Unveiling 2024's Packaging and Recycling Trends

What lies ahead for plastic packaging & recycling in 2024?

In 2024, the interconnected relationship between packaging and recycling industries is swiftly evolving, offering abundant innovation, opportunities and ongoing change. Here, we share the essential trends shaping packaging and recycling this year. 

1.Packaging with Purpose 

Innovations in recycling technologies and processes are driving a trend of purpose-led packaging in 2024. These materials serve a dual purpose of packaging functionality and environmental clean-up, reducing reliance on virgin resources and addressing waste-related issues. For instance, Oceanix HDPE incorporates recycled plastic from waste fishing gear pollution, mitigating oceanic pollution. This trend resonates with consumers and gains traction among retailers and brands, driving investments in sophisticated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies. 

2. Rise in Returns-Friendly Packaging 

Consumer returns continue to be a pressing concern for both retailers and shoppers, and one that’s being influenced by sustainability. Research of 1,000 people earlier this year by Advanced Supply Chain found that almost a third (31%) of consumers are as concerned about the sustainability of returns as they are about the costs of them. 40% either feel guilty about the environmental impact of their returns or consider this factor when they package up and send items back to retailers. 

Concerns about environmental impact are already starting to drive a trend of packaging design, which enables shoppers to easily reuse the same packaging their orders arrived in. Returns-friendly features include resealable closures, pre-printed returns-address labels and QR codes for completing forms online. These features bode well with shoppers that crave convenience, as well as sustainable performance, and are also favoured by retailers as they can speed up the process of products being sent back.