Food packaging: how and what to do to win customers over

The world of food packaging is undergoing a true revolution, driven by an extremely promising protagonist: paper. Packaging: paper is the fastest-growing food packaging material. As environmental concerns rise and consumers become increasingly aware of their choices, the food packaging industry is shifting toward sustainable and innovative solutions. In this context, paper emerges as the fastest-growing material, bringing a range of benefits that go far beyond environmental sustainability. Read also: “Reducing the environmental impact of packaging: what Europe mandates” Sustainability comes first One of the primary reasons paper is experiencing strong growth as a food packaging material is its eco-sustainability. Unlike traditional plastic packaging options, paper is biodegradable and compostable. This characteristic not only reduces negative environmental impacts but also meets the demands of a market increasingly focused on sustainability. Consumers actively seek products that reflect their ecological values, making paper an attractive option for brands wishing to stand out. Saying goodbye to plastic has become more and more important for modern consumers, and paper packaging is rapidly becoming the answer to this need. An increasing number of Italian families are embracing the idea of more sustainable packaging, with 65% in 2022 choosing a product specifically because of its eco-friendly packaging. Meanwhile, 19% gave up on buying a product due to its unsustainable packaging. Versatility and adaptability Paper offers high versatility, adapting to a wide range of packaging needs. From bags to boxes, and from tissue paper to folding containers, paper lends itself to multiple applications without compromising food quality or safety. Its flexibility allows packagers to create tailor-made solutions that meet the specific preservation and presentation needs of each product. According to research by Nomisma, the trend toward paper and cardboard is not just about beverages, but is gaining ground in every food sector, from fruit and vegetables to frozen foods. This reflects a significant cultural shift, with consumers placing higher value on packaging sustainability in every single part of their shopping cart. The power of recycling Italy has proven to be a powerhouse in recycling, generating 1 billion and 525 million euros in environmental benefits in 2021 through packaging recycling and recovery, according to the Conai Sustainability Report. This not only helps to save raw materials but also significantly reduces primary energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Italy, already a European leader in per capita packaging recycling, is in a privileged position to guide Europe toward a more sustainable future. Protection and freshness Contrary to common perception, paper is not just a sustainable choice, but also offers effective protection for food. Thanks to advancements in paper production technology, it is possible to develop solutions that maintain food freshness, protecting products from external factors such as light and moisture. This translates into longer shelf life for food products and a reduction in waste. Beyond practical aspects, paper also helps enhance the consumer experience. Its tactile and visual nature creates a unique sensory experience, evoking a sense of authenticity and connection with the product. Brands can leverage this feature to communicate their commitment to sustainable practices and create an emotional bond with consumers. Cart-One has always been a promoter and implementer of the circular economy—the produce-consume-regenerate-recover model—ensuring that our production waste becomes a paper reel and, ultimately, a box once again within our facilities. We firmly believe in protecting the environment, which is why we pay the utmost attention to saving raw materials and continuously improving our production processes, aimed at reducing our impacts on water, air, and soil. Contact us for more information or to request a free quote for your packaging. Cart-One specializes in specific packaging for companies that produce and sell pasta, water, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages such as beer, fruit, vegetables, canned tuna, milk and dairy products, sweets, and chocolate. Together, we will find the solution best suited to your needs. To learn more: “Sustainable and recycled paper for product packaging: case studies”

Good packaging with proper labeling plays a key role in the commercial success of a product. But how do you start designing it if you are still a beginner? Product packaging and labeling: a beginner's guide. Great packaging design combined with an informative and effective label can help you stand out from the competition and create an exceptional buying experience for your customers. Follow this beginner's guide and start creating high-quality packaging and labels for your products. Read also: “How to find the best packaging for your product” How to design packaging from scratch Designing packaging from scratch can seem like a challenge, but with the right approach and a bit of creativity, even beginners can achieve satisfying results. Here is a series of tips to help you out: Understand your product and target audience: consider your product's unique features, its size, shape, and value proposition. Also, analyze your target market, their buying preferences, lifestyle, and current market trends; Conduct market research: evaluate what works and what doesn't, so you can create a design that stands out from competitors. Look for inspiration in other sectors or broader design trends as well; Define your brand identity: ask yourself what your company's values, style, and personality are. Consider the colors, fonts, and graphics that best represent your brand and resonate with your audience; Choose packaging materials and structure: keep protection, functionality, and aesthetics in mind. You can opt for cardboard, glass, or eco-friendly materials, depending on your preferences and brand values. Decide on the shape and structure, taking into account practicality and visual display; Create an eye-catching design: look closely at the layout, colors, graphics, and visual elements. Ensure the design is consistent with your brand identity. Use relevant images, illustrations, or graphics that catch consumers' attention and convey your product's message; Include essential information: such as the product name, brand logo, instructions for use, safety warnings, and any other relevant details. Information must be clear, readable, and strategically placed on the label; Test and optimize the design: build a prototype of your packaging and gather feedback from potential customers or a focus group. Evaluate readability, visual appeal, and functionality. Make changes and improvements based on the feedback received; Partner with industry professionals like Cart-One: if you feel unsure about designing packaging from scratch, consider collaborating with industry experts. You can rely on a specialized company like ours, with specific expertise, ensuring professional and top-tier results; Be aware of regulatory restrictions: certain sectors, such as food, pharmaceuticals, or personal care, may have specific regulations regarding packaging and labeling. Make sure to comply with these rules to avoid legal issues and ensure your packaging is compliant; Evaluate sustainability: nowadays, more and more