Discover the new norms of packaging design in a post-pandemic world!

1. Post Pandemic
Packaging:
The New Normal
for Packaging Design
S L I D E S H A R E

2. Overview
• Progressing Packaging Trends
• The Post Pandemic Impact on Packaging Design
• The 5 Elements of Successful Post Pandemic Packaging Design

3. The recent pandemic has reshaped packaging trends across
a large range of industries.
As the world begins to emerge from the health and
economic crisis, we expect trends in packaging design to
shift and accommodate new norms.
To properly prepare for these changes, businesses need to
rethink the packaging design process with a range of “must
haves” in mind:
• Cost
• Convenience
• Performance
• Sustainability
• Hygiene
• Supply

4. Upcoming trends, pre-pandemic, were pushed into
focus during the crisis. As a result, key trends, post
pandemic, have grown.
Progressing
Packaging Trends

5. Hygiene and
Sustainability
Hygiene became a major focus throughout the pandemic
with the uncertainties that followed the COVID-19 virus.
While it may seem like sustainability has taken somewhat
of a backseat, it still remains a key industry trend with
hygienic packaging being worked into the requirements of
sustainable packaging solutions.
It is safe to say that the sustainable packaging trend is here
to stay, with hygiene reshaping the way businesses design
eco-friendly and sustainable product packaging.

6. The Rise of
Ecommerce
As a result of lockdowns across the world,
consumes heavily relied on digital platforms to do
their shopping.
With much of the retail packaging market
optimized for brick and mortar stores, businesses
needed to quickly adapt their packaging to
withstand shipping in order to serve their
customers through ecommerce.
Post pandemic, there is a much higher demand for
ecommerce products, leaving businesses to focus
on ecommerce ready packaging designs.

7. Changing
Consumer Demands
The pandemic has brought on major sales channel and
economic shifts.
With that, consumer behaviors have become more:
• Cost sensitive
• Health focused
• Convenience focused
These shifts in consumer behavior means businesses will
need to reevaluate their product mix, inevitably impacting
the product packaging designs.

8. Cost
Pressures
Cost pressure has already reshaped packaging by
promoting shifts to:
• Lightweight materials
• Waste reduction
• Cost efficiency
Cost pressures will likely continue to rise post pandemic,
resulting in more innovation to cutting costs for competitive
pricing and budget optimization.

9. The pandemic highlighted the importance of packaging
design and the important role it plays for businesses.
The Post Pandemic Impact
on Packaging Design

10. Consumer perceptions of both a product and brand, highly
depends on the packaging.
Packaging plays an important role in solidifying purchasing
decisions and brand differentiation both on shelf and online.
This is especially true post pandemic.
Consumers make fast purchasing decisions and packaging
is a great way to communicate important information about
a product in fast paced retail environments.
The Consumer
Decision Process

11. Cost Efficient Delivery
Systems
The world is experiencing an economic crisis due to the
effects of the pandemic, leaving businesses to make
conscious decisions on cost efficiency.
The primary role of packaging is to contain and protect
products.
Ultimately, it’s all about product integrity.
With ensured product integrity, businesses don’t need to
deal with the cost of recalls due to damaged products.

12. Meeting
Convenience
Needs
The change in consumer behavior prompted by the
pandemic, calls for a more convenient lifestyle.
Packaging design plays an integral role in delivering
convenient experiences for consumers.
For example, reducing the preparation time for food is made
simple by packaging ready-to-eat, pre-portioned meals.

13. It’s safe to say that the standards of good packaging will
continue to rise in response to the emerging new norms.
Businesses will need to adapt their packaging designs
quickly meet new demands in the midst of post
pandemic change.
The 5 Elements of
Successful Post Pandemic
Packaging Design

14. Keep Up with Trends
Developing a clear understanding of how trends affect
your target market will ensure you are quickly addressing
packaging demands post pandemic.
Develop a strategy that addresses the main priorities within
your niche to get a well rounded understanding of the range
of possibilities and implications of trends.
With a clear roadmap, businesses will be able to proactively
determine the changes needed for packaging design to
address new consumer demands and pain points.

15. Consumer Centric
Mentality
When introducing new designs of packaging and products,
it’s important to keep the safety of customers in mind.
With the rise in concerns for food safety, hygiene and
sustainability, businesses will need to address these issues
through packaging in a clear and concise way.
For example, making the switch from plastic to paper is a
great statement to building a more sustainable brand.

16. Ecommerce Ready
It’s safe to say that the domination of ecommerce is here to
stay.
Ecommerce is pushing even the most retail focused
businesses to offer their products and services online.
Businesses should develop a deeper understanding of what
ecommerce means for their packaging design, even if a
business is currently not serving the ecommerce market.
For example: switching from rigid set up boxes to corrugated
boxes to withstand shipping will increase the integrity
assurance and deliver the products to consumers safely.

17. The Sustainability
Narrative
Despite the pandemic, sustainability efforts continue to grow
behind the scenes.
Businesses should adopt and embrace the latest
innovations and smart packaging designs to address
sustainability efforts within their niche.
Take the time to compare and contrast packaging designs to
ensure it is optimized for:
• Waste reduction
• Recyclability
• Reusability
• Extended shelf life

18. Packaging design will gain more of the spotlight as
evolving trends continue to reshape business.
Successful post pandemic packaging needs to address:
• Cost
• Convenience
• Performance
• Sustainability
• Hygiene
With the right focus, businesses will be able to gain more
market share and transition smoothly through the new
norms that the post pandemic world will throw at our way!

19. Discover more packaging and
industry insights on our blog to
keep up with trends!