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Tips for Designing Package The Right Way
Your package design is the first impression your product has on shoppers’ minds. That’s why you must get it right the first time. There are several tips that you can follow to ensure your packaging is eye-catching, functional, and effective. Here are some of what you should know: Use Good Materials Choosing the right material…
9 Effective Sustainable Packaging Strategies
Creating sustainable packaging is an important strategy for businesses and consumers alike. It is not only a good way to reduce your impact on the environment, but it can also lower your shipping costs and help you keep a loyal customer base. Here are some ways in which you can do sustainable packaging. 1. Use…
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Tips for Designing Package The Right Way
Your package design is the first impression your product has on shoppers’ minds. That’s why you must get it right the first time. There are several tips that you can follow to ensure your packaging is eye-catching, functional, and effective. Here are some of what you should know:
Use Good Materials
Choosing the right material is one of the most important steps in creating a successful package. It can make a big difference in how the package looks and feels and how long it lasts once you’ve shipped it to stores. Choose materials that won’t be easy to degrade. This can help to keep your costs down and packaging in a competitive price range for consumers.
Choose the right color and texture
Color is an important element to consider when designing a package. Using bright and vibrant colors will attract customers to your product while being easy on the eyes. You should also consider the texture and tone of your package’s design. Whether smooth or rough, your package should feel unique and reflect your brand identity.
Make it practical
Aside from the visual elements of your package, it should also be practical in terms of shape, size, and functionality. For example, if you’re selling a shampoo bottle, you need to consider how the package will be handled and opened. You may want to give it a handle or grooves so the consumer can easily carry it around.
Include a Product Description
The first thing you should do when working on your package design is to consider what the product does and how it can be used. This will help you to develop a clear, concise product description that your target market can understand and remember.
Ensure that your product packaging includes all of the information a customer needs about your product, including the ingredients, nutritional value, and instructions for use. This will help to increase your sales and improve your brand recognition.
Experiment with print techniques
Don’t be afraid to experiment with print techniques when designing a package. This will allow you to make your design stand out from the competition and make it easier for people to find the product you’re offering.
Consider the paper you use
Another important consideration in a packaging design is the type of paper you use. Quality paper finishes can be an excellent way to add a sense of luxury and prestige to your packaging design. You can explore gloss, matte, and metallic finishes to create a premium look that will appeal to your target audience.
You can also choose to use foil printing, adding a touch of class to your design and helping your package stand out from the crowd. You can add die-cutting and embossing to the finish for a truly stunning look.
Always be Communicating
When designing your package, it’s essential to communicate with the printer directly about timelines and specific requirements. This will save you time and money in the long run and ensure your project is completed on time.
9 Effective Sustainable Packaging Strategies
Creating sustainable packaging is an important strategy for businesses and consumers alike. It is not only a good way to reduce your impact on the environment, but it can also lower your shipping costs and help you keep a loyal customer base. Here are some ways in which you can do sustainable packaging.
1. Use Fewer Materials
Using fewer materials in your packaging will save you money by reducing your waste and allowing you to reuse it more often. This is particularly true for paper, which can be recycled or composted.
2. Avoid Exaggerated Claims and Greenwashing
Many brands will exaggerate their eco-friendly claims and make false promises. For example, they might claim that their biodegradable plastic will break down in 1,000 years, but that’s unrealistic. Likewise, they might claim their paper packaging will be compostable, but only in specialized facilities.
3. Recycle Every Material You Can
Recycling is another key strategy for sustainable packaging. It’s a simple process that can cut down on your waste and lower your shipping costs by keeping the materials you already have instead of buying new ones every time an item needs to be shipped out or returned.
4. Reuse More Than Once
Whether you are a small business or a large corporation, there’s always a chance that a product will need to be packaged again. That’s why reusable packaging is becoming more popular.
5. Design Your Packaging to Work With the End of Life Option
This is a critical aspect of sustainable packaging. Packaging design and materials must work well with your end-of-life option, such as recycling (curbside or other drop-offs), Compost (industrial or home), or Landfill.
6. Find Suppliers that are Responsible for the Raw Materials They Use
The raw materials used to create your sustainable packaging can be a significant source of sustainability. Look for suppliers committed to replenishing nature and using only raw, natural resources. This can mean sourcing raw materials from certified and non-certified sources or asking detailed questions about how the raw materials are produced and whether they are responsible for deforestation and other environmental impacts during production.
7. Invest in Better Line Analysis
A line analysis is an essential part of any sustainable packaging strategy, and it will help you ensure that your current processing methods are working as efficiently as possible. It can also provide insight into how your packaging lines are being damaged at various points in the process and can lead to areas where improvements need to be made.
