Stora Enso has released two insights revealing future trends and value chain developments in food and electronics packaging – and how brand owners’ requirements regarding packaging will change accordingly.
The insights reveal the following as some of the most important trends in the packaging industry:
- Considerable growth in e-retailing volumes
- Increasing importance of innovation in design for shelf standout
- Increasing competitive intensity in the value chain driving cost focus
- Faster development cycles and more new products
- Increased awareness of sustainability issues
Based on these trends, the following factors are expected to be the keys to success for brand owners, and instrumental in shaping the packaging industry in 2016 and beyond:
- Supporting brand value building. Packaging will be increasingly important for off- and online brand building and sales increase, as well as for differentiation and shelf standout. It must also attract customers at the point of sale including the online channel.
- Communicating sustainability. Sustainability considerations are increasingly influencing buying decisions, and brand owners need to communicate their environmental commitments.
-Reducing cost. Brand owners need to constantly improve their total packaging solution in order to reduce costs including optimizing loading, filling and palletizing.
- Optimizing operations. More efficient and flexible packaging lines will be crucial in order to adapt to increased demand for product variation. There will also be an increased need for retail ready packaging that facilitates in-store efficiency.
