In order to maintain optimal functionality, everything with moving parts needs an adjustment from time to time – be it cars, computers or packaging machinery. Chances are, your company’s equipment could use a few tweaks – and even minor changes in your packaging process could add up to big savings. Sometimes, that could mean hundreds of thousands of dollars. There are expert teams dedicated to audits that help customers optimize settings, materials, and processes used on their production lines. A simple packaging film audit could be the edge you need to boost your bottom line.

You’ve probably heard the term Internet of Things (IoT), but what does this ubiquitous industry buzzword refer to, exactly? The IoT is the interconnectedness of everyday objects and machinery to the internet through computerization (microchips, sensors, etc.), enabling inanimate items to exchange data and communicate with other connected objects. Industry insiders are predicting that the IoT could change manufacturing as we know it by tracking and measuring every previously unquantified element of operations. Read on for everything you need to know about the IoT and packaging, including what’s trending now, how companies are innovating, and a predictive look forward.

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.