Ever wonder what the most boring gift one could get would be? A mug appears to be universally regarded as a fairly dull gift option to most people, although everyone’s definition of “boring” might vary quite a little. However, on the flip side, it is not because a mug or cup is seen as worthless that it is viewed as a less interesting choice; rather, it is precisely due to its tremendous usefulness and essentiality that nearly everyone already had at least two of it (one for home and another one for workplace)!
Anyway, days of boring mugs or cups could be coming to an end soon, with the growing popularity of smart mugs/smart water bottles nowadays given their declining costs. This provides yet another intriguing reason to keep reading to learn more about the significance of drinkware packaging and the business prospects that come with it!
Table of Contents
The importance of drinkware packaging
Major trends for drinkware packaging in 2022
A quick wrap-up
The importance of drinkware packaging
Much like the packaging for all other general products, the main purpose of packaging for drinkware is to protect the content. Adequately packaged drinkware is crucial in guaranteeing beverage hygienic security, on top of protecting the drinkware from any unwanted breakage, scratch, or crack.
The present emphasis on health and safety that has emerged over the last few years has propelled the drinkware packaging makers to meet those stringent goals in packaging requirements. And the ability to fulfill those goals is closely associated with the brand identity of the makers as well.
The rapid growth of industry estimates derived from numerous studies is an indication of the significance of packaging in the drinkware sector. For instance, one report in 2018 predicted that the global drinkware market would grow at a 3.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between the 2019 to 2025 forecast period, reaching $4.79 billion. Fast forward to 2022, a separate international market research firm raised the prediction to $13.4 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 4% from 2022 to 2027.
Major trends for drinkware packaging in 2022
Custom cardboard packaging box
According to research, the global custom boxes market will reach $71 billion by 2032 and increase at a CAGR of 4.4% between 2022 and 2032. Food and beverage packaging is the main end-use category driving this expansion, and the key trend driving this market growth is identified as the brand value that custom packaging may offer.
Indeed, most standard or ready-made packaging may hardly accomplish the intended brand strategy. Instead, custom packaging is tailored to match specific business needs.
The need for custom packaging is also being driven by the emergence of unconventional drinkware sizes or shapes, including those with accessories such as straws, handles, and lids. Thankfully, with the advancement of printing techniques such as improvement in CMYK printing and the decline in production costs, both sizes and designs are now customizable, be it for a square box, rectangle box, or tube packaging.
In line with the marketing and branding strategy of a business, customized packaging designs for drinkware gift sets or a full set of drinkware are also made possible, such as the one depicted in the picture below.
Sustainable packaging
According to global research, online searches for sustainable products have increased worldwide by 71% over the past five years. Sustainable options are definitely growing consumer preference as proven by multiple studies. To the drinkware packaging industry, however, the quest for sustainable packaging can be even more apparent year by year.
As the majority of drinkware such as glass bottles, mugs and tumblers are made of fragile materials like glass and ceramic, the level of protection that a drinkware packaging can offer continues to be the primary concern of both the manufacturers and the customers. Meanwhile, in order to accomplish its protective goal, most product packaging for delicate goods tends to be fairly bulky, considerably larger than the actual goods themselves to provide the utmost protection they are designed to. As a result, such packaging often leaves the end-users with lots of unwanted packaging waste that can be really unfriendly to the environment.
For this reason, sustainable packaging such as corrugated cardboard for drinkware can help to save the environment from huge packaging waste. According to Fibre Box Association (FBA), a non-profit trade association that represents corrugated packaging in North America, corrugated material can protect fragile goods fairly well through its structural rigidity that provides cushioning effects. Meanwhile, as shown in the picture below, holographic finishing packaging is probably the solution to the common perception that corrugated cardboard packaging can be relatively boring with its standard typical brown or white color.
Drinkware packaging made from kraft paper, on the other hand, is another eco-friendly, recyclable material for a solid packaging choice to serve the sustainable drinkware packaging purpose.
Transparent packaging
When it comes to food product packaging, transparency has always been a favorite among consumer goods. And the projected growth of the worldwide transparent food packaging market at a rate of 4.4% from 2022 to 2029 continues to prove that transparent packaging is the preferred option for many companies to showcase the authenticity and quality of their products.
At the same time, transparent packaging helps to convey brand value while saving on the packaging design fee, since the product itself serves as a great design when being presented transparently.
For example, drinkware can be displayed in a fully transparent coffee mug packaging box, which showcases the product from every angle. Alternatively, it can be in a partially transparent form such as this drinkware packaging box with a transparent cover or transparent window, as shown in the picture below.
A quick wrap-up
Drinkware packaging today serves a significant purpose in brand value communication in addition to its conventional protective role in shielding items from breakage and hygienic concerns. In a nutshell, custom packaging, sustainable packaging, and transparent packaging are the top three drinkware packaging trends to look out for this year. Essentially, packaging for drinkware is currently aiming to be more ecologically friendly, customized, and brand-oriented. Wholesalers might explore these developments to benefit from their expansion. To understand more about top packaging trends, check out the Alibaba.com Reads page.
