packagePRINTING's Top 5 Online Stories of 2017
Credit: Pixabay by mohamed_hassan
If there’s one common thread through all that has happened in the packaging industry over the past year, it’s that the industry is evolving and embracing change. Changes in packaging formats with innovative materials, changes in printing technology and changes in how consumers interact with products have all made for a fascinating year in packaging.
These evolving trends and technological advancements have led to an industry full of curiosity for what the future will bring. And if 2017's top 5 most read online stories from packagePRINTING are any indication, stories of "what’s next" in packaging are what are resonating the most with you, the reader.
1. Why the Edible Water Ball Won’t Eliminate Plastic Packaging – April 14
There’s no denying that plastic packaging pollution is a problem throughout the world’s oceans, and plastic bottled water is contributing to that problem. So, by developing Ooho!, an edible water ball, it’s clear that creator Skipping Rock Labs’ heart was in the right place. But how realistic is it that these easily punctured water spheres can replace bottled options? Potential problems with packaging, distribution and hygiene could all become major hindrances in getting this product into the mainstream.
2. Why WestRock’s Connected Packaging Solutions Are a Big Deal – January 16
In the packaging industry, there are a few companies that have reached such a magnitude that any move they make draws the industry’s attention. As a massive player in the paperboard space, WestRock is one of these companies. In January of last year, the packaging conglomerate showcased its new Connected Packaging Solutions at the National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention and Expo in New York City. Interactive or intelligent packaging is still a nascent technology, but when a company of the size and scope of WestRock makes an entrance, there’s little doubt this is a big deal for the industry.
3. Flexing Muscle: Digital Printing Makes Inroads into Flexible Packaging Production – March 21
Originally appearing in our March 2017 magazine, this article details digital printing’s emergence in the flexible packaging segment of the industry. No longer a new technology, digital printing has been slower to come on board in some sectors of the industry for a variety of reasons. Though it still has a long way to go before catching up to the adoption rates in labels and folding cartons, digital printing has shown that it has serious potential to disrupt the flexible packaging space and provide similar benefits it has demonstrated in other packaging segments. This article shares the insights of two converters that have become some of flexible packaging’s earliest adopters of digital.
4. Folding Cartons Make the Digital Leap – February 23
Similar to story No. 3’s insight into flexible packaging, this article provides a look into how digital printing is impacting the folding carton segment. With multiple suppliers now offering digital press options for folding cartons, carton converters have more to choose from when deciding which press is right for their business. And with personalization, variation and cost-effective short runs now a reality, folding carton converters have multiple reasons to explore what digital printing can do for them and their customers.
5. First Sun-Activated, Color Changing Beer Can Hits Shelves – May 22
Coors Light was one of the pioneers of color-changing thermochromic ink, which changes colors along with the temperature it is exposed to. But this past summer, Coors looked beyond its signature blue mountains to cans that change color when exposed to sunlight. These color-changing cans were only available in Canada during the summer months, but highlighted an innovative seasonal promotion that leveraged the power of packaging.
