2020 has finally come to an end, and we have entered 2021. We will remember the previous year for an ongoing pandemic, which finally seems to end with a prospective vaccine. Lockdowns and social distancing protocols have resulted in an overall slowdown of the global economy. This overall situation is expected to drive some new trends, mostly related to how products will be sold in the post-pandemic world.

That said, let’s now discuss some packaging trends that we can expect in the year 2021.

E-Commerce

E-commerce will undoubtedly be the cornerstone of the new decade. With most of the consumer shopping centers and food outlets shut down, businesses have been striving to bring their services online. In this business environment, one of the most significantly important factors is the packaging. The customer experience is defined by the unboxing process. It means that the new packaging trend will involve the use of aesthetic, functional, and more personalized packaging supplies.

Sustainability

Sustainability has been a hot decade for many years. While this topic took a back seat during the pandemic, it seems to become a debatable matter once again in 2021 and beyond. Food packaging will particularly be more in discussions due to the impact of plastics on foods and the environment. Since food items are the most sold products around the globe, using packaging solutions that are not friendly to the environment can be quite detrimental and counterproductive in the long-run. With consumers paying more attention to eco-friendly packaging, it has become more necessary than ever for manufacturing and packaging companies to use sustainable packaging options.

Interactive packaging

While interactive packaging is not a common practice, yet it continues to become a hot topic of discussion. This packaging option is not only aesthetically engaging but also proves to be valuable in several ways. One of the examples is augmented reality. This feature allows the consumer to use the image of product packaging in different situations to envision its best use. The best thing about interactive packaging is that it liberates brands and packaging designers from common restrictions, which might not allow the use of extra packaging design creativity.

Food delivery

With most restaurants becoming unavailable to consumers due to the ongoing pandemic, food delivery becomes the only source that consumers can consider for their sustenance. That said, it is the utmost necessity to make sure that your customers receive their food products in the best state. They will want to receive it warm and fresh. For this purpose, you will need to work on the best food packaging processes to make sure that you keep up with their expectations.

Strong illustration and colors

Because minimalism will continue to dominate the packaging designs doesn’t mean that you have to stick with black and white. Even the most minimalistic packaging designs can have a mix of most vibrant colors. Apart from typography, you will also need to work on packaging designs and patterns.

Conclusion

The packaging designs in 2021 may be a bit different from what we have been using for the past many years. A lot of factors have resulted in these prospective changes. If you want to keep up with the latest packaging trends, you may want to stay in touch with your packaging suppliers and designers.