Are you looking for innovations in the packaging industry? With time, various Food and Beverage Packaging have been introduced that keep them fresh and enhance their shelf life. Moreover, Industries are shifting towards sustainable solutions to make the packaging boxes environmentally and consumer-friendly. Waste production creates challenges especially after Covid-19 due to online shopping. However, the main trends like nanotechnology, the internet of packaging, and active packaging have enabled smart packaging.
Edible, recyclable, and biodegradable have accelerated the innovations. On a similar note, consumer costs are reduced by the use of robotic packaging and 3D printing deployment. Here are the innovations for the packaging of beverages and food.
Biodegradable Packaging
Biodegradable is a renewable material that has a low environmental impact. The biodegradable Food and Beverage Packaging is manufactured with plant-based materials like maize, corn, cornstarch, etc. Why has the use of biodegradable packaging become popular? The reason is that plastic has been used as the main packaging material since the 18th century. It is one-time-use material that has caused severe consequences for the environment.
Both consumers and companies have huge concerns about the protection of the environment. This concern has led them to adopt sustainable solutions and biodegradable is one of them. It has less carbon footprint than that of the plastic.
Active Packaging
Active packaging enhances the food products’ shelf life. It uses moisture regulators, ethylene absorbers, and oxygen to keep food fresh. An international organization for Food and Agriculture has reported that produced food for consumption goes to waste at the global level. The ratio of this waste food is one-third which is alarming. To save food from waste, the use of active packaging is growing tremendously. It is good for sustaining and safe the quality of the food and beverages by keeping them fresh.
Recyclable Packaging
Various countries have banned single-use plastic. This ban has shattered businesses that rely on it. In this regard, companies are seeking alternative solutions that keep their business running. Recyclable packaging provides the best solution for companies. Here recyclable means that the material of the packaging is reused again multiple times after the required process.
Digital Printing
The top packaging industry trend is digital printing. There are various challenges for printing like high labor costs, accuracy, and low quality color. The techniques of flexo or offset printing print different designs on separate plates. However, digital printing does it in a single pass. It is less laborious than that of the other printing. This modern solution for printing has a low impact on the environment as it removes the need for inventory requirements, and additional labeling, and reduces waste. Brands can make customized packaging for their targeted consumers with digital printing as it is flexible and takes less time.
3D Printing
Brands often experiment with different Food and Beverage Packaging designs which are time-consuming, costly, and produce waste. 3D printing provides a solution by mitigating all these issues. It has become a trend in the beverage and food industry. Brands can construct prototypes of different kinds with this technology. It provides the facility for personalized packaging by innovating them in real-time. 3D printing’s contribution towards plastic waste is zero. Designers and engineers get more freedom to design the packaging of high-quality products.
Nanotechnology
In the food packaging industry, nanotechnology has a huge impact. It addresses the issues of food safety effectively. Nanotechnology has various applications from product safety to packaging material, tracking, authentication, and various phases of the supply chain. It uses a mixture of the polymer supply chain that increases the tensile strength and package barrier properties. Nanocoating keeps the surface of the packaging safe from dust, stains, and dirt. Using multiple types of nanosensors detect chemical changes and monitor the food’s freshness.
Edible Packaging
Single-use packaging often resulted in water bodies and landfills as they largely contribute towards the waste. This is the reason that customers and companies have been preferring sustainable packaging for the last decade. The biggest challenge for them is to balance both properties of functionality and eco-friendly. The revolutionary trend is edible packaging in the food industry. It perfectly addresses all the issues. Another solution is the casein film which is equally beneficial. Casein films are made from milk proteins that are eco-friendly. Compared to plastic, it is better at keeping food fresh.
Custom Packaging
The biggest challenge for the brand is to attract the customer. The appearance of the product plays an important role to boost sales and generate large revenues. Moreover, giving a personalized experience has also become crucial. Many brands use packaging as a tool for marketing. This is the reason that you see the special slogans on top brands packing that give a personal touch to the consumers. Introducing innovation in the food boxes while keeping the sustainability of your product on the shelves.
Concluding Remarks
The trends in Food and Beverage Packaging bring innovative changes to the industry. The main reason behind these new trends is to cater to the challenge of waste that is harming the environment. Moreover, keeping the food fresh and enhancing its shelf life is another reason for the use of the technologies. The manufacturing and printing costs reduce by these innovations with all the measures.