What are the latest trends and innovations in material handling and sustainable packaging?

2 Circular economy

Another key trend in sustainable packaging is the shift towards a circular economy, which aims to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency by designing products and packaging that can be reused, repaired, recycled, or composted. This approach can reduce environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and landfill use, as well as create new business opportunities and value streams. Some examples of circular packaging solutions include biodegradable or compostable materials, reusable or refillable containers, and modular or adaptable designs.

3 Smart and connected

A third trend in material handling and sustainable packaging is the use of smart and connected technologies, such as sensors, RFID, IoT, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, to enhance visibility, traceability, and control throughout the supply chain. These technologies can enable real-time data collection, analysis, and communication, as well as provide insights and feedback for continuous improvement and innovation. They can also help optimize inventory management, quality control, customer service, and sustainability performance. For instance, smart packaging can monitor product conditions, such as temperature, humidity, or freshness, and alert users or consumers accordingly.

4 Customization and personalization

A fourth trend in material handling and sustainable packaging is the demand for customization and personalization, driven by changing consumer preferences and expectations. This means that products and packaging need to be tailored to specific needs, preferences, or occasions, such as size, shape, color, design, functionality, or message. This can create more value and differentiation for customers and consumers, as well as increase loyalty and satisfaction. However, customization and personalization also pose challenges for material handling and packaging, such as complexity, flexibility, and scalability. Therefore, solutions such as digital printing, 3D printing, or smart labels can be helpful to enable customization and personalization at scale.

5 Social and ethical

A fifth trend in material handling and sustainable packaging is the growing awareness and concern for social and ethical issues, such as human rights, labor standards, health and safety, diversity and inclusion, and community engagement. These issues affect not only the workers and stakeholders involved in the supply chain, but also the reputation and trust of the businesses and brands. Therefore, it is important to adopt responsible and transparent practices and policies that ensure fair and respectful treatment of people and communities throughout the supply chain. For example, material handling and packaging can support social and ethical goals by using fair trade or certified materials, promoting worker empowerment and well-being, or supporting local or social enterprises.

6 Innovation and collaboration

A sixth trend in material handling and sustainable packaging is the need for innovation and collaboration to address the complex and dynamic challenges and opportunities in these fields. Innovation and collaboration can foster creativity, learning, and problem-solving, as well as leverage the strengths and resources of different partners and stakeholders. For instance, material handling and packaging can benefit from innovation and collaboration by engaging in research and development, co-creation, or pilot testing of new solutions, or by joining industry associations, networks, or platforms that facilitate knowledge sharing, best practices, or standards.