Consumers are complex, with powerful emotions and expectations that are influencing relationships and engagement with brands like never before. It is broadly believed that emotions are the basis for 80% of the decisions a person makes in a day1, yet—beyond marketing—few companies appropriately and intentionally act upon how and when emotions impact their customers’ impression of their brand.
Notably, while the use of plastic has soared, rising environmental consciousness has influenced the flexible packaging industry as product manufacturers adjust to align with Retailers and Corporate Social Responsibility. Shifts in consumer buying behavior has imposed pronounced restrictions as demand rises for more sustainable solutions across the board.1
According to research conducted in 2019 by McKinsey & Company, five major trends will severely influence packaging, demanding agility in innovative performance to navigate the pressure and potential disruptions to existing purchasing and processing practices over the next five to ten years1:
Materials, Closures and Automated Solutions
When discussing sustainability, it is important to acknowledge that packaging plays a critical role in purchase decisions, as packaging is often perceived as a direct indicator of value. Product and brand perceptions are built upon an array of cues including price, packaging material, color, environmental-friendliness, etc., and each of these cues provide a basis for consumers in establishing their impression of that product or brand.1
In selecting the plastic materials for our bag designs, Fox Packaging considers a number of variables based on how well they will protect, enhance and elongate shelf-life for various fresh produce items. Our long-standing research partnership with Michigan State University’s School of Packaging has allowed us to conduct a number of research trials to develop optimum packaging respiration levels and light-protecting designs that deliver industry-leading flexible packaging solutions.