The Future of Packaging: Top Emerging Trends in 2025 and Beyond

The future of packaging involves different factors such as the ecological factors, the increasing customer demand, latest trends, etc. If you are eager to know about the trends you can be seeing emerging in 2025 in Australia, give this blog a read.

New Packaging Regulatory Reforms

More brands are incorporating sustainability in their packaging as customers are shifting their focus towards more eco-friendly choices. The government of Australia has passed reforms to ensure a circular economy and to reduce the country’s carbon footprint significantly. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW) stated:

“As the current Framework is based on recyclability through kerbside systems, further work is required in 2025 to identify where B2B packaging materials not recyclable through the kerbside system are recyclable at scale through commercial collections.”

The reforms talk about replacing conventional packaging materials with ones that are not harmful to the environment. Corporations are already trying to rid themselves of harmful packaging, plastic, and use plant-based materials. Brands are also driving campaigns where, with every purchase, they plant a tree. The following are a few ways to ensure sustainability in packaging this year:

• Aiming for Minimalism

Minimalistic designs are all the rage among customers, and brands are using that to their advantage. This term does not only mean using fewer visuals, but it also means using fewer resources. The more resources you use in packaging, the more depletion occurs. Hence, using minimalism, brands are ensuring they use fewer resources for packaging. Rustic packaging is one such example of being trendy while attaining minimalism.

• Using Eco-Friendly Resources for Packaging

Businesses must choose eco-friendly resources when manufacturing packaging to ensure they are being a sustainable brand through and through. As an Australian brand, you must try to use paper packaging such as Kraft, cardboard, and rigid boxes for your products. Many brands are also switching to corn plastic and seaweed packaging.

However, it’s not the eco-friendly packaging material you must use, but the dyes as well. Brands are using soy-based dyes for the packaging to reduce their carbon footprint and ensure that decomposition is easy. Petroleum-based dyes are harmful to the environment and cannot be easily disposed of at home.

Introducing Smart Packaging

Capturing and retaining customers is very hard, as businesses are coming up with trendy ideas to market their products. One such technology is incorporating smart packaging and captivating customers by telling them stories behind the products. Two of ways you can incorporate smart packaging to boost visibility and sales in the market are:

• AR

Experiencing a virtual world behind a product is what’s capturing customers’ attention these days. This is where Augmented Reality (AR) comes in. Buyers can scan the codes and dive into the stories that brands have to tell about the product. An Australian wine brand, 19 Crimes, uses this technology to engage customers in history lessons. Each bottle shows the picture of a convict from the 18th century, and after scanning the code and they get to know the convict while enjoying the wine at their home.

• Eye Tracking

Eye tracking technology helps designers and manufacturers understand the important parts of a package. Once they know the parts, they design the package so they can capture customers’ attention more and more. A US company designed a few shower gel products and asked the customers to wear the glasses and look at each product to see which product works better. The movement created a heat map and gave the brand an idea of which product is performing better and what visual elements are important.

Leaning Towards Digital Printing to Reduce Material Waste

More businesses are using digital printing as it is cost-effective and material efficient as well. With the digital printing you can get on-demand prints in no time. The setup doesn’t take a lot of time and it is efficient than the conventional printing. Choosing digital printing in 2025 means that brands will be avoiding potential supply chain issues as well.

Incorporating AI Automation

Artificial Intelligence can automate the supply chain issues and help the brands in boosting their business and visibility. IoT together with AI is making great changes in the packaging industry. Businesses are incorporating real time tracking and IoT sensors to ensure that the product inside the packaging remains safe during shipping and even shelving. Food businesses can automate the packaging to track for how long their food items can stay fresh and free of spoilage.

Going for Customised Packaging

To distinguish themselves and making a lasting impression on customers brands are using customised packaging. Even with rustic packaging boxes, brands are creating their unique identity in the market. Your brand can also use the following ways to customise the packaging boxes and attract more customers:

• Styles

Once you have decided the perfect packaging material, choosing a versatile packaging style is very important. You can find the trendy boxes customers are looking for when they shop for products. Most of the times they are looking for a gift item that they won’t need to pack. This is why your packaging must be top tier. You can always consider using the following styles for the boxes:

• Pillow Boxes
• Pyramid Boxes
• Round Boxes
• Magnetic Closure Boxes
• Gable Boxes
• Slider Boxes
• Drawer Boxes

• Colour

Brands choose the colours based on the colour psychology for their packaging boxes. Your brand can win over customers and retain them only if they know the right colour combinations to choose. One important thing to remember is to use colours based on the season you are in. For instance, spring season calls for pastel shades such as sage green, ice blue, powder blue, champagne pink and so on. For autumn season, many brands use retro or vintage colours such as shades of brown and orange to captivate customers.

• Finishes

Packaging finishes are like the cherry on top of a cake, they add value and more beauty to the customised packaging you are offering. You can use premium packaging finishes to make your design and colours more visually appealing. Whether you need to reduce the colour vibrancy or give the visuals a 3d effect, packaging finishes enhance the overall appeal. Your brand can explore different premium packaging finishes for the boxes to boost visibility:

• Matte
• Gloss
• Embossing
• Foil Stamping
• Holographic

Get High-End Packaging from OXO Packaging!

Now that you know the new trends for 2025, it’s time to choose your customised packaging. You can keep the regulatory reforms in your mind and place an order for the packaging. Contact OXO Packaging today to get a free custom quote for your custom packaging order.