My Top 3 Predictions For Cannabis Packaging In 2020.

MJBizCon 2019 was an amazing success with up to 40k attendees. Read below my top 3 predictions for the industry and specifically for cannabis packaging in 2020.

1. Education

Whether your business is cannabis or hemp related, software, hardware, or ancillary, education seems to be at the forefront of where the industry is headed. Up until recently, the industry has operated in the shadows, and there have been more questions than answers. Now there is a real desire to provide accurate and fact-based information, which is a good thing for all of us in the industry. By thoroughly explaining products and services to consumers in simple and clear terms, the industry is finally able to be understood and taken seriously. When this happens, real innovation begins.

Over the next year we will see true advancements in breaking down complexities and translating products into mainstream information about safety--dosage, ingredients, and testing. Mainstream consumers will trust that products are safe and what it actually means for products to be safe to use. We here at tread global have focused on child-resistant product design and testing for the past 9 years. Click here to learn more.

In 2019 there was a lot of misinformation on the side of the public. With more focus on the facts, we believe consumers will be more connected and educated, and ultimately will be able to make better informed decisions, resulting in a more expansive and legitimate national industry.

2. Packaging Standards

As we are based in Colorado, we tend to think that cannabis compliance in other states and other parts of the world is just like it is here... it just isn't so. The US is a complicated place with state-by-state packaging and labeling laws. These laws are ever changing, and this is made more complex by cannabis regulations that can also vary across city, state and county lines.

Instead of waiting for mandates of up-to-date CR containers and packaging rules we predict some companies will proactively go beyond the current requirements and look to the inevitability of the future. We know many cannabis companies will not do this, but the more the industry matures, more leaders will understand that it is better to be ahead of the curve, than to be put out of business because they are lagging behind.

In 2020 we will see a few companies step up and take a leadership position on CR packaging, not because they have to, or because their customers are asking for it, but because it is the right thing to do.

Even though Canada has nationalized packaging standards that appear to some LPs, brands, and consumers to be boring and overly restrictive, (Most likely Mexico will adapt similar standards), we feel it is better to play it safe for a few years, than risk endangering children with "super branded" packages that may confuse users as to the nature of the contents. If you are interested in learning more about the progressive and compliant child-resistant packaging we do for many large cannabis companies, click here to set up a call.

3. Sustainability

I was fascinated by the many conversations regarding "sustainability". The term is in quotation marks because sustainability is such a complex topic. The deeper we go, the more controversial and confusing the term is. Many companies and governments want the industry to focus on sustainability, and in concept, we agree sustainable is better than the alternative.

Sustainability is complicated because it is not just about basics like using less material, the ability to be recycled, or distance that products are transported.

One definition states that, "Sustainability is a process that can be maintained at a certain level for as long as it is wanted". The question is wanted by whom?

Or another states, "Meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." But who knows what the future will hold?

We can all agree that a general definition of sustainability can mean that available resources should not be depleted faster than resources that are are naturally generated. And here is where is gets tricky... Depending on your point of view and where you live in the world, there are many elements humans need to agree on regarding sustainability for it to happen across the board including the economy, community, occupational groups, government policies, local environments, culture, and physiology.

The definition of sustainability is not simple, nor will it be easy if ever for societies and individuals to agree. But we do know that the more we focus on trying to make a difference, the more likely we will ultimately make a difference.

To learn more about how we are trying to make a difference in CR containers, click here to see our Can't Top beverage tops for Cannabis and CBD infused beverages. Our Eco-materials include biodegradable composites made from coconut husks, wheat straw, jute, and paper, as well as fully recyclable polypropylene, glass, and tin.

I should add that our 30 ml child-resistant topical pumps for lotions and sprays were a big hit at MJBiz this year. To get your order in before the end of the year, contact me 3035223292 or send a message.