Celebrate 4/20 with these Cannabis Packaging Trends

As the cannabis industry continues to grow and the category becomes considerably more crowded, impactful and effective packaging is more important than ever. The latest trends impacting the cannabis industry according to experts at Berlin Packaging are:

1. Smart Packaging: Smart Packaging can monitor freshness, provide ingredient, nutrient, and health specifications, display information about a brand or company, and create an interactive consumer experience, which can allow cannabis brands to expand their messaging beyond the label to reach consumers in new, interactive ways. Younger consumers are especially interested in how digitally advanced or ‘smart’ a product is, with one in four Gen Z and Millennials saying that interactive packaging (i.e., QR codes) is a key purchase driver.

2. Accessible Design: Accessible Packaging is particularly important within the cannabis industry. Chronic pain and arthritis are common afflictions for cannabis and CBD consumers, so easy-to-open and use packaging is essential in creating a positive user experience. THC- and CBD-based products require child-resistant packaging, often at odds with the needs of consumers suffering from pain in their hands, including the prevalent older demographic. Finding ways to meet regulatory requirements while making products accessible to all users can demonstrate a brand’s commitment to social responsibility while driving trial and brand loyalty.

3. Enjoyment: Today’s consumers are looking for enjoyment and excitement in the products they buy, especially following the stress and anxiety of the last few years. Retro packaging is popping up across categories, reflecting a desire for fun, nostalgic, escapist design experiences that align nicely with the recreational cannabis industry. A great example of groovy design is the Highway 420 spec packaging developed by Berlin Packaging’s in-house design team at Studio One Eleven.

4. Carbon Conscious: While material circularity and recyclability continue to be important to cannabis and CBD consumers, there is also growing awareness around the role of carbon emissions in the packaging sustainability equation as almost 60% of global consumers say reduced carbon footprint is extremely or quite important to them in a product (GlobalData). Many companies today have even begun incorporating carbon labeling to demonstrate their environmental commitment and help consumers make informed purchase decisions.

For more information or to speak with someone at Berlin Packaging, please contact Lindsay Rafayko Santora at Lindsay.Rafayko@berlinpackaging.com.

About Berlin Packaging

Berlin Packaging is the world’s largest Hybrid Packaging Supplier^® of glass, plastic, and metal containers and closures. The company supplies billions of items annually along with package design, financing, consulting, warehousing, and logistics services for customers across all industries. Visit BerlinPackaging.com and BerlinPackaging.eu for more information.