Is Edible Packaging a Gimmick, or a Game Changer 

Some brands are trying to make their packaging edible. What this means is that the packaging can literally be eaten, because it’s made from safe materials for consumption, such as seaweed, starches, rice, and the like. 

Though seen primarily with takeout items, other brands are using this.  is it worth it? What are the benefits of this, and what are the drawbacks? 

Well,. the benefits are for zero waste incentives. For companies looking to make sure their carbon footprint is next to nothing, this is a godsend. But, even though it is great for reducing carbon footprint, it does come with major logistical challenges, which we’ll go over here. 

The Logistical Challenges 

Some of the biggest logistical challenges involve the safety of these items. Though it does encase the item, it might not be enough to preserve it.   shelf life of the items becomes a challenge, especially when you’re trying to prevent it from getting bad or spoiling. 

Another issue is moisture resistance.   In humid atmospheres, it can get into these items, and then degrade the item. The last thing you want is for the item to be soggy when you consume it.

Finally, the FDA regulations are another challenge. Though it is allowed, there are some challenges with how long it can be on the shelf. There are certain instances as well, that the items are not FDA regulated, putting the person at risk for getting sick if the item is spoiled. 

Cases that Use This Type of Packaging 

Though there are some challenges especially when getting people to even consider this type of packaging, there’s also some use cases which are coming forth.

Food subscription services use this type of packaging. For food subscription businesses, having a constant means in which your foods are shipped, and offering a sustainable edge to them, can help with improving your business. 

Some promotional campaigns might benefit from this. offering some limited edition edible packaging is great, because when you use it to promote, people will flock because it is limited in use.  A promotional campaign that also focuses on sustainability might want to use this too. 

There are also, of course, zero-waste products. Products without a single bit of waste left behind are popular. With such products, you will be able to reduce the waste of these products, and also make it useful for them. a company that offers products with no waste is great, and it can be a major game changer. 

Customers Who Enjoy It 

Most of the time, customers do like this type of packaging. It comes with the surprise and delight factors of this. Many customers feel excited when they have an edible piece of food that they can eat, package and all. 

There is also less guilt that comes with this. Most of the time, people don’t want to throw out wrappers. They feel bad, and it can be a challenge. However, if you’re able to reduce waste, you will also in turn, reduce disposal guilt, a huge thing for companies of all kinds. 

Again, it has its perks. 

Will It Replace Styrofoam 

Some may wonder if edible cushioning will replace Styrofoam. 

Though it will not happen right away, it is always possible. Many companies are changing their tune with Styrofoam, and want to get past that. edible packaging may be the evolution that these companies have been waiting for, as a game-changer that will improve and drastically monitor the different nature in which your packaging works, and will in turn, reduce guilt associated with disposal. 

Therapeutic Packaging for Soothing and Delighting 

Did you know that packaging can be therapeutic? Yes, it can be with the right additions to it.

Some packaging creates a calming energy full of fun tactile elements, along with sensory experience that will really shine.   With such supplies implemented, you will be able to make your packaging really stand out, and improve the experiences that you have. 

Different Ways to Do This 

Now, you’re not going to sit in there and deliver a therapy session to your customers through packaging.

But, soft-touch coatings that are soft and plush, eliciting feelings of happiness with each touch are a good example of this. it can be pleasant to just open up the item and enjoy the soft feel to this.

Lavender paper is another one. Lavender is known as a calming scent, and it can be something that you will enjoy.   With such a paper, it can be quite pleasant to enjoy, and it can be a good way to get customers interested. 

There’s also lids with various clicks and sounds that play when you open and close. Such sounds are great for therapeutic packaging because with a click, it can provide you with a soft comfort that comes with this. 

The Ideal Markets 

A lot of wellness products, especially those with a health focus, will benefit from this sort of thing.  

Another one is mental health kits. With such a kit, it can offer a better mental health experience, and make you feel better too. Again, it all comes together and feels great at the end of the day.

Finally, baby care products. Again, for many parents, it can be hard to calm down a child. But, with these unique packaging experiences influence into it, you can make the baby calmer, and happier as a result. 

Is there Science Behind this? 

Yes, there sure is. 

With a lot of scientific evidence behind it, many find that touching items is good. with touch, it activates certain receptors, offering a pleasant experience for all that are involved. Tactile of certain items, such as fur, can be calming. Think about the calming nature that a cat can bring when it’s purring and you touch it.

The same goes for scents. There’s a reason why aromatherapy is good for many of those that are involved. It can be a good way to reduce stress because you inhale these pleasant scents through the olfactory. 

