Trends in Sports & Nutrition Packaging

Packaging is fundamental in the delivery of your brand. Whether you are selling products directed at the sports arena or nutrition products and supplements aimed at promoting good health for your customers. Plascene researches the current trends and ultimately what your clients are drawn too so that we can better assist you and your business with making the right decisions for your brand. Here are three trends in the Sports and Nutrition market.

1. Protein powders and whey are no longer just marketed at the sport's elite, they are now mainstream products that can be found even on the supermarket shelves

Sports protein powders alone represented 70% of the sports nutrition segment, reaching nearly $5 billion in sales across the US. According to the group, the number is expected to rise to at least $7.5 billion by 2020. (1) 

The ideal plastic packing for this product is opaque plastic jars and tubs, due to the quantity and weight of the product. The packaging can be easily teamed with plastic scoops for effectively measuring the product, promoting the consumer's ease of use. 

The target demographics of your product can be addressed in the use of graphics and branding applied to your plastic packaging, which could be young adults, seniors, vegans or vegetarians, weightlifters and sports hobbyists to name but a few. 

Plascene can help you navigate the choices and options available for your product offering complete custom design to help your product stand out on the shelf.

2. Color coding your supplements range to highlight the health benefits to your customer

Colored plastic bottles according to the supplements function: for example Immune Support, Energy & Vitality, The Nervous System, Respiratory System, Cleanse & Detoxify, System Restoration, Well-Being for Men and Women, are proving popular in packaging trends and the use of color in your packaging directs the consumer to the type of product they are looking for. 

This is a simple but effective marketing tool, the use of matt opaque plastic bottles with engaging branding is a trend Plascene are seeing more of. The quicker you can direct a potential customer to select a supplement, the more likely you will be able to secure a purchase. The color coding of a product can be achieved through the bottles themselves or even just the color of the caps.

3. The rise of HPP (High-Pressure Processing) in packaging. Consumers are now actively seeking this process for their selections and it is wise to have it displayed on the packaging

The hyperbaric process is not new to the sports and nutrition packaging industry nor the food and beverage industry as a whole but given the recent promotion to consumers of the benefits of HPP in the packaging process it is being sought by the consumer and is increasingly becoming a feature to be promoted on your plastic packaging. 

The process involves the application of high pressure which removes harmful materials, such as bacteria, mold, parasites, yeast, and viruses, however, it allows the food to retain its vitamins, nutrients and will not alter the food or beverages original characteristics such as color, texture and most importantly flavor. Since no chemicals are being used, and the HPP process only deploys high-pressure water, consumers looking for more ecologically friendly options are also seeking this process highlighted on their product selections.

For more information and reading on HPP, see these informative links

https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/hpp-packaging-on-the-rise/

https://www.foodqualityandsafety.com/article/hpp-food-packaging/

http://blog.hiperbaric.com/global-trends-in-hpp-for-2019#more-4059

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(1) https://www.assemblies.com/protein-powder-packaging/