POST-CORONAVIRUS PACKAGING TRENDS

For some years now, the packaging sector has been facing some major challenges marked out by the authorities and consumers themselves: sustainable transformation, digitalisation and personalisation. The coronavirus has now altered some of these trends in the packaging industry, at least for the time being. Aware of the importance if its raw material in this process, SP GROUP has embraced the new demands and  adapted its products to the trends in the sector, including:

• A wider range of sizes and formats adapted to the needs of consumers: Even before the health crisis, we were seeing a demand for smaller packaging that suited the new profile of family and consumers, as well as a need for products that can be consumed on the go. With consumers now also trying to avoid infection, single-serve formats and individual wrappers are becoming more popular. In times of economic crisis, economy packs are also always in high demand.

• Transparent packaging: Now, more than ever, consumers want to see the products and know what they are consuming. Trends such as the ‘real food’ movement, based on eating real rather than ultraprocessed foods, are pushing the product itself to the forefront. This means we will continue to see a rise in transparent packaging, and any packing that makes part of the contents visible. Our transparent 100% rPET trays made of recycled and recyclable material, as well as our pouches with windows and our packaging made of biodegradable BIO FVSOL, are perfect solutions.

• Personalisation: Another of the direct consequences of lockdown was a huge increase in e-commerce on an international scale. Online sales have shot up for products of all types, and customers cannot see these products until they receive them at home. This means it is important for any marketing to consider the packaging as part of the product-purchasing experience. SP GROUP has been working on personalisation for some time now, and we are pioneers in digital printing. Our PAPER TOUCH solution that gives packaging a paper feel is another very popular option for personalisation, while our thermoforming relief application, SP_EMBOSS, provides a highly original finish. Applied to the already formed pouch, the relief gives the packaging an attractive and stylish look.

• Materials that can undergo heat processes. Health and safety has become a priority for food packaging, and plastic gives the best guarantees in this area. For example, our new PE HB ECO is a recyclable structure with high barrier qualities that stands out for its capacity to withstand heat treatments such as pasteurisation, hot fill and microwaving. Furthermore, SP GROUP is developing a flexible, recyclable structure that can be sterilised and which we will be launching soon.

• Sustainability and environmental awareness. At the beginning of the year, all experts would have agreed that the main challenge facing the packaging sector was sustainability, in order to adapt to new EU regulations and the objectives of Agenda 2030. The coronavirus has only intensified this search for environmentally friendly packaging solutions. Lockdodwn left us with unprecedented images of Venice’s crystal-clear canals and large cities without clouds of pollution perched overhead. This has led to a large number of environmental organisations calling on the authorities to put measures in place that will ensure the recovery of the planet. SP GROUP has always maintained a commitment to sustainability, and we currently have four ranges of sustainable packaging solutions that include recyclable materials, packaging made from recycled material, biodegradable packaging, and solutions that reduce your carbon footprint.

To summarise, the pandemic and its consequences have transformed consumer habits, introducing new behaviour and creating new trends in the packaging sector. As a result of the health emergency, humans have developed a series of unconscious psychological responses, which the psychologist Schaller referred to as a ‘behavioural immune system’, in an attempt to reduce the possibility of infection. The size of packaging has become important, as has the ability to see the product clearly inside, because these qualities are associated with safety and confidence. Of course, the packaging must also be recyclable and sustainable. Our packaging materials are ideal in this respect, as they maintain a high standard of quality and safety.