Want to know what’s going to be big news in 2020? Antalis’s packaging experts give their top 5 predictions

There’s no doubt that we are living through changing times. And the world of packaging is no exception. Fortunately, our packaging experts have got a nose for the new and interesting; and their innovative thinking is second to none when it comes to helping businesses find solutions to their packaging challenges. Here’s what they are predicting will be big news in 2020:

1. Sustainable packaging

Sustainability, by necessity, will be a priority for every kind of business in 2020. Response to the environmental damage caused by plastics has been dramatic and swift, with industry, retail and the public alike embracing the message and working to eliminate plastic, particularly the single-use kind, in favour of more paper-based products.

But this shift throws up new sustainability challenges, which we will no doubt hear more about, and see movements to address, over the coming year. The crucial message for 2020 will be: not all plastic is bad and not all paper is good. It’s about making packaging choices that are right for your business and for the environment.

2. Reusable and returnable packaging 

Plastic packaging offers a number of advantages over paper. One of those is that it can be used time and time again. Todd Smith, Packaging Technologist at Antalis,  expects to see an increase in requests for reusable and returnable packaging: “In 2019, we worked with clients on some exciting, bespoke projects that address the issue of packaging waste by using plastic in the way it is meant to be used – not as something to be thrown away after one use, but using its intrinsically robust properties to create packaging that provides serious product protection and can be used over and over again. We anticipate that this kind of packaging will be big news for manufacturing businesses needing to transport tools and components to and from factories and sites around the world.”

3. More high street changes

It would take a brave optimist to claim that 2020 will be the year that the lacklustre British high street begins to show signs of recovery. However, Head of Business Development at Antalis Packaging John Garner believes that we will start to see changes that could set in motion a shift to a more sustainable physical retail format. According to John, stockless shops are going be big news in 2020: “Its clear that e-commerce is here to stay, but it’s fair to say that sometimes nothing beats touching, feeling and interacting with a product before making the commitment to buy. That’s where stockless shops will begin to bridge the gap between the traditional retail format and the new. Consumers will be able to check the fit, quality and colour of an item without then having to cart bags of shopping around with them; instead they will be able to order in store for delivery direct from the warehouse to their home. It’s how things have always worked with larger retail items, such as furniture, but we’ll see it broadening to smaller items, too.”

4. The future is here: drone and robot delivery services

While drones and robots might seem like science fiction, the reality is that they are very much science fact. Amazon originally announced news of its Prime Air delivery drone back in 2016, while in a guide published last month, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority refers to long distance drone operations becoming an ‘everyday occurrence’, with official trials scheduled for early 2020. As Britain’s roads become increasingly congested, drone and robot deliveries could help to take a little pressure off and ensure the goods get through.

5. A move away from heavily branded packaging

As in-store shopping continues to decline, senior Packaging Technologist, Jason Poxon, thinks we will also start to see a reduction in requirement for heavily branded packaging: “Because more and more items will be going straight from the warehouse to the home, there just won’t be the same requirement for heavily printed external or primary packaging. In addition to helping to reduce costs for product manufacturers and retailers, it will also mean less waste, which can only be good news from an environmental perspective.”

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