In an increasingly crowded drink market, innovations in packaging form, functionality and materials are important to convey product integrity – freshness, quality and sustainability. Yet, packaging falls very low on the list of importance when choosing food and drinks indicating that consumers don’t fully understand the role packaging plays. Furthermore, beverage consumers participate in only most basic of sustainability practices and think responsibility falls to brands to take the lead in practice. Key opportunities lie in wide-ranging innovations that can not only help consumers link packaging to product integrity but also nudge them into broader, personal engagement in sustainability.

For the purposes of this Report, Mintel will cover trends in beverage package labeling, material and design in the shelf-stable and refrigerated non-alcoholic US beverage industry. The Report includes insight into consumer priorities regarding package characteristics specific to beverage categories. In addition, attitudes and behaviors regarding packaging materials and recycling are discussed, particularly as they relate to themes applicable to the Report.

While the Report focuses on non-alcoholic beverages, some innovation examples feature alcoholic beverages.