June 11, 2025 – From squeezable juice cartons to resealable confectionary pouches, packaging serves as a key component in capturing the attention of shoppers. A growing number of consumers are opting for on-the-go snacks, leading to a heightened demand for innovative food packaging solutions. These solutions not only ensure the items remain fresh, but also prioritize sustainability and reusability.
Innova Market Insights delves into this emerging trend featuring insights from Jörg Sabo, the global director of marketing and innovation at Greiner Packaging International, who sheds light on the evolving landscape of consumer preferences in packaging.
What Appeals to Eco-Conscious Consumers?
Recent survey data suggests that consumers around the globe consume snacks while travelling, and this figure has risen considerably this year.
To meet the growing demand for convenience, packaging must prioritize features that enhance user experience. Research suggests consumers prefer resealable and easy-to-open containers that facilitate portion control. Rigid plastic packaging effectively addresses these needs by offering portability, freshness preservation, and versatility for multiple uses.
Consumer demand for snack packaging has highlighted the cross between convenience and sustainability. As consumers become more eco-conscious, there is a clear shift toward sustainable packaging solutions. Thanks to advancements in plastic recycling technologies, there has been a marked improvement in the ability to recycle rigid plastic packaging, helping to address environmental concerns and attract eco-conscious consumers.
By providing single-serve portions, rigid plastic packaging effectively meets the growing demand for portion control. While alternative packaging options are emerging, rigid plastic remains a leading choice.
How Snack Pack Innovations Work
Companies like Greiner Packaging specialize in making rigid plastic packaging like containers for food, dairy, and beverages. They also manufacture all-in-one packaging solutions, such as lids that come with cutlery, to suit different manufacturers’ requirements.
“Our innovations are driven by customer needs, regulatory compliance and environmental sustainability. With Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) compliance as a primary concern for our customers, Greiner Packaging is dedicated to providing sustainable, high-quality solutions that address this priority,” explains Jörg Sabo.
For a company like Greiner, a commitment to products that have innovative and technological advancements is important to keep up with competitors. It is also necessary to continuously reduce the dependence on virgin resources, and aid with the recyclable ability due to the challenges faced in waste management.
Additionally, enhancing the sustainability of products is recycled PET (rPET) into production. The use of rPET is especially substantial because it is the only post-consumer mechanically recycled plastic approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for food contact applications. This makes it ideal for use in the food sector, where compliance with strict food safety standards is stringent.
As for consumer preferences, a new product database from Innova Market Insights suggests that the top three packaging types in the past six years included flat pouches, standing pouches, and three or four-sided sealed pouches.
Meanwhile, sustainability trends show that “recyclable” and “reusable” came out on top as the fastest-growing environmental claims over the past five years. While the leading subcategories for snack packaging launches during this period were topped by snack nuts & seeds.
The Rise in Rigid Plastic Solutions
New materials and technologies are becoming apparent, such as rigid plastic packaging. In the case of Greiner Packaging, they have prioritized sustainability by developing this type of packaging that reduces environmental impact through improved processes and eco-friendly recycled materials, maintaining high-performance standards.
Rigid plastic packaging allows snack manufacturers to position their products attractively at the point of sale. The durability and clarity of packaging solutions enhance product visibility and appeal, making it easier to capture consumer attention.
The capacity to shape plastic into different forms and sizes allows for unique designs that catch the eye on store shelves. Additionally, customizable and colorful prints and labels boost marketing appeal.
Packaging solutions are strong and keep snacks fresh. This helps snacks last longer and maintain their quality. By keeping snacks fresh, rigid plastic packaging reduces food waste and ensures safety.
How Sugarcane-Based Caps Offer Flexibility
As the demand for on-the-go beverages accelerates, other packaging companies are on a quest to deliver exceptional experiences in beverage consumption, combining sustainability and packaging features with elements from previous solutions.
There are solutions out there that give beverage manufacturers production flexibility, allowing them to switch between producing four different types of packs in under an hour on the same machine, all without risking sterility.
As for other innovations, improvements in sustainable packaging such as plant-based caps are on the rise. The caps are made from plant-based high-density polyethylene and low-density polyethylene, which are derived from a non-food source made from sugarcane.
The plant-based caps are said to offer the same level of consumer functionality and ability to recycle. Thanks to sugarcane’s high yield, production requires less land for cultivation, supporting environmental sustainability.
What Changes Are There in Demand?
Snacking trends reveal that juice remains a popular choice for people on the go, with various packaging formats to meet this demand. Since COVID-19, health and wellness concerns, especially about sugar, have grown.
It is no secret that in recent times, consumers have placed greater emphasis on health, with the majority paying attention to their diet. For those surveyed by Innova Market Insights, the concern largely loomed on the shift from fat to sugar, with a preference for low-sugar alternatives.
To help them remain competitive, beverage manufacturers are exploring new packaging innovations that would allow juice drinks to be packaged in small, room-temperature cartons that can turn into frozen products at stores or at home.
Consumers around the world continue to indulge in snacking, with Millennials and Gen Z driving new trends in the space. However, every product has price elasticities, and according to Innova Market Insights, the market is beginning to hit limits.
Inflation is expected to slow down, but prices have risen over the past three years, while incomes have not increased much. It will be interesting to see how these changes affect the global snack packaging sustainability and industry in the coming months.
What’s Next in Snack Packaging Trends?
As consumer demand for on-the-go snacking continues to grow, how packaging manufacturers respond with innovative solutions that balance functionality with environmental responsibility will be key. Rigid plastic packaging has emerged as a frontrunner in meeting these dual demands, offering the portability, freshness preservation, and portion control that modern consumers seek.
The industry’s shift toward sustainability and technological advances in plant-based materials, such as sugarcane-derived caps, demonstrate the sector’s commitment to reducing environmental impact.
Challenges remain, with inflation impacting consumer spending power and price elasticity reaching its limits. Manufacturers must navigate the delicate balance between innovation, sustainability, and affordability.
This article is based on Innova’s Sustainability Trends: Versatile Snack Packaging on the Rise – Global report. This report is available to purchase or with an Innova Reports subscription. Reach out to find out more
