Balancing cost, sustainability, and practicality will shape the future of beverage packaging, requiring brands to invest in packaging that aligns with consumers' sustainability goals and expectations.
Innovate effectively in the beverage packaging industry with the data-backed consumer preferences revealed in this report. Use Mintel’s analysis of the current trends in the US and align your insight strategy with what’s happening in beverage packaging.
Balancing cost, sustainability, and practicality will shape the future of beverage packaging, requiring brands to invest in packaging that aligns with consumers’ sustainability goals and expectations. More than 70% of consumers believe price is more important than sustainability claims, underscoring cost as the main hurdle to making more eco-conscious shopping choices. However, this emphasis on affordability does not negate the growing demand for sustainable options, as consumers place high expectations on brands to do their part.
Recyclable packaging remains a top priority for consumers, outweighing convenient features like being resealable. Easy to understand eco-claims, such as featuring recycled materials, resonate with consumers’ recycling habits and make sustainability feel attainable. Packaging that gives waste “a second life” enhances its appeal, enabling consumers to make responsible choices.
Manufacturers are under scrutiny regarding sustainability, and brands must also be transparent. While practicality is key in packaging decisions, brands should cater to diverse generations. Practical, sustainable solutions that meet the needs of all age groups should be at the heart of packaging innovation, especially as sustainability claims become competitive differentiators for brands.
This Report presents a comprehensive analysis of trends in packaging for both beverages and food products across various categories, including shelf-stable, refrigerated, and frozen items within the US market. In addition, food labeling and claims are discussed, particularly as they relate to themes applicable to the Report. The Report also includes consumer behaviors and attitudes related to the themes of food/beverage packaging and sustainability, as well as the connection between food/beverage packaging and value.
This report was written by Kamari Davis. Kamari joined Mintel in 2023 as a Food & Drink Analyst on the US Reports Team. He brings a background within the alcoholic beverage industry as a category analyst. Kamari holds a degree in Food & Consumer Package Goods Marketing from Western Michigan University.
Shoppers value and recognize the importance of sustainable packaging, but the lower cost of convenience continues to outweigh eco-conscious efforts.
Kamari Davis
Research Analyst, Food & Drink
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