Top 10 trends affecting packaging in 2013

Consumer packaged goods companies (CPGs) appear cautiously optimistic about business and the marketplace in general, according to PMMI's report on the Vision 2020 focus groups it conducted during PACK EXPO International 2012.
Today's economic uncertainty means corporations are looking inward for new efficiencies and economies of structure with tactics including reorganizations, consolidations, lean manufacturing and sustainability strategies. They're also relying more heavily on performance metrics and looking more stringently at project proposals. "Continuous improvement and clear returns on investment are paramount," says Jorge Izquierdo, vp, market development, PMMI. "In the end, their goal is profitability, regardless of the economy."
The manufacturers noted 10 leading challenges and opportunities shaping the environment, one of the ten is:
Materials and Packaging Innovation: New Ideas, New Designs, New Requirements. Materials innovations are changing packaging and package designs. Lighter weight, fewer materials altogether, changes in costs and consumer behaviors mean OEMs must build machines that can handle new materials and designs (Packaging Digest eNews, 2 January 2013).