Product Packaging Industry: Focusing on Sustainability

Environmental sustainability has, for the last several years, become an increasingly important aspect of any product packaging strategy. This trend towards decreasing your carbon footprint as much as possible has become a major factor, and has been shown to have a serious influence on buying behaviour - consumers are looking for those products and brands with a focus on the environment.

Sustainability means far more though than just making product packaging recyclable. Total sustainability means taking a look at the entire manufacturing process. Staying at government regulation levels is good, but staying far below them is even better. 

Big names and independent brands alike are really starting to recognize the importance of providing consumers with eco-friendly options. Don’t just take our word for it - check out this news release. 

When thinking about a packaging manufacturer, here are some of the main areas that need to be examined when it comes to eco-friendly packaging:

Reduce - the design and manufacturing of your packaging should include minimizing material and the use of water based inks, but the maximization of structural support and strength - less material should never mean a loss of structural integrity. This not only saves when it comes to the environment, it can also mean reduced shipping costs. 

Reuse - any leftover box trim should not be thrown out - this saves a great deal when it comes to sustainability. This material should be sent back to the paper mill to be reused. Pallets should also be reused to maximize efficiency and decrease transportation waste.

Recycle - make sure that the manufacturer’s waste removal system uses only board materials that are 100% renewable, recyclable and bio-degradable. 

When it comes to sustainable packaging, you need to be sure that your manufacturing company takes it seriously. 

At PTI, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and helping you present an eco-friendly face to the world. Call us today at 1-800-303-5883. 

Food Packaging Major Top Trend for 2015

We are well into 2015 now, and we continue to strive to bring the most recent and thought provoking trends to our clients. We have talked a great deal over the last year about the importance of emotions and drawing on consumers’ emotions through your packaging - but now we can back those claims up.

Check out this recent article from Canadian Grocer - it might just make you rethink that branding and food packaging strategy - are you motivating your consumers? “Going for the Sentimental Shoppers” delves deep into the world of emotional food packaging, and how important it is to draw on those heartstrings to not only capture Canadians’ attention and influence their buying behaviour, but also their loyalty.

Check out the article here.  

As a brand, you are likely well aware of the fluidity of a customer’s loyalty. Not only is brand loyalty hard to capture, it is also incredibly hard to maintain. However, as the article states, “If you don’t crack the code of what’s going to deeply motivate your consumers, you aren’t going to grow your business.” Are you using the knowledge available to ensure that your food packaging campaign is the best it can possibly be?

At Packaging Technologies Inc., we are committed to providing the newest technology and up-to-date research data to help you achieve the most from your food packaging. For more about tugging on those heartstrings and drawing out the emotions that influence buying behaviour, please call us today at 1-800-303-5883.

How Much Does Product Packaging Really Matter?

We have all heard that common phrase “it is what’s inside that counts,” but when it comes to product packaging, especially in the CPG industry, does this really ring true? Is it really just what is inside that matters? Does packaging actually make a difference?

Check out this great infographic - you might be surprised just how much product packaging really does matter!

According to the infographic, over 60% of consumers purchase a product for the first time because the packaging initially caught their eye, and 40% will buy that product again because of the packaging.

What is important when it comes to packaging? 80% are concerned about spillage and the packaging protecting against it. 71% want the packaging to be easy to open and 78% want it to be easy to get the product out. 45% are interested in sustainability and how eco-friendly a product’s packaging is. Good to know!

Globally, 41% of people say packaging is important to their overall product satisfaction - that is a major number and signifies just how influential product packaging can be. Are you harnessing this power?

At Packaging Technologies Inc., we know that what is outside matters too - after all, how does someone get a sense about what is on the inside if the outside doesn’t help them understand?

For more about creative custom product packaging that attracts attention please contact PTI today by calling 1-800-303-5883.

Check out more about the infographic here.

Dietary Trends: Is Your Food Packaging Getting Attention?

Check out this great article from Business Insider, “10 Foods Taking Over The American Diet”. In it, the author lists the top ten foods being consumed, and notes that people are still opting for ready-made food more often than not – but that doesn’t necessarily mean heading out for dinner or ordering take-out. According to the article, “Foods that fared the best were ones that could be easily prepared and consumed at home.”

Have a look at the list:

1. Yogurt
2. Bottled Water
3. Pizza
4. Poultry Sandwiches
5. Mexican Food
6. Fresh Fruit
7. Granola/Snack Bars
8. Ice Cream Sandwiches 
9. Chips
10. Pancakes

The key here is differentiation. Store shelves are stocked with a staggering amount of competition all trying to capture the shopper’s attention. Time starved shoppers whisk through aisles and as a marketer your objective is to capture their attention and interest and inspire the purchase. Beautiful colour graphics with high impact, package structure that is easy to handle, open and functions well on shelf, are just some of the strategies to win! Trends in shoppers’ behaviour are a window into understanding the market changes in real time to help adjust your marketing strategies.  

