Packaging design, like any other industry, regularly changes to meet consumer needs. Some trends are long-term, while others come and go.

Keeping up with CPG packaging trends will help you stay ahead of the competition. Factors such as aesthetics, features, and how packaging feels in one’s hands are important to consumers. Ensuring your CPG packaging strategy is constantly updating will help your brand remain relevant and keep your products in the minds of consumers. Here are five notable food packaging trends making waves in 2023 you'll want to keep your eye on.

Sustainable Packaging

Sustainable food packaging design is important to consumers. This trend, also known as green packaging, has been around for a while and continues to grow. Per Grandview Research, the global green packaging market size is predicted to increase to $503.43 billion by 2030.

Green packaging uses materials that are eco-friendly. These include paperboards, edible packaging, and materials that are completely recyclable or reusable. The aim is to reduce landfill waste and the carbon footprint caused by more traditional packaging materials (i.e., plastics).

Sustainable solutions are degradable. This means they naturally degrade over time and don’t end up as waste.

Both companies and consumers are becoming more concerned about the environment. These concerns are driving market demand for sustainable packaging. Environmentally conscious consumers seek out brands that use sustainable materials in their packaging designs.

Minimalistic Design

Minimalism is a trend that continues to grow in 2023. When it comes to CPG packaging, sometimes less is more.

Brands are using minimalistic packaging designs to characterize visual aspects of their packaging and call attention to specific features. Here, designers use only elements necessary to entice consumers and leave out those that aren’t.

This practice places focus on color and typography, enabling brands to create clean food packaging designs with product information that’s clear and easy to read.

Bold Typography

Bold typography is already showing up in a wide variety of graphical packaging designs. This trend is expected to grow in 2023 with the use of bold fonts to draw attention to CPG packaging on store shelves. It can also help build brand identity.

Bold typography works well for minimalist packaging designs where a brand wants to use text rather than images to tell a story. There are many different fonts to choose from. This gives brands many ways to be expressive.

Bold typography emphasizes text and makes it easier to see. Consumers will be able to spot it quickly and from afar when perusing store shelves.

Bold fonts are also important when you need to communicate product information like ingredients, possible allergens, and regulatory details. Today’s consumers are diligent when making purchasing decisions, so food packaging design matters more than ever.

Interactive Packaging

Interactive packaging is a trend that’s been around for a while and is now growing exponentially. Globe News Wire reports the market for this type of packaging design is growing at a rate of 8.3%. They predict it will reach a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of $29.4 billion by 2032.

Interactive packaging enables consumers to interact with the packaging or product in a personal way. It includes active, smart, and intelligent packaging, and it’s capable of extending product shelf life.

Interactive packaging design is extremely useful in the food industry. This is why it’s the largest industry for this type of CPG packaging.

Active packaging responds to atmospheric changes, both inside and outside the packaging. This can differ from one food product to another.

Active packaging extends shelf life by influencing processes. These include ripening (where produce is concerned), oil or fat oxidation, and spoilage due to bacteria.

Smart packaging uses technology to improve the consumer experience. It’s the umbrella for different types of packaging that achieves the same or similar goals.

Reusable packaging, for example, is a type of smart packaging because it enables the consumer to reuse the container after the product is removed. Technology may allow the tracking of the packaging to discover its environmental impact.

Intelligent packaging uses technology to focus on certain applications of the packaging design. Connected packaging is a form of intelligent packaging as it uses technology like QR codes to connect to the internet via links, social media pages, or review sites. It allows consumers to read digital content, answer questions, play games, or perform specific tasks or activities.

Use interactive packaging to provide valuable information about food products, appeal to the values of consumers, and connect consumers to what matters to them. It’s also useful for product tracking, inventory, and increasing product authenticity.

Personalized Packaging

Personalized packaging is customized with the consumer in mind. It includes special touches that set your brand apart from the competition and speak directly to your consumers.

You can personalize your CPG packaging in many ways. These include placing a “thank you” note inside to show your appreciation to the consumer, using branded packaging materials, creating custom messaging, and illustrating brand values like sustainability and quality.

Personalized packaging makes a great first impression on consumers and increases their loyalty to your brand. Colors, fonts, images, and messaging can all help to elevate the unboxing experience. Using quality packaging designs and materials can also help enhance this process for consumers.

Conclusion

Food packaging design trends are always evolving. Considerations like sustainability, minimalistic packaging designs, and personalized touches can really make a difference with consumers.

Keeping up with current trends helps your brand remain relevant and places you on the cutting edge of new packaging design. It also shows consumers you care about what they want and need, and it shares their values that matter most.

PKG Brand Design is always at the forefront of new CPG branding and packaging initiatives. Subscribe to our blog for the latest package design industry news!