Abstract:
Keywords: Alcohol, Packaging, Sustainable, beverage, brands, business, Carbon footprint, consumer
We all know that alcohol as a beverage is widely popular in all age groups. Different age groups have different choices based on various personal elements, such as proximity to alcohol retailers and age, as well as social factors, such as religious affiliation, financial status, and family background. However, other external factors subconsciously or consciously play a part in choosing your “Favourite drink”. One such important factor is the packaging.
Alcoholic beverage packaging plays a critical role in the success of the product. Logistically, the packaging needs to protect the product and the quality for consumption. However, before you can get your beer, wine or spirit into your buyer’s home, you need to develop a strong brand image that will attract consumers. Buyers interact with your alcoholic beverage more than just through consumption. In this case study, we will see how different alcohol packaging was and how it has changed and innovated throughout the years.
How packaging influences Buyer Choices
First impressions are crucial. Brands have only seven seconds to establish a favourable impression on a potential buyer. Effective design not only facilitates quicker and simpler decision-making on the part of the consumer, but it can also grab their attention. According to research, packaging influences at least one-third of product decisions and personal preferences. The essential elements that shape your reputation
- The Logo
Your customer recognizes your brand by your logo. If you build a connection with them, the consumer will consciously or subconsciously choose your brand while making a purchase.
2. Brand Colors
Colour palettes are crucial to building brand awareness. One of the first things a consumer will notice about your product is its colour, which will help it stand out from the competitors — making the right colour choices will affect purchasing decisions.
3. Typography
If your beer, wine, or spirit is brand-new to the market, your customers will look to the labelling for information to help them decide if it is the correct choice. Your typeface will continue the brand message, so make a wise decision.
4. Packaging
Customers place much value on premium packaging. Create a sensible choice for your adult beverage’s packaging because it can make or break a connection.
Alcohol Packaging: History vs Now
Distilled spirits react upon exposure to many substances, extracting materials from the container that destroy the liquor’s aroma and flavour. For this reason, nonreactive glass has been the universal container for packaging alcoholic liquors. Packaging economics require containers that are standardized in size and shape and lend themselves to automatic processes. Before now, Every alcohol packaging is with glass, but since new trends are coming in the packaging Industry, the Alcohol industry is also paving its way into the sustainable era.
Trends in alcohol packaging
- Paper Bottles Made of Cellulose-Fiber
The cellulose-fibre bottles are 94% chemical-free and five times lighter than a glass bottle since its made of layers of recycled paperboard bonded with water-based adhesive. It can withstand a 5-foot tumble without breaking and uses less fuel when shopping.
2. Substituting glass bottles with PET bottles
One of the main elements of a wine and spirits supply chain that consumes much energy and raises the carbon footprint by roughly 51% to 68% is the production and shipping of glass bottles.
3. Ready-to-drink beverages (RTDs) or canned beverages
Aluminium beverage cans are the most recyclable beverage packed in the world, and with an average recycling rate of 69%, they can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality. The beverage can is an excellent idea and well-positioned in the beverage business.
4. Packaging Reductions
Shocking the goods makes the packaging smaller, which helps lower shipping costs. Sustainable beverage technology using a patented brewing technique is a BrewVo effort. It lowered beer production and distribution by one-sixth of their conventional weight and volume while increasing capacity.
Sustainable Packaging Solutions:
- Cellulose Fiber Alternatives
In order to make a 94% chemical-free bottle, these goods fuse layers of recycled paperboard using water-based glue. Additionally, the finished item weighs five times less than ordinary glass bottles, which means shipping it uses less fuel. The bottle can withstand drops up to five feet without shattering and is resistant to humidity, spills, and both. The first 12 months of a beverage’s storage in a cellulose fibre bottle are safe.
2. New Wave Plastic
Recycled PET, a BPA-free and food-safe plastic used to make many other types of containers, is utilized to make bottles. Recycled PET has a significantly lower carbon impact than virgin plastic, making containers 87% lighter than glass. After usage, users can easily recycle the container once again, and it has a 21-month maximum shelf life.
3. Returnable Glass Bottles
The carbon impact is reduced by up to 90% by using each bottle up to ten times. With this approach, consumers may participate in environmentally friendly initiatives while still enjoying the benefits of glass wine bottles.
4. Shrinking the Product
Another beverage container that depletes resources is the keg. A sizable stainless steel keg primarily filled with water is shipped, and an empty, fully inflated keg has returned. This method is incredibly ineffective. A Colorado-based company has created a novel method that successfully separates water from alcohol while retaining the aromas of fermentation. It makes use of a membrane. The result is a non-alcoholic beer that contains six times the flavour density of a full beer.
Conclusion
The alcohol sector is making numerous steps to reduce the carbon footprint of wine, spirits, and breweries. Brands in the beverage business have made significant efforts to lessen the environmental impact of their products. To enlighten consumers, alcohol companies are emphasizing the inclusion of recycling instructions on their labels and going 100% transparent concerning their carbon footprints.
These small campaigns encourage brands to use these substitutes while raising consumer awareness. Solutions cannot come soon enough for the planet’s sake and, in the eyes of new generations of consumers. They use many criteria when choosing alcohol brands, and sustainability is one of them. Brands will be required to have greater significance. Companies will have to improve, and brands will have to improve because we are dealing with a more knowledgeable and activist consumer.
