The custom box industry is always changing and evolving with time. Over the last few years, we have witnessed a great set of developments due to technological advancements. Today, newer packaging solutions are being created that are more brand and consumer-centric. With the advent of the pandemic, i.e., Covid-19, more people have adapted to online shopping. The increased number of shoppers going online has created a severe problem of waste production. To cater to that, sustainable and biodegradable designs are being introduced. At the same time, a few state-of-the-art printing technologies like digital printing has simplified the process of marketing and communicating the brand message.
Reinforced Protection:
Some of the retail products are really delicate and require a proficient protection standard. Take an example of food products in particular that can lose their nutritional value and freshness upon exposure to environmental standards. In the industry of custom boxes, rigid materials like corrugated cardboard are being used. The rigidity helps them bear the external shocks and prevents the entry of outside contaminants.
A new concept of venting the custom packages has also come to the forefront. In this design, the holes are made on the outer layer of cardboard, and the corrugated layer is left as it is. It helps in the evacuation of steam, and heat is retained to maintain the freshness of food products. The dependability of the packages is now increased further by the introduction of custom inserts inside that block the inside movement. At the same time, thicker cardboard variants along with the packaging filler materials are developed to ensure absolute product safety.
Digital Printing:
Printing on the packaging requires the addressing of various challenges. The topmost issues are the labor cost, low-quality prints, and minimal accuracy. The custom printed boxes industry has innovated the process with the development of novel digital printing techniques. With this latest technology, businesses are not required to use separate plates for two or more two prints. We can obtain the printing design within a single go, which helps in making the process less strenuous. It gives a greater color accuracy that allows the brands to cater to their branding needs. At the same time, digital printing comes as a cost-efficient as well as a time-efficient method that can increase business productivity. We can prevent as well the need for additional labeling, which helps lower down waste production and inventory requirements.
Sustainability achievement:
When various states started to put a ban on the use of single-use plastic, the packaging industry had to look out for eco-friendly alternatives. Adopting sustainable standards remained a major problem for the industry for a long time. To overcome this issue, the experts developed the wholesale boxes from the post-consumer content. They also have adopted a mono-material approach since it does not present them with a challenge to recycle the boxes. Another plus point of these packages is that we can reuse them multiple times, which lessens down their impact as polluters. If a business has purchased these boxes in bulk and is unable to use all of them, there is no risk of waste. This is because we can keep the packages in minted conditions until their use for the next time.
Smart packaging:
Smart or intelligent packaging is a breakthrough of some sort that solves the most common problem for people. Today, the custom boxes are full of safety features that help resolve the problem of the lesser shelf life of products. They have improved barrier properties and eliminate the dangers of moisture, humidity, and other contaminants present in the air. Various developments have been made to make the packages adaptable to the environment. They now better absorb the temperature contents and keep the inside items safe from any unwanted effects.
Die-cutting:
One of the basic advantages that are being accomplished through development in the industry is that now you can see the products before purchase. Gone are the days when judging the quality of a product as possible after opening the box. Now, the custom packages can be customized with die-cut windows that permit a sneak peek at the packaged items. There is no more need to touch the packaging and opening it to find out which kind of item is packed inside. Die-cuts can be made in different shapes and sizes as well that transform the outlook of packages further. The boxes appear more beautiful, attractive, and transparent than ever before.
Internet of packaging:
Perhaps, the largest development of the packaging industry is that the custom packages can leverage technology like QR codes and NFC labels. Such integration of packaging with the technology puts the businesses in a better position to connect with the customers. The custom packages can now act as digital tools and crucial data carriers to the audience of a targeted niche. This way, the customers can be exposed to a range of brand content, product descriptions, and special discounted deals. It eases the process for the targeted audience to access real-time information regarding the product and brand behind it.
The advanced technologies have paved the way towards a number of different developments in the industry of custom cardboard boxes. Several printing designs and customizations have been introduced to improve the efficacy of packaging for a retail business. Among all other revolutions, innovative and smart packaging has transformed the industry the most.