Packaging has been an essential component of human life for thousands of years. What started with natural receptacles like gourds and leaves, eventually evolved into pottery jugs, glass bottles, and wooden boxes. Within the last decade, the renaissance of innovative packaging solutions has continued to propel companies and entire industries with better and more efficient options.
As the comprehensive packaging provider, Pipeline Packaging has remained committed to understanding and fulfilling your specific packaging requirements with exceptional service and a commitment to cutting-edge products. That promise has led us to continue studying and analyzing packaging developments for more than 30 years. Based on that approach, we’ve assembled our list of the most innovative packaging solutions to emerge in the last decade.
1. The transition to high-performing plastics
It wasn’t long ago when commercial and industrial applications were limited in terms of material. Prior to plastic, items were usually placed in various aluminum, tin, glass, and steel containers. Though all of these materials are still popular selections for particular needs and industries, they also present certain disadvantages that could limit their uses compared to today’s packaging solutions.
For example, glass, which was the dominant choice for storing all kinds of liquids, is highly breakable, risking spills and injuries from loose shards. Steel leverages its durability and strength to fortify materials from damage, yet it’s highly susceptible to corrosion. Similarly, tin can also be corrosive and expensive.
Though its early forms can be traced back to antiquity, artificial plastics became an instant success for packaging solutions by balancing multiple advantages at once. For instance, a plastic pail or drum could offer much-needed rigidity while maintaining a light weight. In addition, it wasn’t corrosive, nor was it chemically reactive. These advantages have led a multitude of industries to switch to this cost-effective, high-performing innovative packaging solution.
Jim Frank has spent the last 30 years building an extensive career as an engineer. Looking for a new challenge, he joined Pipeline Packaging’s team of experts. He shared some deeper insights into the power of modern plastic formulations as innovative solutions.
“One of the greatest innovations in packaging has been the introduction of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic,” said Frank. “PET delivers all the benefits of plastic. It’s lightweight, temperature and chemical resistant, and it’s affordable. At a molecular level, though, its strong carbon bonds give it a high tensile strength, meaning containers as small as a single half-liter bottle can withstand 50 times their weight in water.”
2. New attempts at sustainability
There’s no denying that sustainability has become a clear catalyst for innovative packaging solutions. Driven by the desire to incorporate green business policies, European nations have taken up the mantle for developing creative alternatives. When it comes to reducing waste and pollution, these intense sustainability efforts have been focused on unlocking the potential of biomaterials like seaweed and even repurposed waste.
As a leading packaging distributor, Pipeline carries an array of sustainable solutions for customers looking to reduce their environmental impact. Whether it’s switching to uncoated corrugated cardboard, lightweight tight-head pails that reduce fuel and energy consumption, or even reconditioned drums and IBC totes, we can accommodate eco-friendly alternatives from your primary container to those finishing components.
Though the conversation has largely remained in European markets, emerging legislation across the United States is bringing sustainable innovative packaging solutions to the forefront.
“Recently, a customer was faced with a U.S. state ruling that established a 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content requirement for all plastic packaging by 2045,” said Frank. “We assisted in finding an innovative sustainable packaging option with a lower virgin percentage that achieves the new compliance standard without sacrificing other qualities like strength and durability.”
Regardless of whether you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, or confronting the latest environmental policies, the Pipeline Packaging team leverages our expertise to help you navigate the packaging solutions that can meet your latest needs.
3. High-performance engineering and testing
Though many innovative packaging solutions evolve from the discovery or reformulation of materials, advances in the engineering and testing of systems have given customers peace of mind about the security of their packaging. By proving its structural integrity before implementation, your operation can prevent spills, leaks, and other accidents while avoiding hefty fines.
By offering thorough performance testing, Pipeline guarantees the system’s quality before deployment. Assessments like drop tests measure packaging’s ability to withstand potential falls. Leak testing ensures a system keeps hazardous materials contained in packaging through typical transportation obstacles. We even provide stock and vibration testing to simulate scenarios from storage to transit.
Using the testing results, our skilled packaging experts can pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of your potential system. From there, we can provide recommendations like alternative packaging to improve it or ensure its efficacy before placing your order. Though Pipeline cannot UN certify packaging, it can provide pre-check testing to make sure your highly sensitive materials are properly contained and transported to the right UN standards before settling on every selected component.
4. 3D printing streamlines the packaging process
Like high-performance engineering and testing, 3D printing is one of the latest technologies that has contributed to some of the most innovative packaging solutions in the last decade. Though manufacturer prototypes can be beneficial in analyzing a potential packaging system, 3D printing prototypes help expedite the process without the typical delays, keeping costs down and the selection process moving.
Pipeline Packaging provides customers access to rapid prototyping through its 3D printing services. Starting with 2D engineering sketches, we can render these images into a 3D model of your desired packaging. After reviewing the image for any errors, the Pipeline team can print the prototype parts in dimensions up to 12” long by 10” wide by 10” high.
As an engineer, Frank works closely with Pipeline’s 3D printing functions.
“The 3D printer has really heightened our value-added services for customers,” he said. “The printer allows us to create virtually any model or design. It’s an excellent way for customers to test new products before making a larger investment in a complete order.”
Frank also noted how other value-added services offered by Pipeline have impacted recent innovative solutions. Alongside 3D printing, specialty machinery enables our custom packaging design services to print and apply personalized labels and logos to a multitude of materials. Other value-added services include global sourcing, inventory management, and warehousing and logistics.
5. Innovative packaging solutions deliver customer-centric customization
For the longest time, packaging was limited to several distinct forms in a finite number of materials. You could select your primary container — a drum, pail, bottle, or can — in either steel, glass, tin, or plastic, along with its corresponding closure. Now though, the expansion in innovative packaging solutions has also expanded the overall customization available.
“Packaging used to be supply driven, so customers were much more dependent on the offerings of different manufacturers and suppliers,” added Frank. “Today though, as industry needs have morphed, regulations have changed, and new styles have been discovered, there’s been a shift to be more customer centric, which has led to the surge in innovative packaging.”
Now, customers in every industry have access to the most effective, secure, and versatile packaging components to craft a packaging system that meets their specific needs.
Though a customer-centric approach is listed among the most innovative packaging solutions in the last decade, it’s a focus Pipeline Packaging has championed since its inception. Our commitment to customer satisfaction propels us to maintain an extensive network of more than 400 global suppliers to offer a breadth of choice in our packaging inventory, including a range of sustainable and PET plastic options. Likewise, investing in top-notch value-added services like quality engineering and performance testing as well as 3D printing allows us to perfect your comprehensive packaging system.
Exploring innovative packaging solutions may be the key to optimizing your operation. Contact us today to learn how you can incorporate leading technology into your packaging process.
