Here’s a startling fact: Americans throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year's than any other time of year, accumulating an extra 25 million tons of garbage. Just think about the damage that amount of waste can do to our environment. At Industrial Packaging, we continuously strive to educate folks about simple ways to be more conscious of (and committed to) sustainability. That’s why we’re sharing these fun, innovative and useful ways to reuse the packaging you have leftover from the holidays, as well as some creative ideas for companies that package products for consumers.

There’s no escaping the images and videos depicting plastic bottles and waste floating along nature’s waterways and oceans, nor the devastating predictions about pollution’s increasing impact on the demise of our environment. As inhabitants of this great planet, we play a monumental role in effecting positive environmental change. We have a responsibility to ourselves (and humanity at large) to adopt effective ways of reducing waste and caring for Mother Earth. So, too, do the companies and large corporations developing, manufacturing, packaging and transporting the goods and materials that leave an ecological footprint.

In the 1960s, when The Jetsons made its cartoon debut, robots were a thing of the future. The idea that automation could permeate so much of our everyday lives seemed far-fetched and out of reach. Today, robotics are an ever-present reality. Advanced technology has given rise to equipment and processes that have transformed nearly every industry, and the food and beverage sector is no exception. Now more than ever, it’s important to understand how warehouse robotics could have a major impact on your own operations, machinery and setup.

The flexible packaging movement is proving to be a highly fluid one, and the new year is poised to bring about a distinct, industry-wide transformation. Flexible packaging trends seem to be bending toward the consumer in 2019, with a major focus on the areas of sustainability, convenience and e-commerce. As brands remain hyper-focused on consumer preferences, packaging technology and standards are moving in the same direction. Discover what changes are in store for the new year, and find out how these shifts can impact your own brand.

The world of product packaging is transforming, and it’s important for online retailers to stay current in this area if they’re looking to achieve continuous business success. Flexible packaging is not a casual buzzword or a passing trend, but rather an increasingly popular means of deriving greater value and benefit from the product packaging process.

Another year has come and gone. As you reflect on what you’ve learned over the past 12 months and how you can improve your brand efforts in 2019, it’s important to keep a close eye on product packaging trends.