8. Reducing Costs
The upfront costs of sustainable packaging may be higher than that of traditional packaging. Still, the savings you’ll enjoy in the long run will help you recoup your initial investment quickly. Additionally, you’ll be able to recycle your sustainably packaged products more frequently than their non-sustainable counterparts and lower your shipping costs.
9. Partner With Manufacturers that are Sustainability-Focused
As a small business owner, you can’t control everything that goes into your packaging. It’s not impossible to avoid cushioning and protection materials necessary for transporting your products, but these items can’t be eliminated without damaging them.
How to Save Money by Going Green on Packaging
With the growing need for environmental safety, many businesses worldwide are looking for ways to incorporate sustainability in production, manufacture, and distribution. The impact of these packaging materials on the environment is drastic. By shifting to green and eco-friendly packaging, companies are now able to:
- Reduce carbon footprint
- Minimize overhead costs
- Produce a lasting and positive impression on customers\
- Increase business sustainability and transparency.
Why is green packaging essential?
Green packaging mainly refers to minimizing the impact of residual harmful materials from packaging on the internet. By using lightweight packaging materials, prioritizing durability, and improving the return process, companies are now able to contribute to saving the environment without hampering consumer happiness.
Lightweight packaging
One of the primary perks of lightweight packaging is to reduce shipping costs. As a result, materials like plastic films, jute, and molded pulp have become favorites in the industry. In addition to this, consumers also appreciate and follow the steps taken by big industries to save the world.
Prioritizing durability
Durability plays an important role in protecting the contents inside the packaging. Therefore, it is one of the most significant operations of the chosen packaging. Hence, the green materials chosen should be both durable and environmentally friendly.
How to save money with green packaging
Here are some ways companies can employ to go green and also save money simultaneously.
Reduce packaging
One of the easiest ways to save money is to reduce packaging. Since less is more, using high-quality and lesser materials is best to save costs. Companies can also reduce packaging size or use thinner yet more durable films.
Using eco-friendly materials
Eco-friendly materials are the best to protect the environment and satisfy customers with beautiful and elegant packaging. Such materials refer to biodegradable plastics, reusable containers, recycled paper, and others, which can help the company’s image and our planet in the long run. However, it is important to consider that these materials are expensive but have a longer lifespan and can be recycled or reused accordingly.
Minimalistic packaging design
By reducing the amount of design on the packaging or branding, companies can save costs on printing and investment in different types of materials. Instead, the same money can be used to invest in a good graphic designer who can produce an idea for minimalistic design with lower investments.
Lighter packaging
Lighter materials are known to reduce shipping costs. In addition, it also reduces the amount of fuel needed for shipping, contributing drastically to the environment.
Reusing packing
One of the best ways to save costs using green packaging is to reuse them whenever possible. Repurposing reduces waste and prevents buying new materials, saving a ton of class and materials.
How Do Branding And Packaging Value Your Business?
It’s crucial to decide how your company will stand out in a world where brands rule. Two of the most crucial marketing factors are packaging and branding, and both should be carefully planned. Packaging and branding work together to create a clear brand personality, draw in new clients, and maintain existing ones. For your business, branding, and packaging are crucial since they serve a variety of functions, some of which you’ve probably never thought about before.
Packaging and branding as a connecting channel
Branding must be captivating and elicit a feeling, and a variety of feelings. It is essential that it prompts the consumer to consider the brand’s values outside of its product. Retailers may separate from the competition by using unique packaging. It might include a crisp, simple box or an item with a vibrant pattern inside, depending on who you’re trying to reach. Additionally, it’s a chance to delight or amuse a consumer. Customers can learn more about your business and your beliefs by looking at the packaging.
Also, companies consider branding and packaging as a channel for communication as well. Some retail businesses use labels and stickers to inform clients about the goods or to direct them to social media sites.
Visual appeal
To impress your audience and stand out, it is quite advantageous to have packaging that is specific to your business. Being visual beings, humans create first impressions based on appearance. A visually stunning identity is the first step in building a brand’s appeal to consumers.
A brand’s identity should not be frequently altered because it is permanent. A constant brand image can help you build credibility and will at least pique consumer curiosity. The strongest companies in the world maintain consistency in their use of colors, logos, and other brand elements.
