3D packaging: no funny glasses required (unless you want)

Judged the Flexible Packaging Assn awards earlier this week. Fun, fun, fun. This is why I love my job. Always so much innovation and new technologies to see.

Flexible packaging converters have been busy this past year improving shelf pop, playing with sustainable materials and designs, and developing structures that strut.

I’ve got to stay mum about the winners for now, but a quick note about some trends:

In the Printing category, rich blacks turned the concept of “simplicity=white” completely on its head. Some of these packages showed how elegant, how eye-catching and how deserving the color black can be as a backdrop. The continued (and yet augmented) use of matte and gloss in the graphics had me and my fellow judges reaching out to touch these multi-dimensional-looking images-just like kids at a 3D movie! Yes. That’s what you want shoppers to be compelled to do in the store: reach out for your package.

I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a group of award-winning flexible packages function as well as this year’s winners. They not only looked good, they opened and poured and sat up and resealed with ease–with ease!

The Sustainability category winners are truly innovative packages, and not just from the environmental angle.

Uh-huh. Now that’s what I’m talking about. And just think…These flexible packages are just a piece of the innovation pie that has been served across the entire packaging industry in the last year. Yum! Get your just desserts!

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