It might surprise you to learn that younger generations are revolutionizing the packaging industry today. While their shopping habits are a big part of the story, the influence of Millennials and Gen Z goes far beyond what they buy.
Today’s rising consumers are driving change across the industry in powerful ways. Here’s how they’re transforming packaging:
The bottom line? It doesn’t matter what age you are, everyone can benefit from the positive momentum young people have created by embracing sustainable packaging options too.
Millennials (Generation Y) and Gen Z have grown up with social media, in fact, for many, it’s been part of their lives since childhood. With the rise of social platforms has come the rise of influencers, who now play a major role in shaping buying habits and consumer expectations.
These trend setters with large followings are heavily involved in product testing and recommendations—everything from cosmetics to household goods. A major part of reviewing a product is unboxing it, so people can see how it is packaged and what it looks like prior to the first use.
Influencers showcase their entire unboxing experience, especially on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Unboxing videos began to rack up billions of views as early as 2015 and have only grown in popularity since the pandemic fueled online shopping.
For consumers, these videos provide valuable insight into what to expect. For businesses, they’re both a powerful brand awareness tool and a way to reduce returns, since customers have a clearer picture of the product before purchasing.
For brands, this means packaging can’t be an afterthought. It needs to:
One way to meet all these expectations is with protective packaging like HexcelWrap® product wrap and HexaFil™ void fill. These sustainable kraft paper alternatives to plastic packaging help ensure your goods arrive in perfect condition at their destination by providing excellent cushioning. Plus, with natural and white color options, they enhance presentation while aligning with eco-friendly values.
As we mentioned earlier, sustainability is a key part of successful unboxing experiences, especially for younger shoppers and influencers. While Millennials and Gen Z lead the charge, consumers of all ages are showing a growing preference for eco-friendly packaging.
In fact, shoppers are more willing to buy from businesses when they see they offer sustainable packaging. And younger shoppers are especially willing to pay more for earth-friendly alternatives to conventional plastic and synthetic foam.
In the beauty industry, for example, more than half of Millennial and Gen Z consumers have stopped buying from brands without environmental credentials. If they care about the health effects of beauty and wellness products, it’s only natural that they also care about the packaging.
This trend isn’t limited to the U.S. In markets like Germany, a high percentage of young shoppers are open to paying extra for sustainable packaging, which makes it crucial for brands that ship internationally to adapt.
When it comes to packaging materials, “sustainable” has to mean more than just a buzzword on a label. True sustainability requires meeting several key standards.
Sustainable packaging must be recyclable and/or compostable. Furthermore, it should be curbside recyclable, which means anyone can put it out with their regular refuse for pickup. Many packing materials say they’re recyclable, but in reality, they must be recycled at facilities that are rare to find in most areas.
Sustainable packaging is also made in a way that leaves the least impact on the earth. Ideally, it comes from a renewable source and doesn’t require an excessive amount of resources like water or energy to manufacture.
New research continues to reveal troubling links between plastics and human health. Plastic waste doesn’t just harm soil, plants, water, and animals, it is now making its way into the human body, including our cardiovascular systems and even our brains.
Why? Because plastics take decades, sometimes centuries, to decompose. As they break down, they leach harmful chemicals into the environment. Even when they fragment, they turn into microplastics and nanoplastics, tiny particles invisible to the eye but present in our drinking water, oceans, fish, and even precipitation like rain and snow.
Millennials and Gen Z are pushing brands to think beyond sustainability alone. They’re embracing new packaging innovations such as:
Support for sustainable packaging isn’t just coming from consumers. It's also being reinforced through new regulations at the city, state, national, and international levels. Much of this momentum is being driven by younger generations who are not only shoppers, but also scientists, engaged voters, and policymakers.
For instance, the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act represents a major shift towards sustainable practices in the state of Oregon. Other states are expected to follow suit, and California, Colorado, Maine, and Minnesota have already passed similar laws.
Across the Atlantic, the European Union has introduced new regulations that will soon require sustainable packaging across member nations. For companies that ship internationally, adapting early ensures compliance and may even provide a competitive advantage in global markets.
Transitioning to sustainable packaging does not have to be complicated. With guidance from the team at HexcelPack, it can be simple, stress-free, and even an opportunity to improve efficiency and product protection.
In addition to product wrap and void fill, we offer innovative pallet wrap, HexcelStretch™, that can offer you improved load stability and less waste, without the use of plastic.
Ready to take the next step toward smarter, more sustainable packaging? Connect with HexcelPack today and see how easy it is to make the switch.