I hope everyone is looking forward to a great Holiday and a Happy New Year. As someone who lives and breathes flexible packaging, the one thing that’s abundantly clear, especially this time of year, is that consumer packaging is no longer just a means of protecting products; it has become a critical component of the consumer experience. Just walking through the aisles at my local grocery store, I can see the heavy investments made in technology and innovation to meet ever-evolving demands for sustainability, convenience, and most important, customization.
Not sure what I’m talking about? Here are a few examples of technology and innovation in packaging.
Barrier Coatings for Enhanced Protection
A notable consumer product that uses innovative barrier coatings for coffee packaging is Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee. The single-serve sachets are designed to preserve the freshness, flavor, and aroma of the coffee. These packs utilize high-barrier flexible films with advanced coatings to protect against moisture, oxygen, and light. The barrier materials ensure the coffee remains fresh throughout its shelf life, even without the need for refrigeration.
Similarly, in the tea category, Tazo Tea Bags use barrier-coated foil-lined pouches to lock in the delicate aromas and flavors of the tea leaves. These pouches are specifically engineered to provide superior protection against environmental factors while maintaining the premium quality consumers expect from the brand.
Both examples highlight how barrier coating innovations are crucial in delivering high-quality products to customers while extending shelf life and reducing waste. Similarly, Vonco’s high-barrier flexible packaging solutions are tailored to meet these exact needs. Our innovative designs ensure that the delicate compounds responsible for flavor and aroma remain intact, delighting consumers while reducing spoilage and waste.
Smart Packaging for a Connected Consumer
In 2022, PepsiCo launched a Gatorade Smart Cap bottle equipped with sensors to track hydration. The smart cap connects to an app and measures how much the user drinks, offering personalized hydration recommendations. This packaging innovation not only improves consumer engagement but also promotes health and wellness.
Ethical Bean Coffee integrated QR codes on their coffee bags, allowing customers to trace the journey of their coffee from the farm to the final product. The codes provided details on where the beans were grown, their roasting process, and flavor profiles, promoting transparency and sustainability.
Drawing from these real-world examples, Vonco can integrate features like QR codes for consumer engagement or freshness indicators into our high-barrier flexible packaging for food, pharmaceuticals, or medical devices. This approach can offer seamless integration of smart packaging technology, creating value by ensuring product quality and providing an interactive experience for the connected consumer.
Active Packaging Solutions
Frito-Lay, the parent company of Lay’s, recently introduced industrially compostable bags for its chips. The bags are certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) and are made with materials that produce 60% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional packaging. The bags also come with a QR code that provides instructions for composting.
Mars Wrigley has applied active packaging technology in products like M&M’s and Snickers. Their packaging includes moisture and oxygen barriers to ensure the chocolate remains smooth and fresh, without becoming too dry or losing flavor. This allows the products to maintain their quality for longer on shelves.
Smithfield Foods uses active packaging in its fresh meat products. The packaging includes oxygen absorbers that reduce the amount of oxygen inside the package, slowing the growth of bacteria and extending the product’s shelf life. This technology is particularly important for perishable goods like fresh pork and bacon.
Driving the Future of Packaging
As consumer expectations evolve, the packaging industry must adapt to stay ahead. At Vonco, we’re leading the charge by combining technological innovation with a deep understanding of our customer’s needs. By focusing on flexible packaging advancements such as barrier coatings, smart technology, digital printing, and interactive solutions, we’re shaping the future of consumer goods packaging.
To learn more about how Vonco is revolutionizing the packaging industry, visit www.vonco.com.
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