Kissel + Wolf’s Jamie Weller looks at the opportunities for growth in fibre-based packaging, fuelled by the material’s recyclability and printability, enabling quality graphics and strong consumer engagement.
The last few years have turned the local supply chain upside down and have challenged many businesses to adapt to new opportunities. Consumer preferences have shifted towards online ordering, sustainability, and instant gratification. To stay relevant and competitive, brands need to embrace these preferences and create new opportunities. Automation, security, and e-commerce are top of mind.
Packaging plays a vital role in shipping goods around the country and there is no doubt that fibre-based packaging is the leader among sustainable products. Fibre-based packaging improves resource efficiency by adopting renewable energy as a principle of sustainability. According to the Australian Packaging Covenant (APCO) over 60 per cent of all packaging is fibre-based paper/board and is the most common form of packaging used in Australia.
Above: Fibre-board materials have excellent printing and graphics capabilities supporting a wide selection of printing options.
"When it comes to the unboxing experience… the inside of the box, when thoughtfully designed and printed, can be used to wow the customer.”
THE BENEFITS OF FIBRE-BASED PACKAGING
Besides the environmental benefits of being made from renewable resources and recyclable, fibre-based packaging protects and transports goods safely around the country. It is used to display and promote products on the shelves. Packaging is lightweight, cost-effective to produce and protects from moisture.
Fibre-board materials have excellent printing and graphics capabilities supporting a wide selection of printing options such as screen, litho and digital printing.
OPPORTUNITIES
Brands are looking for alternatives, such as sustainable fibre-based packaging solutions. More importantly, they want to better engage with their consumers.
Eliminating plastic from multipacks such as canned foods or drinks and replacing it with fibre-based packaging is not only more sustainable but also offers additional room for messaging, resulting in better customer engagement.
More and more fresh produces are being packaged in fibre-based pack-aging, highlighting the commitment toward sustainable packaging.
When it comes to the unboxing experience of an e-commerce shipment, the inside of the box, when thoughtfully designed and printed, can be used to wow the customer, and make them feel good about the product they bought.
Custom printed mailer boxes are crucial for smarter and targeted messaging, helping the brand to stand out amongst others.
Demand for short-run printed boxes, preferably printed using digital inkjet printers with water-based pigment, is growing rapidly.
Printing barcodes and other security elements can be used for tracking & tracing and product identification. Augmented Reality (AR) is used to take the consumer on a customer journey, allowing them to further explore the product and services offered.
SMALL BUSINESSES
Branded, custom-printed packaging is helping businesses to promote their products and engage better with consumers. Small business owners are struggling with minimum order requirements and the huge upfront cost. Large orders can lead to huge amounts of wasted expense and a pile-up of excess stock. Packaging converters need to offer digital inkjet printing and digital cutting services, to grow together.
CHALLENGES FOR BOX CONVERTERS
Considering supply chain deficiencies, price increases in materials and global challenges around transportation, everyone is trying to do more with less. Keeping up with the local demand, the shift towards shorter production cycles, AR, and security are all challenges converters face these days.
Alongside their traditional printing methods, converters need to embrace an agile digital printing solution. This will allow them to minimise waste, reduce cost and improve customer satisfaction.
Demand for short-run custom printed boxes, preferably printed using digital inkjet printers with water-based pigment, is growing rapidly.
FIBRE-BASED PACKAGING SOLUTIONS
The opportunities for converters are endless and by adopting agile digital production, they will be able to pros-per and future proof themselves.
Kissel + Wolf Australia offers a complete end-to-end solution for its customers, AR activation services, finance through a preferred financier, and business consultancy services.
This article was originally published in PKN Packaging News magazine.