(Watch David Zwang’s complementary webinar here.)

Let’s start with the most important fact: all labels and all packaging are not equal, and as a result the opportunities, trends, and technologies can and will differ. That having been said, packaging in general is essential to both good and bad market conditions and it will continue to play a major role regardless of economic disruptions or regional conflicts. The use of more individual packaging in place of bulk is growing and online purchasing of goods has driven the demand for new packaging and repackaging options. This is driven to a great extent by the increasingly bifurcated retail market with the online channel growing at the expense of the brick and mortar, creating a need for packaging targeted at each of those channels.

Regardless of the market, this demands a focus on protective materials and appealing design choices that reflect an industry-wide commitment to ensuring products arrive intact, meet consumer demands, regulatory requirements, and align with broader corporate responsibility goals.