The types of packing products used in different industries can often differ, with several different types all battling for position in different markets. While consumers have noted one type of product is great for a specific need, packaging companies are increasingly developing competing types that will expand the market.
According to Packaging Europe, a recent research report from the Confederation of Paper Industries found that more than half of surveyed consumers in the United Kingdom prefer that groceries and fresh produce are packaged in paper-based material.
More than 2,200 people were queried in the poll, where 57 percent preferred grocery and food packaging, 31 percent didn't have a preference and only 8 percent determined they preferred plastic containers.
The demographics barely shifted depending on where the consumers were surveyed. In urban areas like London, preferences for paper grew by 5 percent to reach 62 percent total. When asked specifically about the benefits of paper, the news source said that 46 percent of consumers would be more likely to purchase an item, while only 3 percent were less likely to make the purchase. The confederation's leaders noted that these standards are great for the corrugated packaging industry.
"The findings of the YouGov poll indicate that paper and corrugated remain the most popular form of packaging for consumers in the UK," said Andy Barnetson, the CPI's director of packaging affairs. "However, the corrugated packaging industry must keep building on this significant public support by continuing to put the consumer at the center of everything it does."
Corrugated packaging continues to grow in popularity for several reasons. It's very protective of the materials it holds, can print in color, is easily used for merchandising and is the most recycled of all forms of packaging.
Formats for packaging diversify
Of course, corrugated packaging is far from the only packaging type on the market. The Packer reported that different formats are being developed, in an attempt to move the products themselves more.
Different products require various approaches. One producer who packages herbs and similar products said that its shipments contain plenty of nutritional information as well as instructions on cooking the product itself.
In other situations, companies will focus on specific types of packaging they prefer. Clamshells, see-through bags, bunches and loose product are all potential packaging decisions that operators can make in this market, though the focus is less on the actual qualities of the type itself as to the differences it can make in the market.
"Good packaging stands out on the shelf, protects the product, is informative and consumer-friendly," said Louis Hymel III, the purchasing and marketing director of Spice World Inc., based out of Orlando, Florida. All of those concerns mean that a production change can take a long time, as Hymel added that his company works for an extended period of time to make sure its packaging type is as attractive and appealing as possible.
An example comes from a decision that a garlic grower and shipper made. It recently switched from hard plastic containers to stand-up pouches for its peeled garlic products, which not only have helped its brand image but has boosted its sales and its shipping and refuse abilities.
In other situations, companies will ship their products in bulk for a more natural shelf appearance.
However, visibility may be one of the biggest concerns for these items. Whether a product's packaging makes it stand out among a crowd or has a visual aid to strengthen a consumer's confidence about using it, making that determination can have a positive effect on the market long-term.