All of this comes together to offer some great satisfaction, improving your ability to partake in certain items, and makes it better too.

Emotional Branding with Therapeutic Elements 

Did you know that you can even brand such items as emotionally therapeutic. 

Making this type of packaging possible is an integral part of your self-care journey. By adding this packaging in there, you will be able to give customers something fun, something remarkable, and something that, with all of these elements in place, will delight and soothe all that are involved. 

For many, packaging is a form of therapy, one that can offer some remarkable elements to this. by getting together packaging which will delight and soothe, it is possible to offer some unique satisfaction that aligns with this.

Your branding grows, and it can be something of great value as a result. Therapeutic elements are great for all sorts of packaging providers. Through such means, you will feel much happier, and better off with these decisions, making it better for you not only with just calming down the average customer, but also to provide you with a different kind of satisfaction. 

Crisis-Proof Packaging for Extreme Scenarios 

Lots of packaging is being built for more extreme environments. These types of items withstand flooding, fire, various pressures, even chemicals. Though it might not seem like it’s needed, when a crisis comes up, it could be what makes or breaks your packaging overall. 

Here, we will go over packaging, and how by preparing for such, it can create a better, more intuitive experience. 

Types of Uses 

A lot of these extreme packaging types are not used except in emergency situations. Adding some emergency protection to various kits will keep them safe from exposure.

Military rations and military packaging as well needs to have this, specially since you never know where it might end up next. 

Then of course, deep space and keep cargo will also benefit from this type of crisis -proof packaging. It can withstand the extreme pressure that happens in the ocean or in space, making it stronger. 

The Materials that are Used 

You don’t use regular cardboard with this. In fact, you need to make sure that it can withstand anything.

Kevlar is one type of material. This type of fiber will protect the items, and when layered, it can provide extra levels of protection to the outside from fires and flooding.

Fire-retardant polymers, which are used in firemen’s jackets, also will benefit from this.   you want to consider polymers that are strong, and will provide you with a stronger, more useful means to make your packaging be able to withstand such extreme temperatures. 

Then of course, there are vacuum chambers. When going to high-pressure locations, using this type of packaging protection is a way to keep it from exploding on itself, so it’s worth looking at, and worth considering as well. 

The New Innovations 

While this type of packaging material is being used in as many emergency items as they can, there are also new innovations that come with this type of packaging. 

One example is biohazard-proof containers. Such contains will offer protection against toxins and hazards, especially chemicals. 

On a more common level, and not for extreme emergency situations, they are now waterproof mailers that can be used for multiple days. Great for if you’re shipping towards flooded areas, or if you’re looking to ship in places that are going to be wet for a while, such as days with multiple rain or the route has such factors to consider. 

Again, with them, they might not be used often, but there are a lot of fun ways for you to use them to protect your items. 

Real World Applications 

We see this all the time when shipping out items to disaster zones. During Hurricane Heleena in 2024, there were waterproof shipping containers used to travel to North Carolina, in order to get the items to those who need it. emergency supplies were placed in such waterproof containers in order to facilitate transit. 

There is also the use of various items that are fireproof to get to areas where firs are, as in the case of California.   When you wrap the items in fire retardant protection, then people can use it.

There’s also various items in containers that protect them from chemicals and toxins, specially specimen samples. When you go to space, there is also vacuum-sealed packaging for astronaut food, in order to keep the food as fresh as you can while up there.

Again, all of these are for more extreme situations, but we see from all of this just what you can do to  make the packaging stronger, not just for those who are suffering, but also to take it on adventures. 

How Color Psychology in Packaging Supplies Influences the Customer Perceptions 

The colors that you bring into your items do impact the brand, along with their recognition and understanding of such items.   For some customers, three colors that are in place mean a lot, and it can make or break many sales.

Some customers like the packaging more when colors are involved, for they show the person who is buying it just what types of energy the packaging might have. 

Here, we’ll go over what it is, and how companies are using color psychology within packaging to influence, from the warehouse to the consumer overall. 

The Use in Retail Packaging 

Color manipulation is used in a lot of different ways.

When choosing boxes for example, you might choose one that’s got a certain color to it.   That’s because it might excite the customers. For example, green for something that’s sustainable, or purple for luxury.

Tape is the same way. boring old scotch tape might work for a generic shipment, but companies looking to take this to the next level will use a color that best fits them.

The same goes for the filler. You want to choose a filler, such as tissue paper, that complements the box. Otherwise, it might look jarring.

