Made from aluminum or tin-coated steel, these cans could be opened by inserting a flathead screwdriver around the edge of lid like a crowbar to pry it open. When you were done painting, you had to hammer the lid back into place, causing dents in the lid and possibly the can. If you didn’t create an airtight seal, the rim of the paint can could rust or oxidize, and the paint could be damaged.
You see a toolbox that’s been beat up over many years but is still going strong. On a shelving unit, you see buckets and containers that were obviously purchased years ago but have been repurposed because the owner knows they’re durable.
Depending on the weight and number of items per package, these products are typically packaged in a flimsy cardboard box or a plastic container with cardboard top. Some hardware comes in a plastic box with a top that pops back into place.
Consumer attitudes on sustainable packaging have gone through a similar shift, as more than half of the survey participants said they are highly concerned about the environmental impact of packaging. They said they would be willing to pay more for products with sustainable packaging and seek out that designation on the label while shopping.
Offices continue to reopen. Summer vacations are on the calendar. Stadiums are hosting baseball games and concerts. Children’s sports and activities have returned, and many kids will be going back to camp this summer.
Now that people are on the go, buying habits are changing. More specifically, consumers who bought food in large-format packaging to stock up during the pandemic are going back to small-format, single-serve packaging.
According to a Rover.com survey from 2020, 81 percent of pet owners said taking care of their pets in an environmentally friendly way is important to them, while 75 percent said environmental impact has affected a purchase or lifestyle decision related to their pet.
Increased demand for healthy pet food requires transparency. This applies not only to the ingredients on the label, but also transparency in packaging, which allows consumers to see that the list of ingredients matches what’s inside.
E-commerce has grown steadily for years. The pandemic has made it explode with sales topping more than $791 billion in 2020, according to the Department of Commerce. This 32% increase is the largest annual online sales growth ever recorded – and is not expected to significantly slow as life returns to “normal.”
Despite initial concerns about the pandemic’s impact on consumer food brands, ice cream has seen a significant jump in sales. This sector is experiencing exponential growth with many new brands launching and an increased number of alternative dairy ice creams rapidly entering the market.
Many consumer brands have switched to In-Mold Labeling (IML). They did so because of its many advantages, like recyclability, high-impact graphics, shipping durability and overall quality. Now, those brands and many more are discovering another benefit. One that helps them stand out even more in today’s competitive market: clear IML packaging.
It’s easy to see why the “2-for-1” benefit of In-Mold Labeling (IML) is a competitive advantage for brands looking to shorten the supply chain and streamline the production process. First, pre-printed product labels are injected into the plastic container mold, becoming an integral component of the packaging in a single manufacturing step. Second, in-mold labeling is a highly recyclable packaging solution that attracts many consumers looking for brands that value sustainability.
This is precisely why we are proud members of the Association for Contract Packagers & Manufacturers (CPA), a national, nonprofit trade organization that connects contract packaging firms with suppliers. CPA’s mission is to serve its member companies by providing a wealth of relevant continuing education, market knowledge and member networking opportunities.
