastic spout caps that provide additional utility for the consumer.
Packaging designers using tin have many advantages, since tin can take on any shape imaginable. One thing that doesn't get enough attention in the world of packaging design is the duality of consumers embracing traditional values while wanting refreshing change at the same time. Consumers of all products typically are aware of memories associated with time periods as well as product experiences.
Designers have the opportunity to create unique packaging to help a product stand out on retail shelves. Key variables besides using strong material such as tin include color, size and shape. As long as the new packaging idea doesn't bend too far in a strange direction, it can become a part of the memorable product experience.
The fact that tin is such a convincing material for all types of packaging due to its long shelf life and protective qualities gives it a commanding edge in communicating strength to the consumer. That gives packaging designers a certain amount of room to experiment with new subtle ideas to make packaging appear more appealing.
Packaging designs can be creative as long as the overall presentation meets the expectations of loyal consumers. Tin is further useful since its surface can facilitate the direct printing of various colors. The ultimate tin package is one in which the color scheme of the lid and container have a cohesive appearance.