consumers are sensitive to environmental issues and look for products with eco-friendly packaging. Choose recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable materials and minimize plastic usage. Transparently communicate your brand's commitment to sustainability through the packaging itself. How to properly label your product packaging? Properly labeling product packaging is essential to provide clear, accurate information that complies with industry regulations. Here are several points to consider to label your packaging correctly, even as a beginner: Product name: use a readable font and make sure the name accurately reflects the product inside the packaging; Brand logo: position your brand logo prominently on the label. The logo helps immediately identify your brand and creates consistency across your company's product lines; List of ingredients: ensure you include a comprehensive and accurate list. If the product contains allergens, make sure to highlight them clearly, for instance in bold text or within a separate section; Instructions for use: particularly important for items like electronic devices, personal care items, or food products that require preparation or cooking; Safety warnings: these can cover proper product usage, precautions to take, or restrictions on use. Follow the safety regulations relevant to your industry; Origin information: the country of manufacture or the place where the product was produced or grown; Expiration date or production date: highly crucial for food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic products; Nutritional facts: mandatory for food products and beverages. Include details on calorie content, amounts of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals; Barcodes and QR codes: if you wish to simplify the sales and traceability process. These codes can hold product information like pricing, serial numbers, or the manufacturer's website; Legal compliance: make sure to respect the specific regulations and laws of your industry and the country where you sell the product. Verify your sector's labeling requirements and include all mandated information; Design and layout: organize information on the label in a clear, orderly fashion. Use an intuitive layout that guides consumers to read information quickly and easily. Ensure the text is highly legible by using an appropriate font size and style; Language and translations: if you sell your products across multiple regions or countries with different languages, consider the need to include label translations. Translations must be accurate and comply with local mandates; Eco-friendly labeling: you can choose recyclable or biodegradable materials for labeling, or even opt for water-based inks; Graphics and imagery: deploy relevant graphics, images, or symbols that support your product and brand message. They must be high-quality and well-integrated into the overall label design; Testing and compliance: before entering mass production, run thorough tests on the label, including readability checks, adhesive durability, and resistance to environmental conditions. Also, verify label compliance with current regulations and sector requirements. Remember that since January 1, 2023, environmental packaging labeling has become mandatory, affecting not only manufacturers but also distributors, importers, and retailers. Environmental labeling consists of applying a specific label to all packaging placed on the Italian market to facilitate collection, reuse, recovery, and recycling, providing info on both packaging composition and its correct disposal by the consumer. For more information, see the article dedicated to the mandatory environmental packaging labeling. If you need expert advice and premium products for your product packaging, Cart-One is the answer to all your needs. Contact us for more details or to receive a quote for your business. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Plastic baskets, punnets and trays, corrugated cardboard bags, packaging with nets and sustainable packaging represent part of the solutions used as packaging in the fruit and vegetable sector. A complex and articulated world bonded to movements to which fresh fruit and vegetables are subjected. There are numerous needs to be met: from transportation to fruit and vegetable companies to point of sales, whether they are wholesale markets or linked to large-scale modern distribution. Whatever the fate of these products, the primary objective is to ensure that they arrive perfectly packed and intact on the shelves of the reference department. Corrugated cardboard for better storage This type of packaging has now reached a market share of 35% and a production of around 600 million pieces per year. Thanks to its high flexibility, both in terms of storage and transport, it is a solution that is well suited to the fruit and vegetable supply chain. A study conducted by the University of Bologna-Department of Agri-Food Science and Technology found that fruit and vegetables, if stored in corrugated cardboard packaging rather than in other types of packaging, have a 20% higher degree of conservation. Read also: Why (it is important) to recycle corrugated cardboard: the benefits Reusable plastic The plastic packaging department is mainly divided into two macro-areas: Disposable plastic trays Plastic returnable trays The second category is in turn represented by reusable plastic packaging at: Folding sides Fixed sides EURepack (European Reusable Packaging & Reverse Logistics Consortium) Active consortium that promotes the spread of reusable packaging to replace "disposable" packaging, highlights how the use of this type of material reduces negative effects on the environment and lowers the costs of transport, thanks to the compact and less cumbersome structure of the boxes. According to the Consortium, moreover, reusable packaging finds its greatest use precisely in the large-scale distribution of the fruit and vegetable chain where the usage index exceeds 50%. Recyclable wood According to Assoimballaggi, the National Association of Wood, Pallet, Cork and Logistics Services Industries, the companies producing wooden crates for fruit and vegetables amount to around 200 in Italy for an annual turnover of around 200 million euros. In the fruit and vegetable sector, the main products are: Bins: used to transport products to storage centers Wooden boxes: for transportation from storage centers to distribution to the end customer. Light or 'disposable' pallets: material that is not reusable due to its construction and structural characteristics, suitable for a single use. The wooden packaging, especially the boxes used to house fruit and vegetables, can be recycled thanks to the nonprofit Consortium Rilegno, born following the Legislative Decree 22/97 (Ronchi Decree) with the aim of directing a correct management of the waste coming from packaging. Recyclable and reusable packaging for the fruit and vegetables sector Although corrugated cardboard represents the primary choice in terms of packaging for the fruit and vegetable sector, thanks to its flexibility of use and better food preservation, we have been able to note that the other types of packaging, plastic and wood, are also increasingly moving towards recyclable and reusable - and therefore eco-sustainable - materials in order to support the environment and reduce production costs. You may be interested in: Food packaging: how and what to do to win customers over