A lot to unpack from the International Pack Expo 2024
The 2024 International Pack Expo in Chicago offered an inspiring look into the future of packaging—where concepts and materials once thought aspirational are now within reach. Design Central designers Carley and Maria gained valuable insights that will continue to fuel our firm’s innovative approach to packaging design. By blending visionary ideas with practical know-how, our designers explored new possibilities that can deliver transformative results for our clients.
New Materials: Suppliers are pushing the boundaries of functionality and sustainability with creative materials such as palm leaves, molded paper pulp, hemp, seaweed, cork, and more. Carley and Maria observed a surge in the advancements of paper pulp packaging including moisture management and forming technologies. Additionally, Pack Expo exhibitors proved a now wider adoption of home compostable biomaterials. These innovations open doors for our clients who want sustainable packaging without compromising brand integrity or the high-quality experience users expect.
Sustainable Closure Solutions: Closures are a vital packaging element, yet they present challenges when it comes to sustainability. Plastic caps are often too small to go through the recycling stream, and paper caps are technically challenging, but doors seem to be opening for a more holistically sustainable package. Carley and Maria were excited to see advanced technology and manufacturing processes that allowed closures made from paper pulp to maintain intuitive closing features, locking mechanisms, and more efficient sealing.
Production Efficiencies: As designers with a keen eye for manufacturing feasibility, we were especially focused on emerging technology/robotics pushing the production boundaries. Beyond materials, Pack Expo showcased advancements that streamline production processes, allowing for mass production of more complex packages. This holistic view of the packaging lifecycle better informs our future designs as we build our understanding of what’s possible.
We’re excited to apply these insights to future projects, helping clients make an impactful statement with packaging that resonates with their users.
For information about working with Design Central, contact Tim Friar: t.friar@designcentral.com
