Just a few short weeks ago, Governor Jerry Brown made California the first U.S. state to legally prohibit dine-in restaurants from automatically providing plastic straws to customers. Although this event marks one of the first legislative actions on the matter, the plastic straw ban has become a popular movement among companies and local governments across the country, with many vowing to completely end usage of plastic straws and packaging by the end of 2018.

Research shows that demand for flexible packaging in the U.S. is expected to rise 3.2% per year through 2021. From cost savings to marketing adaptability, the advantages of this packaging option are becoming more widely recognized across an array of industries. The food and beverage sector is no exception, as food brands adopt flexible packaging for more and more types of consumer packaged goods (CPG).

Shrink film is a packaging material made up of polymer plastic film. When heat is applied it shrinks tightly over whatever it's covering. Shrink wrap and shrink film are very versatile materials, and can be used in a large variety of packaging applications. Some common uses of shrink wrap are for wrapping food, gift baskets, boxes, toys, books, soaps, etc. There are many reasons you may want to utilize shrink film for your product packaging. Along with being lightweight and durable, it keeps your products safe from outside elements, increases shelf life and tamper-proofing and makes your product shine!

As the need for more packaging rises, it's important to remember what that means for our environment. Because of this, many companies are starting to use or create a deadline for sourcing more sustainable packaging materials to ensure that the footprint they leave once the packaging becomes waste is minimal. This post will share the different ways in which you and your team can help decrease packaging waste. These tips are easy to implement and will help both your company and the environment.

For many companies, selecting a packaging materials supplier can be a daunting experience, mainly because most manufacturers are unaware of the complexity involved in modern packaging. Whether you are a small to mid-sized company venturing into new product packaging or a large, established organization looking to change suppliers, the research process of finding the right supplier is pretty similar. This post will help provide insight on what to consider when trying to find a packaging materials supplier as well as the right questions to ask when speaking with sales representatives.

Augmented Reality, known as AR, is a concept where we use technology to superimpose virtual information on to the world that we see. Gaming is one popular application of this technology. Did you know that product packaging is another? In fact, augmented reality has incredibly useful applications in the packaging industry. This fascinating technology can be used to enhance product packaging, improve brand loyalty, attract new customers, and stand out from competitors. The best part? Often, all you need is a QR code or a bit of minor tweaking to your package design.