When it comes to biodegradable packaging, engineers and manufacturers have the added challenge of creating aesthetically pleasing packaging while adhering to environmentally friendly standards.

Biodegradable packaging is susceptible to trends in design, materials, and so much more. As manufacturers try to rush to the front of the pack, here are some of the trends that have caught our attention in 2018 and 2019.

Biodegradable Packaging Trends

Whether you’re standing in a grocery store or a toy store, a quick scan of a store shelf shows a lot about the trends in packaging. However, packaging matters for online purchases, too. Consumers are taking more notice of, not only the product itself but the way it has been packaged as well.

Size Matters

Opening the packaging of a product to discover that the item inside was much smaller than its packaging can be frustrating and wasteful. Not only does it waste material, but it takes up unnecessary space in the package as well as on the shelves. Biodegradable packaging is pushing to create packaging that is appropriate to the size of the product to minimizes waste.

Minimalist Designs

Simplicity reigns. Streamlined packaging with clean lines and tasteful color choices. In this day and age, many consumers prefer packaging that does the job with subtle flair. Over-the-top colors and unnecessary packaging steps can seem inefficient.

Stay Light

The point of packaging is to protect the product, but packaging that only obtains strength by bulkiness and weight is not the goal. Consumers and manufacturers want packaging that is lightweight but strong, being more efficient than ever in manufacturing, transportation, and disposal. This trend is absolutely taking precedence as engineers try to determine how to create sustainable packaging practices that are lightweight, strong, and easily compostable.

Smart Packaging

Today’s consumers almost always have their cellphone close by. When they’re standing in a store or skimming an online purchase, their phone gives them the power to research the quality of the product, packaging, and more. Biodegradable packaging needs to provide all the information that a consumer could want with a quick code scan or search. Manufacturers need to be ready for smart shoppers.

An Unboxing Experience

In our digital existence, a package’s arrival gives consumers a real-life, tangible experience that cannot be had digitally. While package designs may be leaning toward minimalism, marketers recognize that consumers still delight in the experience of unboxing their purchase. And why not delight further by using the packaging as a journey for the consumer?

Keeping Power

A particularly well-designed package is one that the consumer doesn’t want to part with, instead choosing to keep the package for other uses. When it comes to sustainability, manufacturers should be considering the shelf life of the package. A consumer could decide that a luxury box should be used for regifting or for holding makeup or jewelry.

Box Materials

When it comes to choosing materials for a package, engineers need to think beyond what has always been used for packaging. For example, some think that packaging could be edible and therefore, no waste. Get curious. Finding new ways to use unconventional materials may just serve your business well.

Eco Promotion

Being able to claim environmentally friendly branding is considered an important part of company brand promotion. This trend is not going away. In fact, it won’t be long before it’s standard for all companies to show that they believe in protecting the environment.
 
While many of these are current trends for biodegradable packaging, these trends will surely impact the direction and technological advancements of packaging. We will always need packaging, but we also need a healthy planet too. At Golden Arrow, we strive to be at the forefront of these trends, believing in the importance of sustainability and environmentally friendly practices.