With almost countless applications and benefits, flexible packaging has become a go-to format for brands across industries in recent years. The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) shares that flexible packaging is the second largest packaging segment in the U.S., garnering about 19% of the entire U.S. packaging market.

Packaging is a critical aspect of product marketing and consumer experience. It serves as the first point of contact between the consumer and the product and creates a visual and tactile experience that can impact consumer perceptions and buying decisions.

You’ve probably experienced it: pastries going stale right after you purchased them, berries growing mold in just a few days, lettuce going bad before the “best by” date. If you have, you’re not alone — keeping foods fresh for extended periods of time is a top challenge at every stage of the supply chain, including consumers.

Sustainable packaging has long been a goal for many brands. However, brands looking to adopt a more sustainable format faced numerous barriers to doing so—from unclear definitions of “sustainable” to incompatible films and equipment.  Fortunately, the packaging industry has made strides in researching and engineering sustainable packaging options, particularly in the flexible packaging space. 

While exciting, launching a startup brand brings a high level of uncertainty. Whether it’s messaging, branding, hiring or the product itself, you have seemingly endless decisions to make. Packaging is one of those decisions, and an important, yet often overlooked one.

With its convenience and endless options for customization, flexible pouch packaging offers you an important advantage in the marketplace. However, as more and more brands adopt flexible pouch packaging to realize these benefits, it will be crucial to do what you can to further differentiate your packaging on the shelf.

Whether you’re an established brand continuously innovating new products or a startup working to bring your ideas to life, moving from concept to production can be exciting and challenging. At Belmark, we partner with you to anticipate and avoid common challenges and barriers to scaling and eliminate the guesswork of packaging so you can focus on your brand.

As the global population continues to grow, so too will the demand for food products. The United Nations estimates that the population will reach 9.5 billion by 2050. At the same time, consumers are becoming increasingly health-minded—in a recent survey, over 70% of respondents reported that they wanted to be healthier, with 50% citing healthy eating as a top priority.

Like many industries, pet food manufacturers face more complexities than ever before in the marketplace. From changing consumer preferences to retailer sustainability initiatives, all brands must balance numerous factors to deliver quality products and reach more consumers.