As 2021 winds down, we look forward with excitement at what’s to come. With a new year comes fresh new ideas in the packaging industry, and as a packaging solutions company, we keep a close eye on trends so we can best serve our customers.

For a prediction post, we suppose that does give us an unfair advantage — we’re bringing some insider knowledge to the table. But it’s our goal to have that knowledge benefit your business, enabling you to stay one step ahead of everyone else.

With that, we present our packaging predictions for 2022.

Growth in Sustainable Packaging

We’re in the midst of a green wave, where consumers are more conscious than ever of their environmental impact. Many prefer to buy from businesses that walk the walk where sustainability is concerned. As such, more companies are doing what they can to use less energy, create less waste and reduce their carbon footprint.

In 2022, we expect this trend to ramp up significantly. As companies aim to increase their appeal with consumers and keep pace with competitors, they’ll turn to sustainable packaging options that cut out waste and use recycled materials.

In addition, you’ll likely see even more businesses move toward high-efficiency packaging that better fits the products inside. Those that take a more sustainable approach will not only get to tout their green bona fides — they could actually save some money, too.

More Minimalist Packaging

You don’t have to travel back in time to find packaging that goes a bit overboard. Some businesses today are still piling it on with exorbitant amounts of styrofoam padding, packing peanuts, plastic wraps and tape.

From a sustainability perspective, these practices aren’t very environmentally friendly. But putting that aside for a moment, all the extra material is annoying to deal with for consumers who just want to open a package and get to their product.

We see 2022 as the year more companies finally embrace simplicity. Overstuffed boxes will start to take a backseat; instead, businesses will put as few obstacles between the buyer and the product they purchased.

Giants like Apple and Amazon are already pushing hard in this direction, and it can’t be a coincidence that these two companies routinely hit high marks for consumer satisfaction. Next year, we expect a lot more sellers and shippers to follow suit. 

Increased Focus on the Unboxing Experience

There’s something magical about opening a package — especially when it contains something you’ve really been wanting. It’s like lifting the lid on a treasure chest to find an item within that’ll make you more stylish, or more productive, or just help you feel more complete.

There’s a reason unboxing videos are immensely popular on YouTube these days: people love opening new things. That aforementioned magic is real, and some will live vicariously through a YouTuber to feel it if necessary.

Many companies don’t give the unboxing experience the attention it deserves. In 2022, however, we believe that will change. More businesses will devote time to the finer details, such as the way a product is presented when the package is opened, and how nicely designed the inside of the packaging is versus the outside.

A nice unboxing can wow a consumer and make them feel like they’ve made a great purchase. More companies will undoubtedly want to create that feeling.

Get Ahead of the Curve with Victory Packaging

You’ve read our predictions for 2022, but you don’t have to wait until then to jump on these trends. Victory Packaging can help you right now, whether you’re looking for sustainable packaging solutions or packaging design that instills joy in your customers.

Contact Victory today to learn how we can transform your company's packaging.