Keep it on-trend
Staying on top of what’s trending and what’s new in the packaging world is important for eCommerce businesses. It’s a big part of the face you present to your customers, and the way they interact with it can have tangible effects. We’ve written about this in our blog: Getting Started: A Guide to Standout eCommerce Packaging and it’s worth saying again—don’t underestimate the power of packaging!
To stand out from the crowd, you’ll need to keep up with the latest packaging innovations. And these aren’t just fashion trends that affect how your products look when they arrive at a customer’s door. We’re talking about new materials, new methods, and underlying principles. Wrapping up your packages and putting them in the mail is a start, but to really have your brand shine it’s crucial to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas and customer preferences.
We’ve picked out three main points to highlight so you can ensure you’re up-to-date and bringing your A game to the customer experience of your product.
1. Make it reusable
One overarching trend in this industry—among many others—is a move towards more eco-friendly packaging. Research has shown that 82% of consumers value receiving recyclable packaging. Of those, 33% are willing to pay more for eco-friendly packaging.
There are many ways to become a more sustainable eCommerce business, and one of the most effective is this: create not only recyclable packaging, but reusable packaging!
This isn’t, of course, an entirely new concept. The resourceful amongst us will know how to wash out a zip lock bag to use again and again or save takeaway containers to put to use as lunchboxes, leftover storage, or myriad other things. But for a long time, packaging used for postage has tended towards single-use mailers and posting boxes.
In Australia packaging doesn’t get much more sustainable than the ability to live a second life. Send off your products in one of the latest packaging innovations like resealable mailers. Or take inspiration from Marie Kondo and give your magnetic closure gift box a second life for tidy storage.
2. Clean and simple design
All function and no form? That’s not the way we glow! The latest packaging innovations focus on design as well. A clean, simple, modern aesthetic is on-trend right now, with plenty of white space and not too much visual clutter.
Packaging that’s minimalist but high-quality conveys a sense of luxury and value. It also makes any messaging and branding on the packaging stand out. Clashing colours and crowded logos, patterns, images, and text can confuse the eye of the customer before they even get to the product. Clean, simple design on sustainable packaging—that’s the way we’re heading.
Minimalistic and modern doesn’t always mean plain white, of course! You can keep clean lines and a non-cluttered look while actively using colour. Just stick to one or two signature hues.
3. Consider plastic-free options
The good news is that there are many ways to reduce plastic in your packaging today. Replacing plastic poly mailers with compostable mailers can make a difference. And if you’re interested in making this simple but effective swap, take a look at our range of compostable mailers. Using tissue paper as wrapping and infill is also effective and makes your parcels a better experience to unbox (see our blog on the difference tissue paper makes to the customer experience).
The plastic-free ethos can even be carried right the way down to the tape you use to seal your boxes. One of the latest packaging innovations is biodegradable cellulose tape—sticky and sustainable! Or Brown Kraft Eco Tape which can be recycled straight with the box.
Eliminating plastics, particularly single-use products, is not just a trend. Many eCommerce businesses are finding alternative eco-friendly shipping and packaging solutions—not only to play their part in plastic waste reduction, but to keep up with the preferences of their customers. Shopify’s Future of eCommerce Report 2021 had 67% of respondents saying they’d be more likely to purchase products or services from a company with a good reputation for environmental responsibility.
So consider this when it comes to your eCommerce packaging: Keep it reusable where possible, keep it clean, simple and modern, and look at ways of making it plastic-free. If you’re looking for new ways to package your products, give our team of packaging experts a call to get free advice on what suits your products.
Offer your customers packaging that’s attractive, on-trend, and appealing to their sustainability preferences. We’re with you at every step.