The Journey Towards Sustainable Bakery Packaging
• EPR bills may soon mandate manufacturers in Illinois and other states to use recycled or sustainable materials for packaging. Major retailers like Walmart require brands to incorporate post-recycled content, a common component. A previous blog discussed a new, certified 30% FDA-compliant PCR-content film ideal for food packaging. What manufacturers need to know is that sustainability comes with additional costs. With this information, companies can proactively plan for the future.
• Local companies are leading the way in adopting eco-friendly packaging options, such as biodegradable and compostable materials, in response to increasing consumer demand for products with a minimal environmental footprint. Molded paper pulp is one example and is often used in clamshells and custom box packaging.
Packaging Function Meets Aesthetic Solutions
• Functionality is crucial in making packaging designs more intelligent and user-friendly. Increasingly, brands have pivoted to offer resealable packaging or stand-up pouches that maintain the freshness of bakery goods for consumers at home. Some cardstock packaging vendors offer “2-in-1” solutions, like a perforated box that expands into an eye-catching shelf display.
• Packaging should always highlight the products whenever possible; mixing material types is a popular option. This clear PET clamshell offers full product visibility with a custom sleeve featuring the brand logo, product nutrition, and flavor checkboxes. The ease of use is an advantage for bakeries or other shops with high traffic, as employees can easily slide the sleeve over the clamshell instead of unfolding a cake box, which is trickier to assemble as it folds in on itself.
Smart Technologies Enhance Custom Package Printing
• QR codes, NFC tags, and sensors are no longer futuristic concepts but everyday realities. These technologies serve a dual purpose: enhancing consumer engagement through interactive features and streamlining business inventory management. Innovative packaging transforms consumers’ interactions with brands, adding a layer of convenience and information access previously unimagined.
• Tech is also used behind the scenes to speed up or automate internal processes like artwork review. While AI’s ever-emerging capabilities are thrilling, they are new and imperfect, so human oversight is necessary to avoid risks.
The bakery packaging sector illustrates a more significant trend towards innovation, sustainability, and customer-centric design. Follow us on our social pages to stay up-to-date with the latest CPG packaging industry trends and best practices.