Packaging supports the brand promotion
Packaging can support your brand promotion efforts in a variety of ways. For instance, let’s say your business is an eCommerce one rather than a retail one. Given that buyers aren’t viewing the packaging prior to making a purchase, you might conclude that it doesn’t important. However, everyone who sees your packaging along the road, such as friends, neighbors, or even the mailman, will still have the opportunity to learn about your business.
Brand recognition is developed through packaging
When done properly, packaging can also aid in building brand recognition, which is something that every business should strive for. This is due to the fact that most customers are cautious to purchase products from companies they have never heard of or are unfamiliar with.
However, if you can increase brand image through packaging and brand awareness through marketing, customers will be able to identify your brand as soon as they see the items on the shelf. Customers are more likely to buy your goods if they are familiar with them since they are aware of the brand and its reputation.
Sustainable Packaging – A Complete Guide
Sustainable packaging is a term that is booming in the environmental sector, with 2022 being one of the best years for the implementation of the same. It refers to the packaging of goods and materials to reduce their impact on the environment. This method includes reducing the harmful release of greenhouse gases, reducing the use of non-renewable resources, and promoting the recycling and reuse of different materials.
Benefits of sustainable packaging
Apart from the primary benefit of protecting the environment and decreasing its impact on the environment, it is also helpful in the following ways to different businesses that use them.
- Expand the brand’s loyalty and increase customer base – Businesses that tend to care about the environment also care about their customers. Hence, they are known to build extreme loyalty and also increase their business in the long run.
- Consolidated storage: Two primary goals of this method is to reduce the packaging items and minimize waste even while using non-renewable ways to pack items. When these factors are implemented correctly, they give great storage and prevent you from using additional space.
- Reduced shipping costs: Shipping smaller packets is a much better way t reduce the use of large chunks of packaging materials and is also a great way to practice sustainability.
Strategies for sustainable packaging
Here are some of the best practices for sustainable packaging, which is not only a business, but you can also follow to save and protect the environment.
Share disposal and recycling.
As a business, it is best to educate people on the best ways to recycle their used packaging materials or reuse them in different ways to reduce the consumption of materials.
Shipping in smaller packages
Shipping in smaller packages helps in reducing the ecological footprint and reduces the number of materials used. Not only will this practice help you become more sustainable, but it will also reduce shipping costs drastically.
Plant-based packaging
Plant-based packaging is one of the best ways to make good use of biological resources. For instance, food packaging should be made from products that provide good packaging but do not affect the product’s flavor packaging.
Edible packaging
This method is the cousin of plant-based packaging. This means they are safe to eat, and it is a great option for sellers to market their beverages and food in the right way.
What Are The Different Types Of Packaging Materials?
Packaging is an important part of the shipping and receiving process. Without it, your product would be at risk of damage, which could lead to a loss of revenue. You might think that there’s only one type of packaging material out there, but in reality, any different types have their own pros and cons.
Below we’ll cover basic information about each type so you can decide what works best for your products!
Plastics
Plastics are a material that includes polymers, which are long chain molecules made up of repeating units. They’re used in packaging and containers, as well as consumer goods such as toys, electronics and clothing. Plastics are durable and lightweight, making them ideal for shipping large quantities of goods across the globe.
Plastic can be recycled almost indefinitely—it just needs to be diligently sorted first. The three main types of plastic packaging include:
Glass
Glass is a rigid, brittle and heavy material. However, it can be both lightweight and strong at the same time. It’s a good insulator that also allows light to pass through it. This makes glass suitable for both food and beverage packaging as well as other products like cosmetics or pharmaceuticals where light transmission is important.
Tinplate or Steel
Tinplate or steel is a combination of steel and tin. It is used to make cans for food and beverages.
Tinplate is an alloy with low carbon content, which gives it high ductility, toughness and good formability. Tinplate can be easily formed into complex shapes that are difficult to achieve with other materials such as aluminum or plastics. Tinplated steel is usually bright mill-finish on both sides (B/C) or galvanized on one side (G/Z).
Paper and board
Paper and board are made from wood pulp. This material is used to make boxes, cups, bags and many other types of packaging.
Paper and board can be made from recycled or virgin pulp. Recycled paper is less expensive than virgin pulp because it has already been processed once.
Paper and board have a variety of uses when it comes to packaging. They are often used for food packaging as well as for non-food items such as magazines or newspapers.
Flexible packaging materials
Flexible packaging materials are made from a variety of different materials, including paperboard, plastic and metal foils. These can be used to package a wide range of products, and they are often used as the outer layer on multi-layered packaging.
Flexible packaging is useful for items that need to be sealed tightly or otherwise contained carefully. For example, if you’re shipping fragile items in boxes or bags that could get crushed easily during transit, flexible packaging might provide extra protection.
