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Companies constantly innovate and redesign their packaging to boost performance, enhance sustainability and improve marketability. Here’s a look at four recent packaging developments on Packaging Dive’s radar.

Unboxing horror

Pabst Blue Ribbon is dabbling in wearables. Sort of.

It collaborated with entertainment company Horror, Inc. to develop a limited run of merchandise featuring Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th movies — including a PBR box that consumers can transform into a wearable Jason mask.

"Jason's hockey mask is instantly recognizable, so making it wearable right off the pack was a no-brainer for us," said Robbie Barsamian, executive vice president of Horror, Inc., in a news release.

The mask is on the exterior of select cartons of PBR 12-packs and can solve “that all-too-familiar problem of figuring out a last-minute Halloween costume,” said Zac Nadile, head of brand strategy at Pabst Brewing Co. “Cut out the mask, or just wear the whole box on your head … either way, you'll likely still have one of the best costumes of the night.”

Pet project

A pouch with pet food branding on the front.
Courtesy of BW Converting
 

BW Converting is highlighting the consumer convenience attributes of its resealable flexible pet food packaging.

When cosumers tear open the Hudson-Sharp Pour & Lok, it forms a gusseted opening for easy and controlled pouring, according to a news release. Pairing that with resealability lends well to pet food “where freshness, ease of use and clean dispensing all matter on the shelf and in the home,” according to the company.

On the converter side, Pour & Lok is designed for rollstock production that does not require major equipment changes or fill-line disruptions. The product also has applications beyond pet food, including cereal, snacks, frozen foods and lawn and garden.

Give it a spin

A stack of red paper cups with various images visible through cutouts on the outer layer.
Courtesy of Green Food Pack Co.
 

Green Food Pack Co. introduced rotating paper cups that put a new spin on brand communication.

Users can rotate the outer layer of the double-walled hot cup to reveal different graphics or messaging through cutouts.

“The interactive nature encourages consumers to photograph, share, and interact with products, extending brand visibility beyond the point of purchase,” the company said in a news release.

The company says these cups are recyclable. 

Growing resistance

A small paper foodservice bag holds fried chicken nuggets and is positioned next to a pot of ketchup.
Courtesy of Ahlstrom
 

Also on the foodservice packaging front, Ahlstrom commercially launched two new Grease-Gard products. These papers are designed to provide high-performance grease resistance, specifically for quick-service restaurants in the North American market.

Grease-Gard Plus features enhanced water holdout, is designed for recyclability and can serve as an alternative to wax-treated papers, the company says. It’s suitable for converting into a broad range of wraps and bags.

Grease-Gard Pro is designed for premium food service applications and adds a heat retention feature. It can serve as an alternative to foil bags or wraps. It can be used for hot sandwiches, burritos and grab-and-go foods.