With Labelexpo Americas only days away, packaging industry experts are focusing on the “how” of label design and production. That is as it should be. But label and packaging pros should also be aware of market forces. Lately, product label transparency is one such force. I don’t mean literal transparency. iC3D does give designers the ability… Read more
Packaging Design Opportunities for Commercial Printers?
I have been involved with the printing industry for over four decades. The smell of ink and paper still takes me back to my first apprenticeship in Naples, New York. My nostalgia fuels a desire to see printers succeed, even when the tide of digital and economic change is against them. Despite predicted growth in… Read more
Smart Packaging – Are We Ready?
As the consumer product supply chain becomes more sophisticated, we find new ways to make packages better. Sometimes the changes—like food safety or RFID tracking—have little impact on a package’s appearance. But other developments in smart packaging can have a profound impact on design. Consumer Product Companies (CPCs) need to be ready. CPC brand managers’… Read more
Packaging Sustainability: How to Make the Right Decisions
When it comes to environmental sustainability, consumer product packaging often has a bad reputation. After all, landfills do contain plastic packaging that will take eons to disintegrate, and the debate over oceanic “garbage patches” rages on. Consumers are increasingly sensitive to packaging sustainability issues—to a degree that affects their purchase decisions. It’s not always a… Read more
Food Packaging Companies’ Size Dilemma
Brand owners have many challenges when it comes to food packaging—not the least of which is the recent increase in different package sizes for the same product. A recent Dieline blog pointed out that changing consumer habits and demographics have led to rapid growth in multiple sizes for food products. This poses problems that require… Read more