There are many types of packaging materials and they can be used to store or transport a wide range of products. The most common types include plastics, glassware, tinplate or steel cans and paperboard. In addition, flexible packaging is also a popular choice because it offers greater protection but is still lightweight enough for easy handling in stores or delivery trucks.
Design Approaches Based on Psychology for Eye-Catching Packaging
How does a product of a brand distinguish itself? What causes a buyer to choose your product over those of your direct competitors when they are all displayed side by side on a shelf? Brand loyalty has a part in it. Ingredients, composition, packaging techniques, manufacturing processes, and ethical sources make up some of them. In reality, psychology accounts for the majority of it. The packaging of your product will help you draw in customers who have never heard of, seen, or used any of the competing products. Some of the basic qualities of eye-catching packaging are:
- Presentation
- Texture
- Complexity
- Uniqueness
- Attraction
- Longevity
Usage of suitable colors
Color is one of the main aspects of product packaging that is most easily seen. The key element in packaging that draws customers in is color. It is frequently among the primary things people see because it is more easily seen than other parts like writing, drawings, or graphics from a distance. Color choices involve many factors. You’ve definitely aware of color psychology, which discusses how certain hues can evoke different emotions depending on the culture. For example, the predominant colors of many packaging items are red and blue, which stand for energy, health, and positivity.
Quality modifications
Customers must be presented with visually appealing packaging that also stands out from the competition. When competitors use conventional square boxes, unique structures are extremely effective at grabbing attention. Changing the whole package’s size can have the same outcome. In addition to structural adjustments, pressure effects and texture modifications bring something special that buyers will desire to connect with. This objective is achieved with the aid of soft-touch coatings, customized substrates, embossing, or debossing.
Importance to form and design
The use of psychology in product and packaging design is not just used by well-known brands. Packaging is necessary for your items, and variations in form, design, and appearance have a significant effect on how your consumers view the products. Product packaging exhibits a comparable level of tiered design; however, it is less obvious. Products that are slim and slender often make people think of health. Products that are squat and narrow are seen as robust and confident. Even extremely complicated shapes possess their own emotional connotations and can be used as additional branding elements.
Understanding customer needs
A premium packaging design catches the eye from a distance and directs it to the shelf. Packaging needs to offer something distinctive to fully appeal to consumers, much like aesthetic appeal does, albeit distinctiveness can take many forms. Although your product’s packaging must pull customers in from the shelf, once they are there, it must keep their interest. Additionally, it’s critical that your plan be very useful and efficient. An efficient design is one that boosts sales at the store and integrates nicely with production and distribution systems.
How important is Packaging in marketing a Product?
We all have the wrong idea that packaging is just for protecting our products. After all, what matters is the quality of your product. But if you are moving forward with your business with this mentality, then you are laying the foundation for your failure.
Packaging plays a vital role in the marketing of the product and brand. Numerous studies show that many consumers buy a product based on its packaging. It is found that more than 52% of customers will come back to you only if they are receiving products in premium packaging. With a vast audience measuring the worth of your product and the quality of your brand with the packaging, you should not underestimate the power of product packaging.
If you are still not convinced about the relevance of good packaging, you may read the articles to learn about it. Listed below are the reasons why packaging is important in marketing a product.
Strengthening the Shelf impact
There are plenty of products available in the market that is similar to your product. So, when customer enters this vast product jungle, they might feel overwhelmed. So, from this huge and confusing jungle, how are they going to make their choice? This is where product packaging becomes important. Studies show that more than one-third of customers buy products based on your product packaging.
Product packaging is the first thing that communicates with the audience and is the key to forming opinions. And as we all know the first impression is the last. Therefore, make sure that your packaging stands out from others. Make sure that you do not go for generic packaging as it will look dull.
Convey a message
Product packaging can be used to convey a message to consumers. The front of your packaging, called ‘facing’ is where you can showcase your brand values and grab the attention of the audience. By using this portable billboard wisely, you will be able to stand apart from your competitors.
Better customer experience
When you are providing tailored or customized packaging, it has the power to evoke a positive emotion in the customers. Thus, premium packaging will drive more customers to your product as they will feel special and spoiled when they receive it.
Packaging plays a vital role in marketing today. So, customize your packaging and make them attractive to stand out to your customers and build your brand value.
4 Great Packaging Innovation Examples
As the world is moving into a modern era, so is the waste around us! The increased toxic and hazardous waste daily has caused a drastic shift in environmental harm. Hence, in recent times, the government and non-government organizations are taking extreme measures to reduce this pollution and keep our environment safe and secure for future generations.
