Page 36 - FoodFocusThailand No.155_February 19

STRENGTHEN THE PACKAGINGGTHEN THE PACKAGING
STREN

Flexible Packaging’s Trending Topics

Cannabis. Sustainability. e-Commerce. The past year was a dynamic one in flexible packaging – and there are
various trends and talking points that have shaped it and will continue to shape it moving forward.

The buzz at the last PACK EXPO International in downtown Chicago seemed to lag behind when it comes to selling products online. That
is still around. There was enthusiasm, new products and innovations, could be about to change drastically though.
and lots of things to discuss. While the packaging industry is always Amazon recently bought Whole Foods for $13.7 billion and, and
changing and moving forward for the better, this past year has been a as soon as the deal was finalized the website eCommerce giant started
particularly exciting time to be a part of it. Here’s a look at some of the including more groceries online — successfully. According to a
trending topics from 2018 that will certainly help shape things moving Bloomberg report, Amazon saw, “a surge in online grocery shopping
forward in 2019. for basic staples like canned beans and tomato paste,” right away.
Amazon immediately put about 2,000 items on its site from the
Cannabis Packaging First came medical marijuana, now the Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value brand and sold out of almost all of
recreational march is on – and flexible packaging is poised to grow the most-popular items. Web sales of Whole Foods branded products
with this emerging market. totaled about $500,000 in the first week, according to One Click Retail’s
And while the cannabis market is expected to be one that is fast- estimate. And the more people are willing to buy food and beverages
changing as well as fast growing moving forward, there are certain online, the more brands will have to respond — especially when it
issues that converters are going to have to address. One, there’s the comes to packaging.
pouch itself, which is regarded as one of the least secure packages. In the past we’ve seen big retailers asking for specific presentations,
Two, there’s child-resistance. And on top of all of this, there are costs formats for their own stores. Now we are starting to see online retailers
that will have to be kept in check. like Amazon asking for specific formats for them. And it can be a
Sustainability The year 2018 might be known as the year where nightmare for brand owners, which no longer have complete control
sustainability morphed from being just a trend to being a necessity. At of the sales experience, but rather are at the mercy of the delivery
least that was the vibe from just about everyone Flexible Packaging service. And, as such, it can become important to add a second layer
spoke with at PACK EXPO. Everyone from brands to converters are of packaging to help prevent damages during the shipping process.
establishing sustainability goals and targets, equipment is being That also include changes to packaging design. Traditionally
designed to minimize waste and materials – such as film – are being packaging has been designed for those three seconds that you’re
produced from more recycled content. Still, while inroads are being looking at the shelf and you’re making a decision. Now, the first time
made, widespread recyclability isn’t likely imminent. you look at a product, you already bought it. So it’s about experience
Of course, it’s worth noting that the front-end benefits of flexible with the product, and about repeating the purchase. And that might
packaging (i.e., less resources to create, reduced transportation costs, lead to changes in things like labels, which could be smaller to save
etc.) as well as other benefits like reducing food waste have been well costs.
documented. However, public perception of plastic waste is one issue
that the industry is being increasingly forced to navigate until a
widespread end-of-life solution is viable. เอกสารอ้างอิง/References
www.flexpackmag.com/articles/89702-flexible-packagings-trending-topics
e-Commerce Packaging Everybody knows that the internet is www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/96937-how-ecommerce-will-change-food-
changing the retail landscape, but food and beverage companies have and-beverage-packaging
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