We are taking a look at the new trends that will define the packaging of online businesses in 2021 and, as everything shows, the ecological-sustainable approach that has already begun in the previous years is going through the roof this year!
Biodegradable packaging
Environmental responsibility will be one of the main trends again this year, as the international community is now aware of climate change and consumers in their majority have turned to products that do not harm the environment. Therefore, companies too are called upon to fulfil a moral duty which brings them closer to this audience by choosing sustainable packaging.
Thanks to technology, we can now use bioplastics, organic materials that look like plastics, such as potato starch, corn starch or beeswax. But, apart from these, there are also cheaper options, such as cardboard boxes, which take only 1 year to biodegrade, compared to 150-1,000 years for plastic ones. In addition, these materials have the lowest environmental impact as their CO2 emissions are reduced by up to 60% compared to other materials. Another strong point of biodegradable packaging is the easy and convenient way it can be recycled.
As early as 2020, we saw more and more companies replacing their packaging with an ecological alternative and, as it seems, this trend is going to prevail in 2021.
Reusable and returnable packaging
Another strong trend that is becoming increasingly popular is the reuse. Once packaging has completed its function, it is ideal to be able to be reused for another purpose. In fact, from a creative point of view, in this way the consumer has the opportunity to create something new!
Another option given by this type of sustainable packaging is to return it. Many companies have been in the process of creating packaging collection points where, once used, packaging is returned to the same company for reuse. This helps reduce the environmental footprint caused by logistics systems. According to a study by Research and Market, the use of returned packaging will increase by 9.3% per year by 2026. Apart from their ecological implications, this packaging also stands out for its low production costs.
The simpler, the better: Say more with less
Simplicity as a trend, especially in the field of packaging is not something new. And this year, users will keep on looking for the simplest packaging, with minimal design. A very common mistake that companies make while trying to impress their customers is to "overload" their packaging with useless information, eventually bringing the exact opposite result.
It is important to remember that a brand should not confuse its buyer, but facilitate the purchase decision. Public have been so fed up with information overload that they appreciate more the designs which can convey calm. In addition, a minimal designed packaging focuses on what matters most. That is, its content.
It is a fact that many people associate complexity with luxury. Indeed, a few years ago, only premium brands used packaging with minimal aesthetic. Today, this seems to have changed and simplicity is becoming an advantage for many more companies that decide to redesign their packaging.
Unboxing: The absolute branding experience
Most of us are now familiar with the concept of unboxing, which is a proof that customer experience has finally taken precedence over the promotion of a product. Thanks to the frantic development of e-commerce and online shopping, shipping packaging is one of the first elements of brand communication with customers. When someone receives their package at home, they are overwhelmed with a feeling of joy and desire to open it. So the main goal for a company is to win them in those few seconds between the receipt of the package until its opening. In order to achieve the above goal, it is important that packaging is original, impressive and memorable. Contemporary consumers are used to ordering online and expecting their products at home, so they do not have so much contact with the brand since they don’t visit the physical stores or talk to staff and this harms the overall shopping experience. The solution is given by the packaging and the whole unpackaging process which increases customer loyalty and engagement and, more importantly, further strengthens the brand itself.
5. Size does matter
This latest trend is closely related to the "Zero Waste" philosophy. More and more consumers demand products, adapted to their own individual needs. This is why brands have adapted to the demands of society, creating special items and packaging for each type of audience. The consumer who lives alone, for example, has completely different needs from a large family. This is the reason individual packages are constantly increasing in stores as well as in supermarkets. The same is true for e-shop packaging, where customers now request a wide range of sizes depending on their purchases. In other words, they want the boxes in which the items are contained to be of a similar size to their contents, because otherwise the material will be unnecessarily wasted.
In short, packaging trends for 2021 have great ethical, aesthetic but mainly environmental implications. Now, all that is needed is for large companies to comply with these requirements, contributing in turn to the massive effort to make our planet a better and safer place.
