CPGs and private label brand owners have seen sustainability morph from a buzzword associated with a narrow scope of eco-minded shoppers, to an integral part of the packaging consumers expect from brands. To help companies develop packaging solutions that appeal to today’s more eco-conscious consumer, professional consultancies are offering a wide range of advisory and design services. These might include preliminary package assessments, direction for how to market a product and guidance on sustainability-related trends that affect package design.

Sustainability-enhancing features on packaging can also contribute to reductions in overall supply chain costs, advancements in line efficiencies and increased opportunities for brand growth. Such factors make personalized consultation even more critical to the design process, ensuring that changes to the packaging align with the private label brand’s overall business strategy.

Recently, store brands have seen vast increases in sales. According to Nielsen Company, the sector’s sales from a 12 month period ending August 31, 2013 grew 18.5% compared to 2009 – representing a total of $111.66 billion. There are even more opportunities for growth ahead within the niches provided by lifestyle product categories and with younger consumers who demonstrate strong CPG brand loyalty and prefer to buy from companies with sustainability-driven initiatives that align with their personal values. Packaging that tells a strong sustainability story – with benefits articulated on the package – will help private label brands appeal to both consumer groups.

To capitalize on the growing demand for private label products, brands seeking innovation will find a wide range of technologies at North America’s largest processing and packaging trade show – PACK EXPO International (Nov. 2-5, 2014, McCormick Place, Chicago). Features like The Brand Zone will offer ways to learn about increasing shelf appeal – from the packaging machinery to the labelers that make the product stand out. The Reusable Packaging Pavilion will highlight the latest trends in sustainability and provide ways to harness the environmental, safety, and economic benefits of reusable transport packaging.

Visit www.packexpointernational.com for show updates and to be notified when registration opens.

PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, is a trade association representing over 600 packaging and processing supply chain companies that provide a full range of packaging and processing machinery, materials, components and containers. PMMI actively brings buyers and sellers together through programs and events such as The PACK EXPO family of trade shows, packexpo.com, PMT Magazine, PACK EXPO Show Daily, networking events and educational programs.

PMMI organizes the PACK EXPO trade shows: PACK EXPO International, PACK EXPO Las Vegas, PACK EXPO East, EXPO PACK Mexico and EXPO PACK Guadalajara, connecting participants in the packaging and processing supply chain with their customers around the world. Coming Up: PACK EXPO International 2014, Nov. 2-5, 2014 (McCormick Place, Chicago); Pharma EXPO, co-located with PACK EXPO International 2014, presented jointly with the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE); EXPO PACK México 2014; PACK EXPO East, debuting Feb. 2–4, 2015 (Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia); EXPO PACK Guadalajara 2015, March 18-20, 2015(Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico); PACK EXPO Las Vegas, 2015 (Las Vegas Convention Center)

Learn more about PMMI and the PACK EXPO trade shows at PMMI.org and Packexpo.com.