JM Smucker, the company behind Flogers coffee, Jif peanut butter and (obviously) Smucker jam has invested $35 million in a Chinese food company named Guilin Seamild Biologic Technology Development Co. Click through to read more about Smucker’s investment and find out why China is increasingly important to the consumer goods industry.
The Packaging Insider
Packaging Trend: The Fine Line Between Food & Health/Beauty
The emergence of antioxidant-enriched foods and other enhanced food products has caused the US consumer to blur the lines between traditional food and beverage products and health and beauty products. Click through to find out what this means for packaging designers and manufacturers.
Read morePackaging Trend: The Fine Line Between Food & Health/Beauty
Wine Packaging Goes Green
Glass packaging has always added to the overall impression of quality for high-end wines. However, rising oil prices and other environmental factors have compelled wine producers to look into more eco-friendly options. Click through to see what these changes mean for wine packaging.
Packaging Trends for Women
The percentage of women earning over $100K annually has doubled in the past decade, so appealing to this consumer base is important for packaging designers. Click through to see three trends in packaging for women.
Buddy’s Bubbles: Brand Spotlight
Buddy’s Bubbles is a dog shampoo created by dog owners for dog owners. The shampoo is made from natural ingredients that won’t irritate a dog’s eyes or skin. It is also extra foamy to ensure that your dog gets clean, even after the most intense outdoor walks. The Buddy’s Bubbles online store will be launching … Read more Buddy’s Bubbles: Brand Spotlight
Universal “Origami” Packaging for UPS
Packaging designer Patrick Sung has created a packaging concept that will protect contents of any size and shape. Click through to see more images of this system and an explanation of how it works.
Producing Plastics from Waste
Scientists have developed a way to produce plastics from renewable natural resources, such as agricultural or industrial waste. Researchers have developed “cell factories” capable of producing new compounds from the sugars found in plant-based waste. Click through to find out how this new technology could change the packaging industry.
University of Vermont’s Bottled Water Ban
The University of Vermont recently banned sales of bottled water on campus, pledging to offer students and faculty more sustainable options including drinking fountains. However, some see the ban as hypocritical considering that the sale of other bottled beverages will still be allowed. Click through to get both sides of the story.
Taco Bell Uses QR Codes on Dorito Tacos
The idea of a Taco Bell taco wrapped in a Dorito shell sounds like an idea big enough to sell itself, but Taco Bell is taking things one step further with a QR Code-based augmented reality promotion. Click through to find out what will happen when you scan one of these tacos with your phone.
Budweiser’s QR Code-Based “Track Your Bud” Campaign
Budweiser is giving beer drinkers an inside look into the production process behind their favorite beer. The “Track Your Bud” campaign allows consumers to track the origins of their specific can or bottle of Bud by scanning a QR code or going to TrackYourBud.com. Find out more about this initiative after the cut.
Read moreBudweiser’s QR Code-Based “Track Your Bud” Campaign