2018 has been a year packed full of drastic changes, both in our industry and in the wider world beyond. Whether you’ve switched on to the news this year or not, the events that have unfolded over the last 12 months have been inescapable - from the sharp twists and turns of Brexit to the bold political actions of President Trump.
But with 2019 now just around the corner, it’s time to cast our gaze towards the year ahead. Today, we’re looking at the packaging trends we predict we’ll be seeing more and more of next year.
Sustainability will prevail
The historical number of Google searches around eco-friendly packaging keywords
Mounting pressure from the general public, celebrity figures (David Attenborough, for example) lawmakers and international organisations to reduce single-use plastic in 2018 will undoubtedly roll over into the year ahead. Eco-friendly packaging is something many businesses had previously never even thought about but is now central to the debate around reducing our collective environmental impact.
Our range of eco-friendly packaging, while already large, is always being expanded - offering you the latest in compostable, biodegradable and generally planet-friendly packaging products. With an increasing number of companies - from fledgeling startups to corporate enterprises - now looking for ways they can cut down on waste, we can only imagine more innovative materials will make their way to market in the coming months and years.
Customisation will be king
Our custom packaging for Longsands Fish Kitchen
Every business wants to put their personal stamp on their products, but until recent years this was often seen as a luxury rather than a necessity. Now, in increasingly busy markets, small businesses can’t afford to miss branding off the packaging they’re giving out - be that coffee cups, fish and chips boxes or takeaway bags.
As a trusted partner of local businesses in the North East and beyond, we pride ourselves on providing affordable custom packaging solutions for SMEs, allowing them to deliver their brand messages to customers without breaking their often limited budgets.
Find out more about bespoke packaging and the services we offer right here, including branded coffee cup printing, eco-friendly materials and more. And if you’re wondering how you can embrace bespoke packaging in 2019, check out these awesome ways you can bring your products to life.
Ecommerce packaging will prove pivotal
When you’re not retailing your products from a brick and mortar store, your packaging is often the only physical aspect of your brand that a customer sees - and that makes it all the more important. Reliable, high-quality postal packaging will set your brand apart from competitors or, at the very least, prevent you from losing the trust of your customers. Products arriving damaged or excessively packaged can leave an unwanted, lingering first impression.
At R+R, we stock a variety of postal packaging options to get your products from A to B safe and sound. Browse the entire range online right here.
If you’re still using second-rate packaging in 2018, your time is up; there’s no space for sub-standard product packaging in 2019. Get in touch to speak with a member of the R+R team today about how we are able to fulfil packaging requirements for the year ahead.