Again, all of these are used strategically, even labels, which in turn will come together to offer a better, more intuitive form of packaging for you, and for the customers. 

Popular color trends 

These days, trends are all that matter. Eeco tones are good for those packaging incentives that offer sustainability.

Another one is metallics, because they show off the luxury, or high-end aspects of things. 

Finally, there is also neon, or brighter colors, which can signify urgency, and get customers to make decisions regarding their packaging.

The benefits of Such Packaging 

Color psychology is wonderful for improving branding and other opportunities. By enhancing your branding, you build a better, stronger name for yourself that really stands out.

It also supports the marketing goals that are there. Sometimes, you have to offer a unique incentive and perspective for such marketing efforts, which is why color psychology is the way to go, since it gives these customers something unique. 

Finally, it improves the unboxing that’s done.   You want to consider this, because a lot of brands thrive on unboxing, so when you do this, it will get them to show it off, and share with others. 

Again, all of these come together, in order to support and build an even better, more exciting packaging experience. 

Design Insights 

The best thing for you to do if you are looking to offer this, is to align your packaging color with the product category and target audience. Again, if your audience is high-end customers, then you will want to try to use blues, purples, or more sleek, neutral colors. If your audience is more eco friendly types, greens and browns, along with earth tones might be good, for it showcases sustainability. If the audience is children, you might want to use bright, whimsical colors that complement each other. all of these can be used interchangeably.   Adding some more neutral accents might also be good so that it’s not super overwhelming for everyone that’s there. 

Color matters so much to you as a brand, and to your customers. Doing this can influence a lot, and there’s a lot of fun ways not only for your packaging to stand out and really shine, but to also wow the customers you’re looking to really showcase to, and enhance in their own ways a focus that might be useful.

Self-Cleaning Packaging for Safety and Hygiene 

There is a growing demand for packaging that’s germ-resistant, especially in the world of healthcare and food. Some companies are taking the challenge, making packaging that is able to beat these germs. Here, we’ll go over some of the unique self-cleaning packaging types, and why more and more companies are taking advantage of these unique types of packaging.

Way it Works 

This type of packaging uses different types of solutions that will help to keep germs at bay.

Silver ion coatings are one of them. These coatings are used to help offer a unique, beneficial nature to this level of packaging, offering a better look to your items as well.   with silver ion coatings, you reduce the presence of bacteria and other such viruses from getting on the packaging.

Some sanitizing films would also benefit from this. a lot of them are activated by UV rays, so if you shine a light on it prior to sensing, or during the shipment process, it will naturally clean such items. 

Finally, antibacterial nanomaterials. With this type of packaging solution, there’s small nanotech that’s put directly into the packaging, helping to keep it all there. it’s a good way to protect your packaging, since you’re creating a cleaner, better solution for you to use. 

The Industries that Use it 

A lot of medical shipments are benefitting from this type of packaging. That’s because medical shipments are usually looking to offer sanitary means to improve the cleanliness of your packaging. This is something that you should look into, because it can help keep the items that you have nice and clean. 

Another one is food packaging. With food packaging, the safety and cleanliness of such items is key, so you’ll definitely want to consider using this kind of packaging.

Finally, ecommerce deliveries. A lot of ecommerce deliveries use packaging that sanitizes and better the items that are inside. When you give this opportunity, it can really improve the nature of things, and make them stand out.   so, if you want to make it work, definitely consider this. 

Benefits of This Packaging 

This type of packaging is beneficial because it takes out the risk for contamination, preventing the risk from happening. It also extends the shelf life of the product, and in turn, will enhance the hygiene of these items too.   When you test the product shelf life, you’re able to keep it around for much longer, thereby making it even easier for you too. 

Better hygiene reflects on you as a company, so it’s no wonder why you wouldn’t have this in place, especially if you want packaging that’s beneficial for all types of industries. 

New Developments

Some packaging is taking it to the next level. Through the use of AI, more packaging is able to detect the presence of bacteria. Once it does, it will activate the sanitization naturally. This natural activation helps to keep the product nice and safe for everyone involved, and makes it much easier for you as a company to improve on the cleanliness of such items. 

With more people caring about the hygiene you put forth in your products and items, this is a good thing to consider, so make sure you always make sure that the packaging is not only safe and sanitized, but also works well to keep everything fresh. 

It is good for safety reasons, but also reflects on you better as well, showing just what type of company you are, and the benefits you wish to give to all of the people who buy from you and support your company.