Take a look around next time you’re at your favorite grocery store. What you’re bound to see is that most stores are beefing up their once small and secluded health section, into aisles and aisles of organic, free-from and healthier options. These packages are touting big health claims and eco-friendly materials, all while sporting quirky and creative designs to draw consumers in. But research shows that functionality may be even more important than aesthetics to consumers. New packaging formats, sizes and designs, as well as product offerings, are disrupting grocery stores everywhere, leaving behind the popular foods of just 10 years ago.
Eco-conscious packaging has always been a popular way for packagers to get noticed on shelves. Today’s consumers, especially the Millennials and younger Gen Z bunch, place high importance on sustainability. One bakery out of California launched a fully compostable line of packaging for its organic products. Sugar Bowl Bakery’s fully compostable line is a continuation of the company’s strategy to have a positive impact on the environment and is as a way to encourage other brands in the industry to follow suit.