Taurus Packaging Pvt
25 Apr
Taurus Packaging

3 Trends that will Shape the Packaging Industry Post COVID-19 Pandemic

chaten jainCOVID-19 pandemic will affect every human and each country directly or indirectly.
There is no precedence like it in this generation, and we can’t fully predict the impact this pandemic will leave on us, society, businesses and habits.

I have been trying to understand and gathering information on how post-Coronavirus, our packaging industry will change. I have also spoken to a lot of industry professionals and experts during this lockdown to understand the impact of COVID-19 on our industry.

The initial impact of the coronavirus crisis on the packaging industry will be very predictable. Demand for the packaging of groceries, basic food essentials and healthcare products will rise sharply. At the same time, demand for industrial, luxury and some institutional packaging could decline.

The impact on packaging players will depend on their portfolios and exposures to different regions, end uses for packaging and substrates. A study of the US consumer market done by McKinsey & Co. a trend that can be extrapolated globally.

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Consumers are unlikely to risk moving out and shop a lot in brick and mortar stores sighting vulnerability to the virus.

This will be more true after lockdown lifts when people would want to avoid going to crowded stores. Industry associations and government bodies have already warned of a recession bigger than the one in 2008. Consumerism will go down, as people will have low disposable income to spend on luxury and non-essential products. Economic concerns will drive low sales of many products available in pre-COVID days.

There is already a temporary surge in the sale of essential FMCG products, but the sale of many non-essential and not-so-essential FMCG products will remain low for the near future. I can see certain new trends emerging out of this whole scenario. This is based on my understanding of consumer behaviour during the Coronavirus crisis, feedback from industry professionals, buyers and general human nature.

New Brand try-outs: With availability and options a luxury due to travel restrictions, the consumer is driven to buy whatever brand is available in the nearest accessible grocery shop, departmental store, corner shops and e-commerce deliveries. Due to certain industries locked down, transportation is still an issue, many brands (small, mid and major) are not able to service their supply chain normally. This has forced retailers to stock newer or alternate brands and consumer is not shying away from buying them.

This will most likely turn away the consumer from his/her brand loyalty and drive sales up for others. Market penetration for many alternate brands will increase. Many such consumers are trying cheaper brands also due to economic reasons. Will this shift in the brand going to hold, that still remains to be seen, but the consumer has definitely started trying new options.

Smaller Volumes: With demand for non-essential FMCG products going down, it is going to affect purchase decisions for FMCG companies. Many bigger companies might be able to retain or bring back their volumes, but others might have to accept the new reality of smaller sales for non-essential products. New products will still get launched, but the industry might try out with smaller launch sizes to taper off the risk in the new post-COVID market. Demand for smaller packaging requirements is bound to shoot up in especially Personal care and household goods. Even in essential food segments, with many brands losing their client to others, might be driven to scale down their requirement for the time being for certain products.

The demand for Hygienic Food Packaging: Consumers will not be going to crowded restaurants anymore. After the recent case of food delivery boy found to be CoronaPositive, the demand for food delivery will go dip. People will avoid eating out or ordering out. Consumers will avoid buying loose food items like atta, dal, sugar etc. with obvious reasons of hygiene. This will directly scale up demand for packaged food which will ensure that the food is untouched, clean and ward off coronavirus risk. They are going to look out for hygienic packaged food. Single-use plastic- a misused term till now, will come out as a boon to mankind when we are going to prefer non-reusable packaging for our consumption. Yes, single-use plastic will finally get its due importance.

Consumers will be more aware of unpacked foods, knowing the risks of contamination by the virus. They will discard unpacked products and prefer plastic packaging for their safety and security. Moreover, with restaurants, catering, hotel industry seeing a dip in customer demand, the requirement of bulk packaging will be replaced by retail packaging, when the consumer will prefer to simply eat at home.

The sustainability agenda of the packaging industry will be severely affected.

FMCG industry will demand economical alternates to reduce costs. Companies that have moved from “unnecessary” plastic packaging to “sustainable” alternates will return to plastic packaging. Consumers will be concerned about hygiene and food safety, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and it will be expected of them to prefer plastic packaging and single-use plastics more than ever- at least till the near future. The plastics will now get its due importance from the consumer due to the advantages of hygienic plastic packaging that will overweigh concerns of recycling and plastic wastes.

Overall, the packaging industry will see a reduced demand but with a shift from bulk packs to retail packs and smaller volumes. Consumer choices will force a reduction in demand but the industry will have to adjust itself to the new normal. The sooner, we are able to do it, the better.

While challenging times are certainly ahead for the packaging industry, pockets of newer opportunities have been created in the market and can be capitalized by proactive manufacturers and converters.

Written By
Chetan Jain
Author | Packaging and Shrink sleeve Expert | Entrepreneur

Shrink-sleeve-blog-2
14 Jun
Shrink Sleeves

How to Get Right Shrinking for your Product

Different shapes of containers are coming in global market to attract the customers. The first challenge is to decide the perfect labeling on it. The most common used film is PVC Shrink film. But what is right for your product shape and size. The right Shrinking depends on many factors.

  • Shape of container
  • Size of container
  • Area to be covered by label
  • Shrink tunnel

Now how to decide and achieve the best fitment to product. Depending upon Shrinkage needed a variety of shrink films are available with different percentage of shrinkage. You have to choose the right one suitable for your container. Secondary the shrinking equipment i.e. shrink tunnel is equally important depending upon the product. It should be customized as per heat needed to shrink the sleeve on container.

