With the recent advancements in various fields, brands have to consider smart packaging due to its increased functionality. But, they should also consider how people think about this packaging in terms of sustainability. In this age and time, plastic and non-recyclable materials are not a good option to go with. If you want to become respectable in society, you will have to look for better and eco-friendly options. According to recent research reports, smart and sustainable packaging can coexist and go harmoniously. But, it can only happen if brands acknowledge and recognize new trends. Following is a detailed discussion to see if they can go hand-in-hand or not.

What is smart packaging?

The new trend is smart packaging, and there are two types of smart packaging such as active packaging and intelligent packaging. Active packaging interacts with the contents present inside, and the main goal of this is to enhance the shelf life of the product. Thus, packaging has a direct contact with the product to release certain compounds that can either eliminate components from the immediate environment or enrich the medium. These elements may include ethylene absorbers, light filtering materials, oxygen absorbers, and many others. Similarly, intelligent packaging is the main tool for communicating with the outer world. This packaging can add indicator functionality. Moreover, it is useful for automation and marketing. It engages more customers and leads to higher sales. Hence, smart packaging is becoming a modern trend because of its endless benefits.

Why is smart packaging important?

Following are important benefits of smart packaging that have increased its value among brands.

Ensures quality of the product:

You can understand that the quality of the product matters a lot. No customer can buy a damaged or low-quality product. When it comes to the selection of products, people always look for better products that can meet their needs. There are various damaging factors for these products during shipping and storage. Therefore, brands have to take care of their products so that their products can reach buyers safely. Smart packaging has become important because it ensures the quality of the product. It comes with special features to release or eliminate certain components from the medium so that the product can remain safe. It has become the best packaging for food items as it increases shelf life. Moreover, it can monitor the quality and indicate if there is any problem with the product. Thus, it is the best packaging to ensure product quality.

• Empowers buyers

Nowadays, businesses have engaged more customers by empowering them. Do you know how it can drive sales of your products? According to facts, customers want to know about the product and its important features. RFID, QR code, NFC, and barcodes are important labels that can let the buyers get imperative details about the packaged product. In the case of food items, these labels may convey details such as energy values, nutritional benefits, and manufacturing ingredients of the product. Thus, they empower buyers and let them decide if the product is suitable for them or not. Ultimately, it benefits the business because customers consider it trustable and buy its products more than other brands in the market.

• Enhances food safety

Do you know about the different vulnerabilities of food items? Keep in mind that food items are more vulnerable to contaminants. Any contamination may severely impact their quality and make them unfit to eat. Therefore, brands have to make sure that their products reach the buyers without any contamination. This is the best benefit of smart packaging as it keeps the food items safe. It comes with airtight lids to prevent the entry of germs and other contaminants. When customers receive their products safely, they will laud the brand.

• Maintains brand reputation

Haven’t you seen people looking for products from a particular brand in the retail stores? It is a fact that people always prefer buying items from a well-recognized brand. Thus, all the brands use smart packaging because it maintains their brand reputation. It ensures the safety of the products and presents them nicely before the buyers. Ultimately, customers receive their bought items without any flaw. It increases the value of the brand, and customers consider repeat purchases.

What is sustainable packaging?

Don’t you know about sustainable packaging? This is the packaging whose resources, development processes, and outcomes are environmentally friendly. It doesn’t have any negative impact on the environment. Most packaging manufacturing materials are kraft, bux board, and corrugated. They are biodegradable and recyclable. They don’t accumulate on earth to create different issues. Hence, keep in mind that sustainable packaging is becoming famous because it is eco-friendly and less toxic.

Why is sustainable packaging important?

Following are some of the benefits of sustainable packaging.

• Environmental safety

The environment has to be safe so that all living things and humans can remain safe. Risking environment will mean that living things are at risk. Therefore, sustainable boxes have become the need of time because they ensure the safety of the environment. They decompose into simpler substances and don’t accumulate to create big piles of waste. Thus, environmental safety has made this packaging the most useful one.

• Respect among the buyers

Respect among the buyers is one of the important factors that can lead to higher sales. Never forget that if your brand has to sell more products, it should have more respect in the market. If it has environmentally-friendly policies, people will respect it. Therefore, sustainable packaging can help the brand become respectable among buyers. The increased customer base will lead to more sales and make the business profitable.

• Compliance with green standards

Compliance with the green standards is necessary if a business has to avoid different sanctions and disturbances. You must know that the world has started taking care of the environment and asked brands to contribute by staying in compliance with green standards. Sustainable packaging is compliant with green standards.

How smart and sustainable packaging go hand-in-hand?

There are different concerns of brands and buyers. We have seen that buyers need the best quality products without any damage. Other than that, they also want their environment to be safe and healthy. In this scenario, you have to consider sustainable smart packaging. You can’t go with smart or sustainable packaging only. Both types of packaging have to go hand-in-hand because you have to ensure the safety of the environment and the product.