Consider these 4 nutraceutical trends:
Read on to find helpful tips for applying these supplement trends to your labels and packaging.
Demand for variety and novelty
Whether it’s new flavors or formulations, today’s consumers demand variety and novelty. In the nutraceuticals market, this trend has led to an explosion of SKUs and pressure on brands to produce a broad product portfolio. On the one hand, following this trend is an excellent way to grow your business. Product line expansion boosts market share, brand awareness, and customer loyalty.
On the other hand, this trend adversely affects the supplement industry. Heavy competition, comparable products, and low-cost manufacturing have lowered consumer switching costs. For vitamin and supplement brands, launching new SKUs can be risky. So, how can you use this trend to your advantage? Here are our recommendations:
Employ unique packaging formats
Rather than experimenting with new flavors, try adding unique packaging formats to your product line. Almost all supplements come in rigid plastic jars and bottles; flexible packaging breaks the mold and maximizes shelf appeal. Furthermore, pouches are convenient and portable, particularly when formed into sample-size or on-the-go formats.
Add a personal touch
Another way to add novelty to your packaging is through variable content. Also known as variable data, this includes text, images, and QR codes that can change from label to label. We achieve this type of print personalization through digital printing. It lets your customers personalize products with their names or photos, increasing consumer loyalty.
Manage your growing portfolio with digital printing
If you’re a brand with a growing number of SKUs, digital printing might be the right fit for you. It is more efficient and economical for short runs than traditional print. Unlike conventional printing, digital printing does not require plates. This enables you to easily change graphics from version to version and combine multiple SKUs into one order. Doing so increases your overall order quantity and drives down the cost per label, saving you money.
Furthermore, because of the lack of setup costs, digital printing enables you to launch new products cost-effectively and with minimal risk. So, if you’re unsure how well your latest flavor will do in the market, only order enough labels for a test run. You can then print more labels when you need them. Learn more about the benefits of digital printing for nutraceuticals in this blog post.
Recyclable and eco-friendly packaging
In the last few years, plastic packaging has come under fire. Across the globe, many governments have passed laws banning single-use plastics. A new law in California prohibits deceptive recycling claims and requires brands to use recycling-friendly components, inks, adhesives, and labels. With many leading brands announcing targets to eliminate unnecessary plastics and ensure their packaging is recyclable, compostable, or reusable by 2025, sustainability is becoming a minimum requirement for doing business.
For brands with clear sustainability goals, consumer support is higher than ever. According to a recent consumer study, 60 to 70 percent of US consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging when labeled as eco-friendly. And, more and more consumers expect packaging to be recyclable or include higher levels of recycled content.
The signs are clear: sustainable packaging benefits the planet and can future-proof your business. Don’t know where to start your sustainability journey? Here are our packaging recommendations:
Enable recyclability
Plastic packaging is standard across most markets, including the nutraceutical market. PET and HDPE are the most common plastics used to package vitamins, dietary supplements, functional foods and beverages. PET and HDPE containers are widely recyclable, but labels, inks, and adhesives are sources of contamination in the recycling process. To ensure a closed loop for recycled packaging, brands need solutions that work with the current recycling system.
We offer several circular solutions for PET and HDPE packaging. Whether you’re looking for pressure-sensitive labels, shrink sleeves or flexible packaging, our solutions enable recycling without sacrificing performance or aesthetics. They are also compatible with existing label application and filling equipment.
Choose alternative materials
Although creating a circular economy for packaging is our primary goal, we understand that the above solutions may not be the best fit for your brand. For this reason, we also offer sustainably-sourced materials to help you reduce your carbon footprint. These solutions include labels with post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, FSC-certified paper, and renewable bio-based materials to decrease your environmental impact.
