GLP-1 medications are changing how consumers eat—and that shift is quietly reshaping food packaging. Here’s what it means for portion sizes, formats, and the future of grab-and-go.
June 1, 2026
Consumer behavior is shifting dramatically due to GLP-1 medications, leading to smaller portion sizes and intentional eating. Food businesses must realign packaging strategies to meet these new demands, emphasizing flexibility, freshness, and food safety to succeed.
Cannabis as a commodified industry has definitely outgrown its dime-bag days, we’ve long said goodbye to weed handed off in a plastic baggie or swaddled in saran wrap. Legalized states have mandated regulations on protective packaging to enforce child resistance (CR), accessibility for those with dexterity limitations and, most importantly, preservation of the cannabis product inside.
With this fast-growing segment expected to climb 7-9 percent per year through 2023, navigating the shift from rigid to flexible packaging with optimal pouch functionality challenges brand managers with various considerations when determining an overall package experience.
Caps and closures have the important task of keeping a product safe with the package closed, and tightly sealed. This common function is imperative for the beverage, food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. New materials and technologies are launching to bring more innovation.
Tetra Pak has extended its leadership in the fast growing on-the-go beverage market with two new portion size packages, the Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 200 and 250 Edge with DreamCap™ 26.