2018 is finally here, and it’s time we took a look at some of the trends that are going to dominate the food packaging industry over the next 12 months!

Here are 5 trends we expect will feature heavily in the UAE industry:

1. Sustainability and preservation

Recyclable, environmentally friendly packaging has been around for a while now, but companies are finally realizing the importance of also providing reusabilityin their products.

Our oceans get polluted with millions of tons of plastic and glass waste every year, and this throw-away culture has been one of the biggest culprits in the continued deterioration of our planet.

In 2018, we expect manufacturers to finally address this ongoing problem by designing packages that offer dual-usability to their customers.

Food packaging companies in Dubai have already started teaming up with some of the biggest names in the industry to create packets that serve consumers long after they’re done using the products inside.

This includes compostable plastic pouches that can be used as a plant pot, and tin cans that can be refilled once they’re empty!

2. Stand-up pouches

Stand-up pouches were quite the hit with customers last year, and we expect this trend to become even more popular in coming months.

Brands love these pouches because they offer the ability to print vivid, creative designs that just aren’t possible with regular cardboard or glass. They also stand out on the shelves!

Customers in-turn prefer pouches because they’re lighter than metal cans or plastic bottles, easier to use and handle, and can be collapsed once they’re empty to allow for convenient storage.

3. Smarter designs

Over the coming 12 months, we’re going to see a lot of food packaging companies in Dubai add innovative technologies in their designs.

Manufacturers have already started incorporating QR codes on their packets, which give consumers detailed information about the product’s ingredients and nutritional value.

These QR codes are also very useful for brands, since they can determine which products are doing well in each market, and get a better idea of how their demographicreacts to changes in the design.

4. Irregular shapes

Customers in the modern age want a personalized shopping experience, and we could see the traditional rectangular container say its last goodbyes in 2018!

The ever-increasing competition in the market has led to companies experimenting with all kinds of unique shapes and materials in an effort to stand out.

We’ve even seen examples of frozen foods packaged in tin cans that resemble the food’s traditional shape, like a triangle can for a pizza or a fish-shaped can for tuna!

5. New technologies

In early 2015, researchers at UC Berkeley developed a smart 3D printed cap for milk cartons which notified the user as soon as the milk went sour.

3 years later, we should finally see this technology come into the mainstream.

This cap was just one innovation in a long line of smart labels and packages that have since been developed by researchers across the world. In some cases, many of these even provide users with real-time updates about the food’s condition via a smartphone app.

Conclusion

The latest trends in food packaging have arrived, and 2018 will finally be the year we see more reusable and smarter designs changing the way companies view customer-package interactions.

It’s certainly going to be an exciting 12 months!