Packaging Technologies Inc. is a leader in food and beverage packaging. For more info about how to accelerate your food packaging call Packaging Technologies Inc. today at 1-800-303-5883.

Creative Packaging: Innovation at Steam Whistle

We all know how important it is to have great packaging - this is no secret. Especially when it comes to the food and beverage industry, your packaging is the image you present to consumers, often the first impression they get and one of the most important factors that impact a consumer’s buying choices.

Packaging Technologies Inc. has been working with Steam Whistle Brewing on package design and manufacturing for a number of years - and with some awesome success.

Check out this video about Steam Whistle and their packaging: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20gqd60UOeQ&feature=youtu.be.

As Chris Johnston, Director of Packaging at Steam Whistle Brewing, notes, package failure is not an option. Creative packaging is critical to your overall marketing strategy. In order to stand out on the shelf you need to have innovative, unique packaging that makes a statement. Packaging that falls flat, is boring, or just does not hit the target can be a major missed opportunity on a number of fronts.

At PTI, we are committed to creating visually appealing, innovative and unique packaging to get your product noticed. We use the latest technology and trends to ensure that nothing is left to chance.

For more about PTI or to get started on an award winning packaging design please call us today at 1-800-303-5883. 

In-Store Communication: Point of Purchase Displays

With the sheer abundance of options consumers are presented with in-store, it is no surprise that brands and retailers alike are going to great lengths to communicate with customers on the store floor in an attempt to garner sales in the face of fierce competition. For many, this means an increased focus on signage and point of purchase displays that capture the attention and motivate customers to purchase.

Point of purchase displays continue to prove their worth year after year. Don’t just take our word for it – a recent POPAI research study found that impulse buys are not just influenced by price – POP displays have been shown to increase sales up to 24%. This can mean a great deal when you have effective displays.

Not just another point of purchase display: it is one thing to just continue using the same design, but another to completely revamp that marketing strategy to incorporate the newest trends.

In the consumer packaged goods industry, a great trend to adopt is displaying important information about your product to create a transparent relationship based on trust. This easily creates an emotional connection, demonstrating that you have nothing to hide from your customers. This also goes a long way as far as establishing loyalty.

Digital and touchscreen technology: incorporating some form of technology into your POP display has become a major trend for 2015. The ability to communicate is strengthened when the consumer feels as though they are an active participant in the communication. It also shows that you are up-to-date.

Social media: in today’s online world, ignoring the power of social media can be a brand killer. The strength of your online reputation depends a great deal on your social network and how you conduct yourself online. This can easily be supported when your product packaging takes advantage of social media – saying “follow us @” or “like us on Facebook” not only creates a connection it also increases your online presence and adds to your overall brand perception. Just be sure to manage your social networks – ignoring activity or being passive or unengaging can also negatively impact your brand.

What to think of when creating an effective point of purchase display: strength, originality, accurate specifications – these are all crucial factors to consider when developing the perfect point of purchase display. Having a graphic design team in your corner that knows the importance of these factors is critical.

Point of purchase displays continue to be an incredibly important part of any marketing campaign, but there are a number of things that work towards making that campaign effective.

For more on creating a great point of purchase campaign please contact Packaging Technologies Inc. today by calling 1-800-303-5883. 

Product Packaging for Online Grocery Shopping

It is no secret that the online grocery shopping industry has really grown over the past few years, and according to a recent report done by market research publisher Packaged Facts, this isn’t set to change any time soon.

According to the study, online grocery shopping currently accounts for over 3% of the overall grocery shopping market - totalling $23 billion in annual sales. Packaged Facts’ report predicts that this will grow to nearly 12 percent within five years, thanks in part to the growing familiarity and comfort with online shopping in general, as well as the convenience.

Check out the full article here.

So what does this mean to both those companies that do not offer online sales as well as those that do?

Don’t offer online sales, or sell at a retailer that does? This means that your marketing strategy needs to be one that can battle that fierce competition. Your product packaging needs to be unique and creative and it needs to speak to the consumer. This means drawing on those heartstrings and making an emotional connection. It also means demonstrating the quality of your product through the quality of your packaging.

Offer sales online? If you ship through the mail, this is actually a great opportunity to take advantage of the prime advertising space – a space that a surprising number continue to ignore. Think about the number of hands that package passes through before finally reaching the customer – that is a major power base of potential customers, and the right product packaging can garner a great deal of attention just by being eye-catching and original.

For many, the threat that online grocery shopping seems to present can be overwhelming – but if approached appropriately can actually yield great results, regardless of whether or not you sell online or not.

For more about how to compete with the rise in online grocery sales please contact Packaging Technologies Inc. today by calling 1-800-303-5883.