Is your Packaging Shape-Shifting for Efficiency?

Packaging is changing, and some of it is happening in very unconventional ways. One way is shape shifting, where the packaging is directly altered, in order to fit the needs of the product, or space constraints needed.

This is commonly used in food, ecommerce, and logistics packaging, and other ways. The goal of this is to be innovative and adaptable, to suit the many different industries that this would serve. 

The key parts of Shape-Shifting Packaging 

For shape-shifting packaging, you can make it in a manner that’s able to, well, change shape. 

To do this, you should use flexible packaging, which is packaging that’s based on the changes and flexibility of the nature that’s mentioned, in order to ensure that the packaging fits the needs.

There is also collapsible packaging, where you can collapse some of the sides, which is used for smaller items, especially if you use something larger. 

Modular packaging is another one, as you can literally mold the packaging to the size that you want and is ideal for the storage aspects. If you sell a variety of products, this is something that you will want to consider. 

New Technologies for Changing Sizing 

One big part of this type of packaging is you want something that will fit to the standards of the product that you’re going for. This in turn will allow you as well to create the right packaging for a product, based on its sizes. 

With new technologies that expand, shrink, and even conform the product to its sizes, there’s a lot here that can work in your favor.

For me, one of my favorites is vacuum sealing. This type of packaging, along with shrink wrapping, conforms the product packaging to the appropriate size. This in turn will help to shrink the item and packaging so that it fits well together. 

There are also airbags, which will inflate the packaging so that it fits the correct sizes, in order to ensure that the technologies are appropriate for everyone. 

All in all, there’s a lot of unique ways to really make the packaging work, so that it fits the type of item that’s in there. 

The Pros and cons of This 

Now, you may wonder why this matters, especially when boxes are right there. 

Well, it reduces the shipping and storage costs that are there, in order to create flexible packaging that’ll adapt to different conditions.   For instance, maybe you want to sell a big pouch of some candies, and then small, freeze-dried fruits. The different types of packaging sizes are great, because it does reduce the costs of shipping. You’re not paying a big box price to ship something small.

It also optimizes the storage space through creating flexible forms of packaging that will adapt to different conditions.  A  storage space may require the items to be flattened, which can take up a lot less space. Packaging that does that will, in turn, provide the business with more means to properly store and optimize their spaces. 

The one problem with this is that not everyone can fit into this type of flexible packaging. If the item is not meant for this, it may be better to use other means. But, through working with a packaging supplier you can adapt the packaging in order to save tons on costs. 

A lot of companies are using this already, and when you use this type of optimized packaging, you can reduce your waste, and it creates valuable logistical benefits that you can use to optimize the space efficiency. We should be seeing more of this soon too.