The most important and essential thing to get a perfect shrink is Design and artwork. The area and element need to be adjusted in the artwork so that after shrink you get the best aesthetic. Pr-distortion in artwork can also be done to predict post shrinkage result in most part the shrink manufacturers can support deciding these factors as they have good technical know how about the products.

Shrink Sleeve Common Problems and There Solutions

The hallmarks of a bad shrinking job are easy to spot wrinkle, ink bleeding, tearing and uneven shrinking drive customers read on to discover possible problems & solutions.

Possible problems –

  • Uneven shrinking due to decorative inks coating finishes on shrink labels
  • Uneven edges shrinkage

Possible solutions –

  1. Increase the tunnel temperature or air flow to increase the degree of shrinkage where higher % edge of shrinkage is require.
  2. More complex issues require a customer designed solution to optimize the application of heat to the product please take help of your shrink manufacturer technical team.
  3. Adjust the tunnel temperature air flow up or down to get more uniform application of heat.
  4. Customer the heat profile so that edges or corners of the container are exposed to less heat.
Shrink-sleeve-blog-1
14 Jun
Shrink Sleeves

shrink sleeve common problems and their solutions

Problem 1: Wrinkled or Poked appearance

Root cause:

  • Uneven heat or adequate heat.
  • Uneven material shrinkage due to type of plastic, decorative inks, coating, embossing or finishes on shrink labels.

Solutions:

  • Increase the tunnel temperature or airflow to increase the degree of shrink.
  • More complex issues require a custom designed solution to optimized the application of heat to the part.

Problem 2: Rising

Root cause:

  • Tapered bottle design.
  • Too much heat at the top of the bottle.

Solutions:

  • Tack label at the lock point of the bottle before entering the shrink tunnel.
  • Adjust the heat flow from top area.

Problem 3: Uneven shrinking

Root cause:

  • Uneven or inefficient application of heat.
  • Uneven material shrinkage due to type of plastic, decorative ink, coating and complex bottle shape.

Solutions:

  • Adjust the heat flow up or down to get a more uniform application of heat.
  • Adjust the tunnel temperature according to type of shrink.

Problem 4: Over shrinking (cow feet shape or tear the material)

Root cause:

  • Give the heat for long time.
  • emperature is more according to material.
  • More complex shape bottle design.

Problem 5: Splitting seals

Root cause:

  • Bad seals are probably common in shrink wrap.
  • Sometimes it is less sealed or open.

Solutions:

  • Use proper glue to seal the shrink sleeve according to material.
  • Sometimes it is unevenness of shrink material.
  • Sometimes it is without perforation or pin holes.

Problem 6: Hair type

Root cause:

  • It is due to uneven cutting of shrink sleeve.

Solutions:

  • Make sure cutter is ok or cutting speed is uneven.
  • Film is not uneven in thickness.

Problem 7: Ballooning type

Root cause:

  • Shrink film exposed to hot air after sealing.
  • Complex shape of container.

Solutions:

  • Pin hole is used or perforation is used

Problem 8: Picasso effect type

Root cause:

  • Unevenness of shrinking
  • More distortion of film.

Solutions:

  • Check distortion of design first and conveyor speed also.
  • Check shelf life of shrink film, each shrink film has its own life for use.
  • Check if chain temperature is too high.
Taurus Packaging Pvt
14 Jun
Shrink Sleeves

The Plastic Debate- My Take

Our rapid industrial revolutions have always been unchecked. Putting pressure on the
world’s resources has always been the side effect of industrialization and consumerism; be it oil, coal, human resource and even plastics.

The unbalanced production and consumption have led to our resources running out or
getting over-used. It is causing a significant impact on the environment especially plastics.

But let me ask a question…

Is the Plastic really the problem?
Plastic has many benefits. It keeps many industries and technologies running. It has made the construction of many consumer durables and cars easier with lightweight plastic materials. Plastic packaging also contributes to minimizing food waste, increases food shelf life when packed and makes its movement cheaper and easier to far fledged regions of the world.

Plastics is a boon, for the food scarcity problem of the world.

What is the problem?
A war on all plastics has been declared by media, environmentalists and Greta Thunberg’s of the world. Why is #SayNoToPlastic trending everywhere? Plastic litter is overflowing our landfills, oceans, reaching food chains of animals, marine life and even us humans as microplastic particles.

Plastic is not getting recycled, use is unchecked, burnt in uncontrolled conditions, drains getting clogged, beaches are littered.

Then what is the Real Problem?
Its not plastics to be blamed. Any material used and littered unchecked will create the same issues. Even you throw the glass on the floor, it is bound to cause harm. All resources must be used and disposed of properly. Why blame Plastics, if we are not handling it properly.

The solution does not lie in banning plastics. Loom around, plastics are everywhere. Food packaging, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, furniture, clothing etc. Imagine life without plastics in all these products. Let’s do the right thing, let’s recycle, reuse and reduce. But banning plastics is not the solution.

At a time when a ‘climate emergency’ has been declared, it is important that people
understand that ‘plastic-free’ does not necessarily mean ‘better for the environment’.
Using any material has environmental costs, but the costs associated with plastic products are often significantly lower than using alternative materials.

Plastics provide many critical benefits across a range of products and it’s important this fact is recognized. Plastics will – and should – continue to play a vital role in all our lives going forward.

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