The value of the cardboard packaging market is growing quickly, especially with the rise of e-commerce and the key market trends during the Covid-19 pandemic. This demand for corrugated packaging has spurned the creation of new innovations, and the market is also witnessing new cardboard varieties and technologies. Overall, the trends pertain to more unique, stronger, and safer packaging for both the people that use them and the environment. To learn more, here are four cardboard packaging trends.
The Development of Micro Flutes
Corrugated cardboard is already a strong and dependable packaging material, and thanks to new industry developments, it keeps on improving. The current packaging industry trend is to reduce the overall weight, which resulted in the creation of micro flutes. Flutes are the corrugations in the cardboard in between the two outer layers known as the liners, while micro flutes then are a smaller variant.
Micro flutes are highly advantageous thanks to their light nature, strong durability, and the smaller spacing between them, which allows for greater print quality. They’ve already seen use for the packaging of lighter products and have already found a use for food packaging in restaurant and supermarket industries.
New Printing Techniques
Cardboard packaging is also experiencing new techniques for printing which include far more than just new colors. More dynamic specialty coatings are being experimented with that include unique color shifting and aromatic innovations that allow packaging companies to develop a more diverse range of packaging styles. One notable new printing invention is the water-based NanoInk, which is laminated directly onto the packaging without tearing it. Not only can it absorb light, but it is also more versatile and cost-efficient.
Safer Barrier Coatings
Packaging’s purpose is to keep products safe from contaminants, and as the years progress, its ability to do so has improved. The future of the packaging market will bring safer barriers with it. Enhanced coating techniques have evolved in recent times to create coating barriers that shield food products from contaminants by absorbing harmful particles. Additionally, the development and usage of nanotechnology have led to the creation of thinner barriers that require fewer resources to create.
More Sustainable Materials
Another improvement in barrier coatings is that they’re becoming more sustainable to create. However, that isn’t the only cardboard component becoming more environmentally conscious. Numerous innovations have been made in the realm of eco-friendly cardboard packaging materials, and new discoveries are being made all the time. For example, the peels of cocoa beans and the shells of edamame beans, which are normally discarded, are being recycled to create sustainable cardboard packaging. With the help of creative minds in the packaging manufacturers industry, the future of the packaging market is looking bright!
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