The Future of PackagingA Micro Perspective

“Predicting the future is a fool’s game”•"The telephone has too many shortcomings "The telephone has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of to be seriously considered as a means of communication.”communication.”

Western Union internal memo, 1876

•"The Americans have need of the telephone, "The Americans have need of the telephone, but we do not. We have plenty of messenger but we do not. We have plenty of messenger boys.”boys.”

Sir William Preece, chief engineer of the British Post Office, 1876

Packaging impacts the whole of society

… with many elements

•Multi-national global business strategies•Shifting societal norms and customs•Sustainability•Technology•New materials•Energy conservation/efficiency•Retail branding

•Geopolitics •Regional regulations•Shifting market channels•Food and pharmaceutical safety•Theft prevention•Product protection throughout the supply chain•Shifting global economic strengths

A Material-Related Design Trend

Flexible Packaging

“The tonnage for the global consumer flexible packaging market is projected at 18.1 million tons in 2011 and is forecast to reach 22.5 million tons by 2016.”

Pira Study24% increase in 5 years!

Flexible packaging is maturing in North America and Western Europe… but not elsewhere.

•Asia is the fastest-growing market with a forecast compound annual growth rate for 2011-2016 of 7.9%. •The region is forecast to represent 55.0% of total world flexible consumption growth during the period 2011-16.

India and China are the fastest-growing national markets for consumer flexible packaging according to Pira, together accounting for 44.0% of world flexible packaging consumption growth during the forecast period.”

Energy conservation/efficiency and Sustainability

EcoCradle™

Product protection throughout the supply chain

Product Design + Package Design + Pre-Shipment Testing

= SUCCESS

More bad predictions… "Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military "Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value."value."

Marshal Ferdinand Foch (supreme allied commander in World War I), 1911

"It must be accepted as a principle that the rifle, "It must be accepted as a principle that the rifle, effective as it is, cannot replace the effect produced effective as it is, cannot replace the effect produced by the speed of the horse, the magnetism of the by the speed of the horse, the magnetism of the charge and the terror of cold steel."charge and the terror of cold steel."

British Cavalry Training Manual, 1907

TechnologyRFID – What is its place?

Vision Systems at the grocery store = no more barcodes?

What about 2-D codes?•DotCode•Dot Code A•USS Code One•Maxi Code•Data Matrix•Aztec Code•QR Code•Datastrip 2D•Grid Matrix

Technology

Track & Trace Tools are The future of safe food and

pharmaceuticals

Nanomaterials have a great future too, but are they safe?

I’m glad I didn’t say this…

““Computers in the future may weigh no more Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.”than 1.5 tons.”

Popular Mechanics Magazine, 1949

““Who the heck wants to hear actors talk?” Who the heck wants to hear actors talk?”

Harry Warner, Warner Brothers Studios, 1927

Sustainability and the Business of Packaging

“No such thing as inherently ‘sustainable’ packaging… There can only be a more sustainable

way of manufacturing a certain product.”

Is the driver social commitment or just cost reduction?

Proctor and Gamble example:

•Replacing 25% of petroleum-based materials with sustainably sourced renewable materials in products •Reducing consumer use packaging by 20% •Providing 30% of the power to plants from renewable energy •Reducing manufacturing waste to less than .5% of total waste to landfill

By 2020:

Packaging has become a Packaging has become a strategic tool!strategic tool!

Just two more…

"We don't like their sound and guitar music is on "We don't like their sound and guitar music is on the way out."the way out."

Decca Records rejects the Beatles, 1962

"Everything that can be invented has been "Everything that can be invented has been invented.” invented.”

Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899

Where does the Packaging Professional Fit in the Future?

Better Packaging means packaging development that accomplishes: •well-preserved and more nutritious food•clean drinking water•secure pharmaceuticals and over the counter medications•undamaged products that arrive in the consumers’ hands

Education Is the Key to “Better Quality of Life

Through Better Packaging For More People”!!

According to Pira:the packaging sector will likely be

more than $800 billion USD in revenue by 2017.

In my opinion, revenue could easily top $1

trillion by 2022

The Future Is Bright!!!The Future Is Bright!!!

•Educate yourself•Discover the unexpected•Apply the new idea•Find uncommon success

““The best way to predict the future The best way to predict the future is to invent it”is to invent it”

Alan Kay