Why is glass so popular?

The move to glass packaging has been one that has taken many industries by storm. With brands and businesses becoming more sustainably and ethically aware, there has been a drive for big changes in consumer packaging. But why has glass become so popular?

Glass is regularly used for packaging due to its ability to be recycled endlessly without losing its grade or purity. It offers multiple benefits, such as not containing any harmful chemicals like BPA that most plastics do. Due to the nature of glass, chemicals are stopped from being released into its contents. This means that the product will retain its taste and flavour for longer. Glass is also ideal for pharmaceutical and chemical packaging since it has a balanced composition and does not react. These factors are all essential for the safety of the consumer, however, it is also important for brands to consider their product's visual appearance. Luckily, glass is an easy and versatile choice for branding.

The role packaging has over a product, is to communicate a brand's message. Different decorations can boost a product's marketing ability whilst showing the consumer, who they are and what they do. There are many ways this can benefit glass products and you can often see various trends emerging each year. The glass industry is constantly finding new and innovative ways to reinvent itself.

Designs vary per sector. Food and drink companies do not think along the same lines as those in health and beauty. The skincare industry is set to grow 4.4% by 2025, with the attention consumers have been focusing on being natural and organic ingredients. This has pushed brands to move towards the ‘glassification’ trend and change their packaging to match this ethos.

Did you know that over 70% of purchases are made almost instantaneously and a product on the shelf has less than three seconds to grab the attention of a consumer? On top of that, around 57% of consumers are willing to change their purchasing habits to help reduce negative environmental impact.

A lot of trends come back around; we’ve seen it happen plenty of times in the fashion industry.

At the start of 2022, these are just a few of what we started to notice creeping its way back into the world of branding:

1960’s psychedelia

Distorted typefaces, iconic patterns, and pops of colours are back. Bringing a sense of nostalgic joy, peace, and love back to our shelves and catching the consumer's eye once again.

Minimalist packaging

On the opposing side to the previous point. Minimalistic designs have been a popular choice for many brands. Consumers have been showing more interest in products with reduced packaging recently, to reduce waste. However, just because a design is minimal, doesn’t mean it is simplistic.

Neutral tones

Sustainability has been a high priority amongst brands and consumers alike for the past few years. Choosing to use neutral tones, like greens, browns, whites, and blues, give off a warm and organic feel, helping to link a brand's name with its ethos.

QR ready

We all saw QR codes widely used at the start of the pandemic. Many of us thought they would come and go; however, it looks like they are here to stay. With the power of our phones today, it seems silly to waste the potential of combining them with packaging ideas. Whether it's leading the consumer to further information or making them a part of the brand, QR codes are here for the long run.

Transparent packaging

Glass is already a great option for letting the consumer see what exactly they are getting. Though, this can sometimes be masked with labels. This is not to say that labels aren’t important, as they are crucial for getting important information about the brand. However, now there is an option to combine transparency with the labels, offering the best of both worlds. Again, something we think we will see a lot more of in the better half of 2022.

At Rawlings, we want to work alongside our clients to create the best overall product with maximum shelf appeal. We offer the skills and expertise to help build on current ideas or develop something from scratch. Our services can vary depending on what you need, from planning to sourcing, customising and logistics, and supply forecasting, so just let us know what you need from us. Find out more about what we can do for you here. There is no product too small in our eyes, just big ideas.