Top 10 Trends Driving the Future of Beverage Packaging | Beyond the Mold

Summary

In this insightful discussion, Sylvain Talarico, Global Director of PET Tooling at Husky Injection Molding Systems, explores the top 10 beverage packaging trends influenced by the pandemic, sustainability, and consumer preferences. He highlights Husky's role in driving innovation, the impact of e-commerce, hygiene concerns, and the importance of adapting to legislative changes like tethered closures. Talarico emphasizes the need for agility in the beverage industry and the value of Husky's expertise in navigating these dynamic market trends.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Sylvain Talarico, Global Director of PET Tooling at Husky Injection Molding Systems, has been involved in PET preform injection and applications since the late 90s, witnessing and supporting major trends in the industry.
• 📈 The evolution of beverage packaging has been driven by technology innovations, changing consumer preferences, increased competition, and new legislative requirements.
• 🛒 Consumer shopping habits have shifted during the pandemic, with a rise in demand for larger beverage packages and multi-packs for smaller sizes, impacting producers to remain agile.
• 📦 E-commerce has influenced packaging trends, making PET a compelling option due to its durability in transit and lighter weight, reducing the CO2 footprint.
• 🧼 The pandemic has heightened consumer focus on hygiene and safety, leading to a preference for resealable PET bottles that minimize exposure to contaminants.
• 🍹 Preservation and quality have become concerns as products sit on shelves longer. Producers are focusing on prolonging shelf life with technologies like cutting and multi-layer packaging.
• 💪 There is a growing demand for nutritious, health-focused beverages, leading to SKU proliferation and a more fragmented product landscape, requiring brands to be agile.
• 🌿 The push towards sustainable packaging is driven by legislation and consumer desire to associate with brands offering packaging made from recycled materials.
• 💎 There is a trend towards premium packaging that stands out on store shelves, achieved through innovative design features like color gradients and thermochromic effects.
• 🖌️ Personalized packaging is on the rise, with brands offering customizable options to engage consumers and differentiate themselves in the market.
• 🔍 Smart packaging incorporating technologies like QR codes, NFC, and RFID chips is emerging to provide interactive experiences and enhance product traceability and authentication.
• 🔗 Tethered closures are gaining traction due to impending legislation and as a way to offer a unique premium experience, with a predicted breakout year ahead for this packaging feature globally.

Q & A

What is Sylvain Talarico's role at Husky Injection Molding Systems?

Sylvain Talarico is the Global Director of PET Tooling at Husky Injection Molding Systems, and he has been with the Husky organization since the late 90s, focusing on PET preform injection and PET applications.

How has Sylvain Talarico's journey with Husky been influenced by market trends?

Sylvain Talarico's journey has been shaped by supporting all major trends in the PET industry, starting from standard dispensing systems for various beverage segments to lightweighting initiatives and a current focus on sustainability and environmental consciousness.

What are the main topics that will be covered in the discussion with Sylvain Talarico?

The discussion will cover the latest beverage packaging trends and how Husky can assist in moving forward with these trends.

Why is Husky well-positioned to deliver insights on beverage packaging trends?

Husky is well-positioned due to its wide machine install base, deep involvement in innovative package development projects, and close collaboration with main customers, design agencies, and major packaging line equipment suppliers, giving them a clear understanding of beverage market trends.

What are the major forces driving the trends in beverage packaging?

The major forces driving trends in beverage packaging include technology innovations, changing consumer preferences, increased competition, and new legislative requirements.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected consumer shopping habits and impacted beverage producers?

The pandemic has led to a shift from single-use packages to larger format packaging and multi-packs for smaller sizes, as consumers make fewer trips to grocery stores. Producers need to remain agile and adaptable to these changes.

In what ways has e-commerce influenced brands to be more consumer-focused?

E-commerce has pushed brands to be more consumer-focused by ensuring that their packaging is less prone to breaking or damage during delivery and is lighter in weight to reduce the CO2 footprint.

How are hygiene and safety concerns driving changes in beverage packaging?

The global pandemic has made hygiene and food safety a priority, leading consumers to prefer safe packaging options like PET bottles, which are resealable and have drinking surfaces free from exposure to airborne contaminants.

What impact has the pandemic had on the shelf life considerations of beverage producers?

The pandemic has led to products sitting on shelves for longer periods, prompting producers to focus on prolonging shelf life through technologies like cutting and multi-layer packaging solutions.

How is the demand for nutritious health-focused beverages affecting the beverage industry?

The pandemic has heightened attention to personal health, leading to a rise in demand for nutritious health-focused beverages. This has resulted in SKU proliferation and a more fragmented product landscape, requiring brands to offer a wider variety of products.

What is driving the trend towards sustainable packaging in the beverage industry?

The trend towards sustainable packaging is driven by long-term consumer preferences and legislative requirements, such as the single-use plastic regulation in Europe, which is promoting the use of recycled materials and reducing the use of pitch resin.

How does premium packaging help products stand out on store shelves?

Premium packaging helps products stand out through innovative design features like color gradients or thermochromic effects, appealing to niche markets and giving products a unique look and feel.

What role is personalized packaging playing in consumer engagement?

Personalized packaging is a growing trend that allows brands to differentiate themselves and engage with consumers. Examples include customizable imagery and texts, and campaigns that place individual names on bottles, creating a lasting connection with consumers.

How are smart packaging technologies enhancing consumer experiences?

Smart packaging technologies, such as QR codes, NFC, and RFID chips, provide immersive and interactive experiences for consumers, offer anti-counterfeiting measures for premium brands, and supply valuable additional information about products.

What is the significance of tethered closures in the context of sustainability initiatives and legislation?

Tethered closures are part of broader sustainability initiatives, with the European Union's single-use plastic regulation requiring them for most single-use plastic containers by 2024. This trend is expected to be adopted globally as a way to reduce plastic waste and offer a unique premium experience.

What are the key takeaways for beverage packaging producers from the discussed trends?

The key takeaways for producers are to understand the dynamic nature of beverage packaging trends, stay agile and alert to ongoing changes, leverage the expertise of experienced partners like Husky, and be aware of their home country's policies on recycling and tethered closures.

What resources does Husky recommend for producers to educate themselves on beverage packaging trends?

Husky recommends staying in touch with them for specific assessments of packaging ideas, accessing the latest webinars, guides, and calculators published by Husky, and engaging with resources like this podcast for insights into global trends and experiences.