Role of Clean Label in Driving Changes in Packaging Materials and Designs

We have all seen labels on various packages, but do we really take the time out to read all the information that is provided in it? It might be because some of the information is not relevant or it could be that the amount of information is not sufficient enough. not only is it important to keep the food product simple in terms of the number of ingredients, but the names of the components also needs to be kept simple enough for the average customer to understand it easily. 

According to David Schmidt, CEO and President – International Food Information Council Foundation, a clean label is a term that the “food industry recently coined to describe the trend to reduce the number of ingredients that are used in the respective food product and to have the ingredient names to be more pronounceable for the average consumer reading the information on the labels.”However, this does not relate to the safety of the product so any component that is added to the food product must be approved by the FDA before it is brought out in the market. 

A clean label also means that the customers are familiar with the ingredients contained in the food or beverage. A “wholesome” perception of the product is achieved with the help of clean labels. The benefit of having uncomplicated ingredients and a simple information format is less regulatory hurdles that the product may be subjected to. This advantage becomes crucial when the product is marketed and sold in different regions around the globe. However, the decision to remove or add an ingredient in the product depends completely on the target market. 

But how does clean labelling have an impact on packaging materials and design? There are three ways in which clean labelling affects packaging for the respective product.

• If the contents of the product are modified, then the same has to reflect on the copy mentioned on the packaging. This would require a change in the packaging to accommodate the new information.

• “Transparency” is becoming a challenge for businesses as the packaging needs to strike a balance between visibility (for the product contained in the package) and protection. Too thin a layer would compromise the safety of the package. However, from a customer’s perspective, such transparency is quintessential to develop trust in the brand’s products, especially if the products belong to the F&B category.

• When it comes to packaging food product, the presence of anti-oxidants plays an important role in determining the significance of package for that respect product. Without appropriate quantities of antioxidants, the food product would become rancid, thereby spoiling it completely. For some products, the weaker the antioxidant preservative system, the more important the packaging becomes.

• Moreover, packaging requirements vary on the basis of distribution/storage systems. In accordance with this, products that are distributed in colder systems require less anti-oxidants as well as cheaper packaging due to the fact that rancidity slows down with decrease in temperature.

With changes in the contents and variations in the storage / distribution conditions, the packaging materials and designs would change in keeping with the specific requirements. Brands need to start using simplified information for their products as it would help them in reaching out to their customers in a better manner, in addition to overcoming legal hurdles in foreign markets. This is the power of clean labelling which is just beginning to be utilized to its full potential.

Over Packaging Can Make Your Customers Really Unhappy

Are you using excessive packaging that can be avoided? If this is the case, then might be making your customers very unhappy. Most businesses make the mistake of ignoring the views of the customers with respect to packaging. The times have changed today and the average customer has become more sustainability conscious than ever before. People notice every aspect of the product, including the packaging and without proper adherence to sustainable practices, you would only lose your customers. 

One of the most important areas that people often evaluate when they get a package is the amount of packaging material used. Too less or too much material can deter a customer from approaching the business again. It creates a negative perception in their minds about the sustainability of the package’s design. While under packaging may bring about issues in protection of the contents, excessive packaging would results in increased costs (shipping costs, packaging costs, etc.) in addition to frustration which is an obvious outcome if excessive materials are used. It would make packing as well as unpacking quite cumbersome. 

An example of excessive packaging which fails to justify the packaging needs of the product. (Source: sustainableisgood.com)

It only takes some effort and careful evaluation of the needs of the customers to come up with a packaging design that is not only sustainable, but also attractive and durable. Even if you provide excessive packaging materials, the customers will somehow find a way to put it to good use. For that matter, consumers today are capable of putting any packaging to use by using their creativity. For example, people clean up plastic containers to keep other stuff that you might require in the kitchen. Other use them as pots. I am not sure whether plastic containers work out well as pots, but if it works out, then it’s good. 

As a business, you need to understand the needs of the customers and address their concerns appropriately. While it is possible to reuse extra packaging materials, no one wants to have them in the first place. Investing in a good packaging design might appear to be a bit expensive initially, but in the long run, it will provide more benefits (including intangible benefits such as enhanced goodwill, increased brand value, etc.). 

Meet Neato Burrito – A Cool and Innovative Way to Pack Burritos

Every innovation is based out of necessity. Probably this has been the driving force behind the creation of the Neato Burrito packaging material. In response to IoPP’s 2015 48 Hour Re-Pack student design challenge, a group of students at Clemson University was tasked with reinventing taco and burrito packaging for easy, on-the-go consumption. They have done quite a splendid job.

Traditional aluminium foil wrappers are the most obvious choice for packing fast food and snacks. But the students at Clemson University decided to test their innovative capabilities and came out with a unique design that integrates the the dead fold properties of foil with the structural integrity of paperboard. The accordion style design of the package means that the walls collapse after every bite. This way, you can enjoy your burrito without worrying about creating a mess. 

(Source:Packaging of the World)

The open end of the package is sealed with a cardboard cap which needs to be popped open to access the burrito inside. You can also open up the entire package to have a sort of plate all to yourself. This is the next level of convenient packaging material that is pretty cool in terms of design and appeal. 

(Source:Packaging of the World)

One of the best features of this packaging design is that it is made from cardboard paper which makes this packaging material completely recyclable. Even the aluminium that is lined up against the internal surface can be recycled provided that it is clean and free from contaminants. The students have taken care to adhere to the demands for a sustainable design for the package which makes it a commercially viable packaging design. 

This innovation can be considered to be the tip of the iceberg. If a group of students can create something so amazing in just 2 days, then imagine what a team of packaging experts can come out with after proper and thorough research. The need of the hour is to come up with such designs that utilize minimum resources and ensure the utilization of eco-friendly materials without compromising on the functional as well as protective aspect of the package.

How DCG Helps You To Achieve Zero Packaging Inventory Costs

Manufacturers and ecommerce business have a regular demand for packaging materials in order to ensure delay-free delivery of the products to the customer. In such cases, buying the required packaging materials in bulk might appear to be a feasible solution. But this only contributes towards increasing inventory costs and increases stock management requirements. In this situation, you are losing money despite getting your packaging materials at really affordable prices. Is this a profitable scenario? Absolutely NOT!

DCGPAC has always been helping its customers with their packaging requirements by offering timely dispatch of products in the desired quantity so that they are able to achieve zero packaging inventory costs. Yes, this is possible and it has enabled businesses to save up considerably on their overall investments. By optimizing your order quantity and scheduling the delivery of the required materials, it is possible to gain from the minimization of stock maintenance / inventory costs, and by availing the benefit of periodic offers / discounts.

How does DCGPAC help you to achieve zero inventory costs (for packaging)? DCGPAC has its own warehouse where it has a massive collection of packaging materials, packing supplies, office stationery and much more. The presence of a warehouse enables the company to maintain a stock of the required products and dispatch them as per requirement. As a business, you can provide your entire requirement (quantity of products, product type, etc) and share the delivery schedule as per your preference. The company will dispatch the products as per the schedule to ensure that you get your requirements on time. 

This is a major benefit for manufacturers and businesses alike because they won’t be required to manage stocks at their own premises, which results in direct cost savings for the inventory and for the storage space that would have been required. A periodic delivery system is also beneficial for monitoring the demand and adjusting the order quantity in keeping with the demand. Many businesses have benefited from this arrangement and it is suggested that this approach be selected if a continuous need for packaging materials exists.