The use of flexible packaging continues to grow, thanks to the format's light weight, shelf impact and more. And with that growth come advances that are bringing new benefits to dairy processors.

Dairies and cheesemakers often choose rigid containers to set products apart from the competition and meet sustainability targets. And new rigid container offerings can help dairy processors enhance shelf impact, sustainability and convenience.

Distinctively shaped rigid packaging commands attention at retail. But distinctive shapes also can add functionality or project a certain desired image.

Sustainable dairy packaging is nothing new. Lightweighting, or source reduction, remains an ongoing process. Container wall thickness is reduced and flexible structures are down-gauged. Source reduction not only conserves resources, but also cuts costs and carbon footprint.

Although bottles, cartons and tubs are widely used, flexible plastic packaging dominates in the global dairy industry. With a market share of more than 27%, it owns a larger share than rigid plastic, paper/paperboard, glass or metal packaging, according to Global Dairy Packaging Market 2016-2020, a report from London-based Technavio.

New packages for ice cream win awards from the DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation and the In-Mold Labeling and Decorating Association.

Maximizing product protection, freshness, convenience and shelf appeal govern packaging decisions about dairy foods. These goals are driving interest in aseptic filling, in-mold labeling, single-serving sizes and functional features.

As demand for dairy snacks, single servings and customized products grows, pouch packaging captures a greater share of the dairy case.

Rigid packaging is a staple in the dairy case, but what’s stocked today differs from what consumers put in their shopping carts a few years ago. Containers have been lightweighted, sometimes with the help of in-mold labels.