Sustainability and recyclability are driving changes in how beverages are packaged. Thus, beverage company representatives see three trends as key to adapting to the changing consumer landscape, revolving around size, flavor, and type of packaged beverages.
That’s according to PMMI Business Intelligence’s “Beverage Industry Packaging Trends,” a report done in collaboration with Advantage Research to provide PMMI member companies and the broader industry with insights into beverage packaging trends that will impact the packaging and processing industry. The research stems from a quantitative online survey conducted from Nov. 21, 2024, to Jan. 21, 2025, and fifteen in-depth interviews conducted between Dec. 2024 and Jan. 2025 among CPG companies and contract packagers in the beverage industry.
Research participants believe a wider variety of sizes, flavors, and beverage types will continue to grow amongst consumers. First, increases in demand for size and format options are driving an increase in new SKUs each year.
“Different sizes for different categories will continue to grow. We see more sizes rather than less sizes. The traditional 12-oz can for beverages is being replaced by different other sizes. Specific packages for club chains are a big issue. Paper packaging continues to grow,” said a manager of packaging at a global beverage company.
For flavors, one industry executive believes multi-ingredient, vitamin and mineral-rich, ready-to-drink beverages are gaining prevalence, a contrast to previous trends.
“Single fruit, super fruit, antioxidant type drinks were a huge trend for quite a few years, and that trend has kind of gone away. What we are producing more of now appears to be much more complex type formulas, blends, mixes involving 10+ different ingredients. There’s obviously a big focus on vitamins and minerals and those types of drinks--a lot of the drinks where instead of putting it in your refrigerator for 30 days, they are ready-to-drink type of drinks where you drink the entire thing in one sitting or in one day,” said a president of a private label contractor.
Finally, sustainable packaging types are becoming more widespread in the industry, something beverage packagers will want to be on top of.
“I keep seeing sustainable packages as being something that’s definitely more prevalent. I would go so far as to say that if we could provide a sustainable package for all of our customers and all the products that we make, they would be so happy. Some of them can’t just switch over because of the need to maintain the freshness of their product and sustainable means aren’t there for all type of products,” stated a director of engineering at a beverage manufacturer and co-packer.
SOURCE: PMMI Business Intelligence: Beverage Industry Packaging Trends
For more insights from PMMI’s Business Intelligence team, find reports, including “2024 Snack Foods Packaging Trends” and “2024 Technology & Workforce: Using Smart Technologies to Bridge the Skills Gap” at pmmi.org/business-intelligence.
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