Designs are becoming more functional as processors seek a competitive edge. Likewise, dairy product developers are increasingly leveraging rigid and flexible packages, while automated packaging systems, such as case palletizers, are enabling dairy processors to better cope with labor issues.

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.

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