5 trends to impact Glass Packaging in 2021
Sustainability still #1
Once again, we can see that the key issue is sustainability in packaging design trends for 2021 when applied to the world of beverages.
Consumers are ever more aware and vigilant in their desire to do something concrete for the planet. This is why every company that operates in the sector should pay attention to this trend when they are designing packaging for their products. Their aim should be to show themselves as environmentally friendly and of convey values and positive messages to all their potential customers. There’s an ever-growing number of consumers who are worried about the negative impact that humankind is having on the planet. According to the Global Web Index, it’s likely that 61% of Millennials are happy to pay more for eco-friendly or sustainable products. Many consumers are looking for recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable packaging, particularly when buying food and drink.
So when it comes to glass packaging – Recycled, lighter & refillable are the words that come to mind. Glassmakers are crafting bottles to be increasingly environmentally responsible.
We recently hosted a webinar, discussing the topic of lightweight packaging. You can see it here: WEBINAR – REDUCING THE GRAVITY OF GLASS
Smart packaging
Intelligent packaging has been talked about for some time now, but the constant progress that characterises this era is leading businesses to design new solutions that favour their own growth and consumer engagement.
Research shows that augmented reality packaging has risen by 120% over the last two years. This is a result of it being more attractive to Millennials and smart packaging has many benefits that regular packaging cannot compete with.
First and foremost it provides another ground for interaction as games, competitions, music, and recipes can be added to products. Besides enhancing brand engagement, interactive packaging has the potential for increased transparency. The consumer can access a secure platform directly from their smartphone where they can find a whole host of information about the product’s supply chain. With a new set of digital solutions, the possibilities are endless.
Hrastnik1860 will soon introduce it’s own solution to smart packaging, so stay tuned!
Nature in design
Moving away from the sharp color contrasts, many product suppliers will emphasize warm earth tones and softer, neutral colors in their packaging designs.
Thoughtful consumers will move away from the materialistic side to seek quasi-spiritual consumption, close to their ancestors. Colors will be mineral, earthy or green. Patterns will appeal to essential references: a forgotten and vital nature, such as ancestral plants. This trend will be especially visible on the spirits market: consumers will be looking for a collective memory told through narrative marketing. Each product will have to have a territorial anchorage with a raw composition, linked to the climate and the earth.
The nature of the product will likely influence the specific selection of shades while tiny illustrated patterns might also reveal what’s inside. Another trend to watch is a vintage design, especially in product labeling.
Hrastnik1860 Design Studio follows all the latest trends in designing glass packaging. To build your own custom-made solution: START HERE
E-commerce
There has been a notable uptick in online shopping throughout various categories. As a result, retailers have to be able to work on improving their eCommerce game if they want to be able to gain the modern consumer’s business. With such a boost to online buying, there is a huge opportunity for growth in packaging for online orders.
E-commerce is driving changes in packaging at multiple levels. Brands and are having to reassess how they package products for the online shopper and to adapt to new generations of tech-savvy consumers. From easy-to-return packaging, re-usable packaging to overall user-friendliness. Online purchases create opportunities for richer brand experiences through video, 3D visualization, options for personalized packaging, “decorate-it-yourself” labels, etc.
Even more, especially in the perfume industry, brands needed to adapt to this new way of buying by sending out samples. The same is used by smaller distilleries that offer special tasting sessions to their potential clients. Rolling out older, special editions will also be the way to go for brands in the spirits industry. Truly, the place to impact the end consumer is moved to the digital world.
Transparency
The increasing attention to health, in light of the current epidemic, brings with it the demand for a better understanding of the information about products, driving companies towards improved transparency to promote loyalty in their customer base and brand. Clear labeling that provides nutritional information and ingredients used in the process of distillation on all types of alcoholic drinks.
With the recent Covid-19 pandemic, that’s impacting the whole world to a greater or lesser degree, consumers have become even more careful of their health. This trend has been present over the past few years, but now it’s completely dominating the market in a number of sectors. It has been shown, for example, that 80% of UK consumers have no idea what the calorie content of an alcoholic drink is. This is why there is now clear labeling in that country.
In light of this, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) backed a proposal that was presented in Brussels in 2018. This proposal was to ensure that nutritional information is made available on all types of alcoholic drinks by 2022.