Future trends in packaging

UNDERSTANDING consumer trends enables Amcor and its customers to develop packaging and product variations that are more closely aligned to the needs of consumers.

Packaging is the key to communicating the value added benefits of a product that addresses a consumer need. This provides Amcor with the opportunity to create differentiated packaging solutions to meet these changing requirements.

There are three global consumer megatrends that impact the food and beverage industry today: convenience, health and indulgence.

Convenience

Over the past two decades we have seen the global emergence of a convenience oriented society. Changes in family structure, a greater number of women in the workforce, longer working hours and an increase in commuting time drive this.

In today’s society, a greater proportion of adult consumers are now living on their own, sharing with friends, or living with a partner and without children.

These factors create a more individualised culture, where consumers are less likely to prepare food for others and where there is an increased demand for convenient products.

Another significant trend is an ageing global population.

Worldwide, the proportion of people aged 60 years and over is growing faster than any other age group.

Between 1970 and 2025, the number of older persons is expected to increase by 694 million or 223%. In 2025, there will be a total of about 1.2 billion people over the age of 60.

This consumer demand for convenience translates into opportunities for Amcor to provide packaging that is easy to open for both children and adults, resealable and available in individual portions.

The ‘on the go’ nature of today’s consumers also provides packaging opportunities for easy, hand-held consumption such as ‘in car’ or ‘at desk’, and which enables the consumer to multi-task.

Examples of Amcor’s innovations within the ‘convenience’ category include re-sealable flexible pouches, single serve tear sticks, microwaveable meal solutions, breakfast bar wrappers, easy-opening sports drink closures and ergonomic grip PET beverage bottles.

Health and Nutrition

There is an increasing focus on issues relating to health and nutrition, particularly obesity, low carbohydrate products and organic foods.

There has also been an increase in products, such as breads, margarines and beverages that contain active ingredients to achieve lifestyle or medical objectives.

Consumers today are better educated on health issues and have a greater understanding of their own dietary requirements.

The consumer focus on health and nutrition is driving changes in packaging that provide more detailed product information, hygiene standards, tamper-proof seals, longer life for fresh produce, smaller-sized portions, and the use of colours and materials that emphasise ‘natural and healthy’.

Examples of Amcor’s innovations to meet the ‘health and nutrition’ trend include packaging for fresh produce that extend the life of contents, smaller-sized portions, organic products, packaging for food and beverages containing active ingredients, such as bread with added Omega 3, and sports drinks.

Indulgence

Ironically, the consumer focus on health and nutrition has not diminished the demand for indulgent and premium products, as well as ethnic and exotic meals.

Indulgence remains a key role for food and drink, whether for relaxation and reward, or as part of a celebration.

This presents a number of opportunities for Amcor to provide packaging that increases visibility of premium foods, uses or provides the look and feel of extravagant materials, and colours that reflect the premium nature of the product.

Examples of Amcor’s innovations to meet the ‘indulgence’ trend include packaging for upmarket confectionery, exclusive biscuits and hair colourants.

Higher quality printing and coating, embossing and hot foil stamping, and proprietary shapes and sizes, are used to create product uniqueness, enhanced product visibility and on-shelf differentiation.

Speed to Market

In today’s marketplace, there is an increasing focus on supply chain optimisation and speed to market.

In Australasia, Amcor has addressed this need with the development of an electronic business-to-business network, that integrates supply chains across suppliers and customers and which has greatly improved the speed to market.

Examples of Amcor’s packaging products that meet this increasing ‘speed to market’ trend include a block-shaped stackable sack that improves warehouse and transport efficiencies; an oven-to-retail shelf baking system, the Hydro Tray that protects and efficiently transports fresh produce; and ‘shelf ready’ corrugated packaging that carries products from manufacturer/grower to retail shelves.

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