Changes in the manufacturing process must always be assessed to ensure an operation maintains its efficiency. Adding flexibility to the equation is part of the key to managing packaging variability during runtime. Here are points to remember about rapidly changing markets and how they affect customer satisfaction. 

Recycling is a process that is used in countless industries and is steadily being used more commonly in goods produced today. Recycling is the process of turning waste into usable material. In the packaging industry material is often reused and recycled, which can substantially cut down on the amount of new material and energy that needs to be used to produce more packaging. Three of the most common materials used in the packaging industry are plastic, tin, and aluminium. Studies have shown that recycling aluminum uses 95% less energy than needed to produce new material and recycling plastic saves 76% of the energy [1,2]. This difference is caused by a variety of reasons, like the energy cost to transport, sort, and recycle each product.

Authenticity is a crucial brand value and design cue that confirms in consumers' minds whether a product is premium quality. It's a concept that can be reinforced through packaging for positioning a brand across a wide range of various products. Here's a deeper look at what qualifies a product to be authentic and how it can be communicated through packaging design.

Minimalism is the most subtle packaging design cue that communicates a brand's quality. Through different periods of history it has been associated with classy design and respected reputation. The "less is more" concept, however, is complex for designers in the sense that it really comes down to the specific product and how it relates to a premium experience.

The product/package design is like its own medium of communication that connects with consumers. Graphic designers must understand how consumers interpret the design and how it affects purchasing behavior. Here are points to remember about the relationship between packaging design and the target market for premium products.

Commitment to quality should be a top concern for premium brands in order to connect with consumers willing to pay higher prices. Specific packaging materials can trigger cues to consumers on whether the product is conventional or premium. Here's a deeper look at why using high quality materials is crucial for premium packaging.

Communicating a premium perception should be the goal of designers of luxury brands and products. This perception needs to be based on these four factors determined by researchers:

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) outbreak has caused many people to reevaluate priorities in their lives. One main priority that has arisen is the public’s awareness of their health and importance of protecting themselves and their family. One study found that 62% of families are actively concerned about contracting coronavirus [1].

In these times SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is on the forefront of everyone’s mind. The impacts can be seen in almost every industry, including packaging. COVID-19 is spread through bodily fluids, like respiratory droplets, which can be transferred to surfaces that come in contact with multiple people. It may be possible for COVID-19 to be contracted by touching a surface with the virus living on it and then touching one’s own mouth, nose, or eyes [2,4]. This is particularly a concern for packaging, as products transfer between multiple people and are continually in use. This begs the question: what is the best packaging material to use in the time of COVID-19? While there is no concrete, guaranteed answer, aluminum and tinplate have shown promising qualities in multiple ways.