Packaging innovation is one such method that uses strategies to enhance resource efficiency and reduce waste by using alternative materials to save the environment. Over the years, many techniques have been introduced to meet customer-requirement without compromising environmental safety. This involves company and industrial owner’s turning innovative and stabilizing the supply and demand chain.
4 Great Packaging Innovation Examples
The companies mentioned below have employed bioplastics as plastic alternatives, unique circulation production systems, and many more that anyone can engage in their business.
Configuration model
- Companies like Souvla are implementing the low-manpower model to increase the demand for fewer employees. The customers directly order at the counter, instead of people waiting on them.
- According to statistics, people in the US spent almost 600 billion dollars on groceries alone in 2018. Brands like Brandless have come up with solutions to reduce costs and enhance eco-friendly grocery options by providing a solution to order them online.
- Brew DR, a Portland-based company, uses the zero waste models to use-use and recycles their products to manufacture different products.
Network Model
A competing and popular brand Re-Pizza in China joined forces with other organizations to sell their unused and recyclable products. For instance, they introduced the use of leftover pizzas to make new pizzas with over 200 different flavors available for sale to all kinds of customers in china.
Processing model
- The processing model is mainly beneficial for food industries like Father Farms, which utilizes new technologies to leverage carbon dioxide for good use, like pasteurizing food. It also uses methods to eliminate the quantity of freezing and artificial preservatives. This reduces the energy used by restaurants by 70%, which may also have significant implications on the supply chain.
- Popular fast food chains like Pizza Hut are implementing technology-based cooking and delivery models to make and deliver pizza using robots. The main objective of such a model is to reduce preparation costs and enhance productivity. They are also planning on introducing the human-driving vehicle that cooks pizza while on the way to the customer.
Consumer engagement model
- Companies like Club SODA NYC are integrating the effects of alcohol in soda without the alcoholic content. This will reduce the ingredients required to produce alcohol and help promote better health for the consumers.
- Another important model for millenials is integrating trendy food and social media. If the food and the restaurant take measures to serve the environment, they are featured by famous health bloggers and influences, followed by many worldwide.
Best 5 Packaging Innovations for 2022
Many initiatives have been taken to make packaging eco-friendlier, sustainable, and smarter. But ever since Covid-19, when people were confined to their homes, consumers began to rely on online shopping. Even after covid, people are preferring online shopping which has resulted in the production of a massive amount of packaging waste. So, to counter this threat posed by packaging, start-up, and business are coming up with innovations to streamline the packaging process and reduce the waste produced. Businesses have also realized that packaging is an essential part of customer experience, hence using smart packaging is essential to boost brand value and maintain customer loyalty.
You can look into this guide to learn about the various innovation that is being introduced in packaging.
Internet of packaging
One of the packaging trends that is disrupting the traditional packaging process is the internet of packaging. Through this process, the consumers can contact the companies using smart labels, QR codes, NFC chips, and RFID. The companies can further enhance this system by using augmented reality through which the companies can engage with the customers; give them coupon codes or video instructions. IoT devices will enable consumers to get real-time protection information. This technology is much safer and authorization compared to the traditional ones.
Biodegradable packaging
Since we are living in a world of highly conscious consumers, sustainable packaging is going to spread its wings in 2022. Having sustainable and eco-friendly packaging will protect the environment and will also help in boosting the brand image.
Due to their massive scope, many companies are using biodegradable materials for packing. Companies can use sustainable packaging options like paper voidfill and reinforced self-adhesive kraft tape. For instance, the food industry is adopting various biodegradable options like Glass containers, bamboo packaging, and products made of rice husks.
Minimalism
By 2022, businesses are going to break away from using excessive materials in packaging. Instead of using more material for packaging, using minimum items for packing will reduce waste.
Recyclable Packaging
Another trend that is going to dominate the packaging industry is recycling. Today, many companies are encouraging their consumers to recycle their products. As we know, recycling is one of the most traditional ways to protect the environment and reduce waste. Due to the rise of plastic waste at an uncontrollable rate, business is focusing on recyclable packing materials.
Personalization
Customizing and personalizing the packaging is going to be another trend in packaging. Personalizing the products will make your packaging attractive and is also an impressive way to attract the audience. Various studies show that personalized and customized packaging is one of the best ways to strengthen your relationship with your customer and is a good way to improve customer loyalty.
Packaging plays a vital role in improving customer experience. So, you can adopt these smart and efficient packaging options to strengthen your business and improve your brand value.