2021 Packaging Trends

2020 is finally coming to an end. It’s been a long year and one that brought many new trends and some necessary changes for packaging across all industries. Some of these trends and changes are here to stay for 2021:

E-Commerce

E-commerce is not a new concept. However, before this year, not all industries or companies considered e-commerce as a factor when they create their packaging as they only sold their products in-store. Now, with shopping online being the most comfortable option for most consumers after this year, many more brands have had to adapt their packaging to ensure that it stands out on the screen and that it reaches their customer intact. Although we don’t exactly know what a post-pandemic world looks like yet, we know that the convenience of e-commerce is here to stay.

Interactive Packaging

We’ve discussed interactive packaging, or smart packaging, in many of our blog posts as a popular technology spreading fast in the packaging world. A perfect tool to connect with your customers or offer extra value through a platform of content, tips, and so on, interactive is growing to add even more features in 2021.

Personalization

A strong trend for the last few years, personalization is a great way to increase customer engagement and connection. From mass personalization to one-of-a-kind personalization, there are countless options to attract potential customers through targeted design.

Storytelling

Building a connection with potential or current customers has become incredibly important, particularly after this year. Telling a story through your product and/or brand and making your packaging intentional can make a huge impact. Many consumers are getting more selective about which brands they’re purchasing from and truly care about the brand’s purpose and what they stand for.

Sustainability

Another strong trend over the last few years, sustainability still holds high importance to consumers when making a purchase decision. With hygiene at the forefront of consumer minds, brands need to develop creative ways to incorporate sustainability into their packaging while keeping hygiene a top priority.

In addition to these packaging trends, there are many expected designs to dominate the industry in 2021. Some of these are bold colours, minimalism, and flat illustrations, a practical and cost-effective alternative to 3D or multi-textured surfaces.

If you're interested in learning more or upgrading your packaging, you can reach out to one of our packaging specialists through our contact form or request a quote online!