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From safeguarding products during transportation to capturing attention on store shelves, packaging is more than a necessity. It’s a way to appeal to your audience with branded retail merchandising that supports your overall marketing effort.
Knowing that packaging is essential at every point in the supply chain, choosing the right materials is vital. Corrugated materials are a versatile and sustainable packaging choice, catering to the diverse needs of industries like food, beverage and pharmaceuticals.
Its ability to provide lightweight, durable, and customizable packaging makes corrugated materials ideal for improving functionality and aesthetics.
As consumer preferences evolve, customization in packaging has become pivotal. Companies are rising to meet these competitive demands by using various materials, like corrugated packaging. How can your business put corrugated materials to use? Let’s discuss the creative global applications that make it a smart material choice.
Strengths of Corrugated Materials in Diverse Industries
Every industry wants efficient, high-quality packaging solutions, from food to pharmaceuticals and consumer packaged goods (CPG). Corrugated materials provide companies with a way to package their product so it’s well-protected and beautifully presented.
Beyond these overarching strengths, corrugated boxes have particular benefits for the food and beverage industry. Corrugated boxes provide a lightweight, durable solution for transportation, and they’re very hygienic. These lightweight boxes keep moisture away from the products inside. Corrugated boxes can protect produce and provide retail-ready packaging for beverages worldwide.
They can also be designed around the contents to minimize waste and are often made from recycled materials. The bespoke packaging material keeps costs down for beverage manufacturers and those distributing and selling food.
Another industry where corrugated materials can show off is pharmaceuticals. As the demand for pharmaceuticals grows in 2024, particularly over-the-counter medications and treatments, the need for reliable packaging is growing too.
Revolutionizing Retail-Ready Displays
Retail-ready packaging allows retailers to display products on a counter display, shelf trays, floorstands, or pallet displays. It also makes products easy to open and ready for shelf display. For example, candy is often displayed in retail-ready packaging.
Retail packaging and displays streamline operations, getting products to market faster by combining the distribution and retail processes. Corrugated materials make retail-ready displays and packaging easier by:
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Protecting consumer goods
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Saving warehouse space
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Being easy to customize
There are also certain logistical requirements for retail-ready packaging. Due to the complexity of inventory management at a big box retailer, it’s important that retail-ready packaging be easy to identify, open, replenish, and shop. Corrugated materials easily meet these requirements.
A global example of retail-ready packaging use is Starbucks. Their floorstands sell their trademark mugs and coffee grounds in-store and in other big box retailers, like Target and your local grocery store. They also use corrugated materials in other ways: customers can get hot coffee for the whole office in a corrugated box. Even the hot drinks come with sleeves made of corrugated materials.
Starbucks is a standout example of how retail-ready displays made from corrugated materials are a cost-effective, creative way to make your product stand out.
Customizable and Creative Corrugated Packaging for Brand Differentiation
Ensuring that your products stand out in-store is vital to your success. 72% of buyers say a product’s packaging affects their buying decisions!
Corrugated materials make it easy to customize your packaging to match your brand. You can make everything from the boxes you ship products in to shelf trays and floor stands designed to catch your ideal customer’s eye.
Many brands are leveraging the versatility of corrugated materials to design unique, eye-catching packaging that stands out on shelves and on the internet. As social media has become more prevalent, consumers experience eye-catching packaging in stores and online.
30% of people say they are more likely to share pictures and videos of packages they receive on social media if the packaging is visually appealing. Unique packaging is necessary in the digital age to gain a competitive edge, enhance your reputation, and get widespread exposure.
Balzac, a French fashion brand, nails customized corrugated packaging. When customers shop at one of their four locations, they take home their order in a corrugated box with the words “Toujours Plus Responsable” printed on the side. This means “Even More Responsible” and reflects the brand’s commitment to sustainability.
Their packaging is made to be social media friendly and encourages the creation of user-generated content, promoting brand awareness. By leaning into the versatility of corrugated packaging, they’re one of many brands moving into the future.
Future Trends in Corrugated Packaging
As we move into 2024 and beyond, consumers desire a more personalized food and beverage experience, and this includes packaging! Companies may make their branding more personalized with their packaging messaging and graphics or by allowing customers to customize product design. However, corrugated materials are cost-effective, even when they are customized.
Corrugated materials are also more sustainable, and consumers want products that align with their values. 85% of buyers say their buying decisions are influenced by whether packaging materials are sustainable or not.
The good news is that corrugated packaging is recyclable and is often made from recycled paper, making it a wise material choice for manufacturers and distributors aiming to be more sustainable. Minimalism in material use and smart label designs will increase this year, too, as companies aim to align their packaging with customer values.
Did you know that manufacturers are already coming up with creative ways to be more sustainable? An example of a food and beverage company taking advantage of corrugated material sustainability is No Evil Foods. They sell plant-based meat alternatives packaged in compostable corrugated boxes and decorated with plant-based ink.
Use Corrugated Materials to Optimize Your Manufacturing Processes
Corrugated packaging is a durable, flexible, and sustainable packaging solution. It provides product protection and is easily customized for retail packaging and displays.
York Container Company uses the best materials to create high-quality, corrugated boxes with innovative designs and optimal performance.
That’s why our brown box and graphic packaging solutions streamline supply chain logistics and costs with food and retail-ready displays. Learn more about what York Container Company can do for you.