According to the September U.S. Industrial Outlook from the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), manufacturing production is expected to increase 3.2% in 2014 despite the currently sluggish economy. PMMI brings consumer packaged goods manufacturers (CPGs) and technology suppliers together to address challenges and shape tomorrow’s industry — and here’s a bit of what we’ve learned about the trends we can expect to see over the next five years:
It’s Gen Y’s turn at bat. Consumers born between the mid-1970s and the late 1990s exhibit different buying habits than their predecessors, Gen X and the Baby Boomers. Gen Y consumers — a.k.a. “New Millennials” and “Echo Boomers” — were raised on the internet and cell phones, and as a group, they demonstrate a preference for social media and digital communication that has driven brands online to engage with them on a whole new level. As a result, packaging will continue to get smarter with RFID tags, QR codes and other technologies creating impact that stretches beyond the shelf.