You’ve concocted a tasty and unique beverage and that’s great! You’re one step away from success.
Now comes the next step: figuring out your beverage packaging options. Are custom beverage boxes enough or should you invest in bottles? How custom do you want your custom beverage packaging to be?
If there’s a rule of thumb with boxed packaged goods or any type of packaged goods, it’s that packaging isn’t always about how it looks; good packaging protects the quality of your beverage. Beverage boxes shouldn’t be just pretty to look at; they should be easy to ship and stock on shelves.
While most beverage companies package their drinks in plastic (PET) bottles, there are plenty of new options when it comes to beverage packaging, each of which comes with its own pros and cons.
As you consider potential packaging solutions for your beverages, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Know Your Beverage Packaging Options
Start by deciding on how you want your beverage to look on the shelf and the type of container you want to package it. From beverage boxes to PET bottles, you have plenty of options. However, you have to balance your vision with factors like availability and cost. Also, evaluate the compatibility of your chosen beverage packaging with your drink’s formulation, labeling and processing.
The material of your beverages’ packaging boxes is important since it affects variables like resistance to temperature, shape retention, shelf life, sustainability and weight, among other things.
The most common beverage packaging options include cartons, plastic, metal and glass.
- Beverage boxes/cartons. Beverage boxes or cartons are recyclable, low-carbon packaging solutions often made with quality paperboard that preserves and protects the contents of the beverage box or carton. We often associate beverage boxes with drinks like milk and juices.
- Plastic. If you’re not keen on the idea of beverage boxes, how about plastic? One of the biggest perks of plastic packaging is they are lightweight, durable and easily shaped. These are the reasons PET bottles continue to be a popular packaging option for beverages. On the other hand, plastic bottles have a shorter shelf life compared to metal or glass containers. It’s not a sustainable option either.
- Metal. Most beverage cans are made of aluminum. Aluminum cans are lightweight and recyclable. They are also great at emitting light, unlike plastic bottles, glass containers and beverage boxes. This makes them great for longer shelf-life applications.
- Glass. Glass is one of the oldest beverage packaging materials used in the industry. It guarantees recyclability and a high-quality feel and protection. Glass beverage containers have a longer shelf life but can easily break.
Plan Your Beverage Packaging Design
Food and beverage packaging are important to any business’s success in the industry. With the right beverage packaging design, you can benefit from tons of upsides in advertising, selling, logistics and customer service.
Beverage packaging design deals with the structure, form, materials, typography, imagery and information with design elements to make their drinks suitable for marketing.
The primary goal of custom beverage packaging is to create a vehicle that protects, contains, dispense identifies and distinguishes your drinks from the market.
You can’t just randomly shelve beverage boxes and expect customers to buy your products.
To plan your beverage packaging design, answer the following questions.
What is Your Product?
What are you selling? What is it made of? Is it sensitive to heat, light or other external factors? By answering these questions, you can easily determine the logistical requirements of your drinks.
For example, beverage boxes are will work for most juices, but if you’re manufacturing refreshing and chilled drinks (the ones best enjoyed cold in your hand), why not invest in aluminum cans or glass bottles? If you’re using glass or metals instead of cardboard beverage boxes, consider the sorting and transportation process, as well.
Who is Buying Your Products?
Are adults your target market or kids? Is your drink to be consumed by women, men or both? Are your drinks environmentally conscious?
A drink’s packaging should appeal to its consumers since they can make the customer’s final decision.
When planning your custom beverage boxes, glasses or cans, make sure the design appeals to your target market. Drinks made for adults need larger texts. If you are selling high-end drinks, consider the type of packaging. It should create a feeling of luxury.
How are People Buying Your Products?
Are they buying your drinks from a convenience store? A supermarket? Or your company’s website?
Products sold online take less space, which means your drinks are unlikely to rattle around. Drinks sold at convenience stores need to be eye-catching since they are surrounded by other beverage boxes.
When it comes to packaged goods, careful planning is always important. Make people fall in love with your beverage by investing in quality custom packaging.
