Flexible packaging may be offering lightweight alternatives to rigid packs, but it’s no lightweight in the packaging industry. In fact, flexible packaging continues to be one of the fastest growing packaging segments in the U.S. According to the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA, flexpack.org), the U.S. flexible packaging industry grew 2.8% to $27.2 billion in annual sales in 2013. Overall, flexibles make up 18% of the $145-billion U.S. packaging market according to the FPA’s 2012 “State of the US Flexible Packaging Industry” report. Flexible is a packaging segment on the move.
And it’s not the only thing on the move. Consumers lead busier and busier lives and with this comes a need for products that function on-the-go. The ZIG Portable Protein Shake from Luminate Nutrition, LLC, uses flexible packaging to make their protein products more convenient for on-the-move consumers. Protein shakes are a popular choice for pre- or post-workout nutrition and as a healthy snack between meals. Perimeter Brand Packaging (perimeterbp.com) and ORC International, a global market research firm, conducted a study among 1,000 consumers and the study revealed that 66% of powder users drink the product away from home at least four times a week. Consumers also listed their ideal packaging elements including the desire to eliminate measuring scoops and getting a good, smooth mix. Perimeter developed the BlenderPak packaging to solve their problems for consumer who felt the current offerings weren’t meeting their needs. According to Katy Glabicky, a fitness trainer and ZIG Advisory Board member, blending bottles are bulky and risk bad odors if they aren’t cleaned right away. Ready-to-drink shakes are heavier and refrigeration is an issue. Glabicky called launching ZIG with Permiter’s BlenderPak packaging a “no brainer.” The lightweight packs feature a built-in mixing mesh design for clump-free shakes, come packed with a pre-measured portion of protein powder, can easily be transported in a gym back and eliminate the mess of mixing by just allowing consumers to add water directly to the package.