Packaging News You Can Use

Kraft Sheds 150M Pounds of Packaging @ http://is.gd/7f6EK Current CPG trend is to find ways to reduce packaging consumption. Most accomplished though redesign or changing packaging materials. As you will see in 2010 Packaging Trends Impacting What Consumers Will Buy: Green is no longer on the fringe @ http://packaginguniversity.com/blog/2010/01/11/2010-packaging-trends-2-green-is-no-longer-on-the-fringe/

I-Pad, I-Pad, I-Pad, Spoof and real @ http://is.gd/7aIlZ @ http://is.gd/7aPWL, http://ow.ly/i/odz @ http://is.gd/7dwYS What’s in a name? No matter how good the product the wrong name might spoil it all. In this case getting lots of funny publicity over the name iPad.

Bubble Wrap turns 50: Iconic packaging cushioning celebrates 50 years of “popping up” with new applications: @ http://bit.ly/5QGvHU An excellent example of how you can capitalize in the news with your product packaging. BubbleWrap has inspired students and many packaging designers to create and innovate.

London’s Unpackaged grocery boutique eliminates wasteful packaging @ http://is.gd/6KZKP But how does it get there? This is big trend especially in the UK where there is much more concern over packaging and the environment. Keep an eye out for a similar movement in the US.

Sainsbury’s swaps tinned tomatoes 4 cartons @ http://is.gd/6w0b0 But not everyone is happy As I mention in 2010 Packaging Trends Impacting What Consumers Will Buy the packaging wars have begun with everyone claiming their packaging material is the best. More on point Packaging Trends # 7. Clichéd But “Out Of The Box Thinking” @ http://packaginguniversity.com/blog/2010/01/18/2010-packaging-trends-7-cliched-but-out-of-the-box-thinking/

SPECIAL REPORT: 2010 Packaging Trends Impacting What Consumers Will Buy:

In this fiercely competitive environment where every element of product packaging counts it’s important to understand any external influences that might keep your consumer from buying.

Packaging trends evolve with consumer’s wants and needs and sometimes they can become a primary factor in whether or not your packaging will succeed. It’s hard to assess each individual importance but it’s critical to manage for your overall packaging success.

Please email for a PDF copy of the top ten packaging trends.

Need to know whose got the latest concepts in packaging innovation? I know that’s what I do-track packaging trends and innovation and how it is going to impact your business. And if you are not connected you may be out of luck or out of business by the end of the year.

Get connected with me JoAnn Hines Packaging Diva at my website http://packagingdiva.com

Tags: BubbleWrap, IPad, Kraft, packaging trends, Sainsbury's, Unpackaged

Ever wonder about all those icons, symbols and slogans on your packaging? What they really mean. As companies struggle to craft winning messages they are creating their own symbols and icons many of which are meaningless. So no wonder the consumer is confused about the validity of these claims. Since so many of these are coming out of the eco and organic arena I’m focusing primarily on them.

One of my personal favorites: “Packaging Made From Wind Power” seriously that’s nice but with all this on the package who can make an informed decision.

I’m in the business and I know what these statements mean but do you and do you really care? There’s only so much space to craft your message and it better be the right one for your core audience.

Part of the problem is who’s watching the marketers concocting these statements and what do they mean? Many of them do have legitimacy and supporting organizations. But there is no one regulating umbrella organization so companies are free to make their own branding statements and are competing with one another.

Recent Examples

Every body knows what this means on a package

The Universal Recycling Symbol

But self certifying “green” claims like this one?

What is a “Greenlist” anyway? Can anybody get on it?

Ensure every element on your product packaging is meaningful to your consumer. Don’t overload your primary marketing space with meaningless phrases and symbols unless the message is integral to your mission and your brand. Just because its a cool and clever looking icon or symbol doesn’t mean it will influence the consumer one way or the other to buy. One caveat some of symbols must by law be on your packaging. Just be careful how and where you place them to maximize thier impact and not overload the consumer brain.

Packaging Phrases To Watch For In 2010

• Certification Symbols
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
• USDA Organic
• Carbon Neutral
• Recycling Symbol
• Frustration-Free Certification
• Self-certification
• Greenwashing
• Branding
• Marketing
• Advertising

Tags: Advertising, branding, Carbon Neutral Recycling Symbol, Certification Symbols, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Frustration-Free Certification, greenwashing, marketing, packaging trends, Self-certification, USDA Organic

In this fiercely competitive environment where every element of product packaging counts it’s important to understand any external influences that might keep your consumer from buying.

Packaging trends evolve with consumer’s wants and needs and sometimes they can become a primary factor in whether or not your packaging will succeed. It’s hard to assess each individual importance but it’s critical to manage for your overall packaging success.

Here is the 1st of 10 packaging trends (in no particular order) that you cannot overlook for 2010.

1. Big Brother Is Watching You (shades of George Orwell)

Everyone will be watching what you do with your product packaging. Increasing scrutiny will come from regulatory agencies such as the FDA and FTC, International agencies and watchdog groups such as the Copenhagen accord and even consumers. They want to tell you to what you can or cannot say on your packaging, what materials it should be made of, how much you can use and how you should dispose of it.

Everyone has an opinion whether it’s valid or not on what the package should represent. Look for more mandated regulations from everyone and standards set throughout the globe. Look for fines and stern warning letters if your packaging doesn’t comply. Everyone wants a piece of this action.

Recent Packaging Examples

One campaign against so called “Smart Choices” lead to all the packaging being changes after consumer objected to what they considered good food choices.

Eat this and become heart healthy? The FDA weighed in on this one and said no!

Packaging Phrases To Watch For In 2010:

International Standards Organization’s (ISO) Technical Committee 122,

Food and Drug Administration

Federal Trade Commission

European Organization for Packaging and the Environment (EUROPEN)

INCPEN – The Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment

Environmental Protection Agency

Packaging Bans and Mandates

Tags: environment, EPA, FDA, FTC, packaging initiatives, packaging regulations, packaging standards, packaging trends, trends analysis, what's hot