Trends from recent years that are here to stay
Four key trends have emerged and continued in people’s consumer behaviour since the late 2010’s, with the Covid-19 pandemic beginning in 2020, speeding up a bigger transition to e-commerce. Here is a list of the trends affecting the packaging industry that are likely to stay in 2023 and beyond.1. The e-commerce boom is changing technical packaging requirements
With booming online shopping, the role of e-commerce packaging is growing. Each product must now be packed to withstand the strains of individual shipping, instead of being shipped tightly packed together with other products on a pallet. Preferably, the product package itself will meet the stringent packaging requirements of online retailers such as Amazon, with secondary packaging merely offering a possibility to collect and send items in a joint package.2. Shopping from home increases the need for a delightful unboxing experience
Originally, packaging was developed out of a need to protect products during transportation. However, focusing solely on function means you might be overlooking the potential marketing impact of your packaging. Done right, the packaging design and unboxing experience is a chance to both deliver a functional product and create a memorable moment for your customers.3. Consumer expectations on companies to be environmentally conscious are growing
Awareness of the ramifications of packaging waste displaced in nature is drivinga consumer movement. As a response, brand owners and retailers have started to make commitments to act on packaging waste, and especially on diminishing the use of plastic. According to a recent survey by Stena Recycling, consumers are demanding circular materials – and increasingly opting out of brands perceived as unsustainable. This means that companies not only want to be more sustainable, they must also be able to show this in a credible way.Further reading: Five things you may not know about recycling
4. Policy-driven initiatives for better recyclability
According to McKinsey, regulatory and public concerns around single-use packaging waste are combining with other powerful trends to drive major changes in consumer packaging. Governments, on all continents, have responded to public concerns regarding packaging waste, especially single-use packaging waste, and are implementing regulations to both minimise environmental waste and improve waste-management processes.Bio-based Papira® by Stora Enso – addressing these trends one by one
Cellulose foam Papira® by Stora Enso is a paper recyclable alternative to fossil-based foams – used as protective and cushioning material in packaging.Find out more: Cellulose foam Papira® by Stora Enso
What makes Papira revolutionary is its ability to address these trends one by one: it responds to the increased demand of cushioning required by the surge in e-commerce, it addresses some of the environmental concerns by being wood fibre based, biodegradable and without plastic. Furthermore, Papira is easy to recycle for the end-consumer since there is no need to separate the foam insert from the box, but both go to the same recycling bin for paper and cardboard. Lastly, the natural appearance of Papira allows for brand owners to include it as part of an enjoyable unboxing experience while openly communicating about their sustainability agenda.
Further reading: Papira®: A start-up story
Join us in piloting Papira
Do you aim to be a forerunner in sustainable packaging? We are inviting forward-looking companies to join us in piloting Papira to protect their products. As a pilot customer, you will test the material in your applications and support the development of this innovation.
