​Demographic shifts - with more urban, single, carless, digitally enabled yet time-starved or physically restricted consumers - are driving the demand for faster and more convenient shopping and consumption.

Metsä Board's high-quality paperboards and expert services help you create the most powerful brand communication and brand experiences – from the package itself to various retail solutions.

​The 'Innovation issue' of the Metsä Board Magazine is all about innovating for a sustainable future, showcasing innovative uses of fibre based materials and processes that optimise packaging design from start to end.

​According to Business Insider, an American financial and business news website, the last-mile delivery costs account for 53% of the overall transportation costs. At the same time, customers increasingly demand faster deliveries. Naturally, this is a topic of interest for future innovation.

Sustainability is a major trend, and is now considered a ‘must-have’ in packaging business. Several studies demonstrate that consumers prefer sustainable packaging and are willing to pay extra for it. But what actually makes a packaging sustainable?

​Demographic shifts - with more urban, single, carless, digitally enabled yet time-starved or physically restricted consumers - are driving the demand for faster and more convenient shopping and consumption.

​In Metsä Board’s Better with Less – Design Challenge, innovative solutions for frequently used consumer packages were gathered from entrants around the world. A key focus area in the competition was in creating better experiences for consumers while reducing the environmental impact of the packaging in general.

​What kind of packaging solutions do urban consumers want, and how is urbanisation affecting the demand for paperboard? 

​The global e-commerce market is growing at double digit growth rates. Increasing e-commerce offers numerous opportunities for packaging suppliers, but also challenges, as online shopping places new requirements on packaging.

​Superb customer service and a superior product are gaining Metsä Board a strong foothold in the US market. Customers in the US embrace better, lighter and faster solutions.

​When Hershey was looking for a more sustainable, lightweight and efficient solution for their Cookies & Chocolate secondary package, Metsä Board’s design team was keen to take on the challenge. 

​How is online retail transforming the requirements of today’s consumer packaging?

Views are changing on what is considered luxury. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of environmental issues, and many want their purchases to reflect these values. Accordingly, modern luxury brands are looking for ways to make their goods desirable for both customers and the planet. And according to a recent consumer survey, that’s also good for the business.

​Insects are considered a common element of human nutrition in many regions around the world. In Europe, too, snacks and dishes made of arthropods are becoming popular. No wonder given the fact that they are rich in nutrients, beneficial to the environment and efficient to breed. Zirpinsects, the manufacturer of ZIRP insect snacks, packs its dried mealworms, grasshoppers and crickets in a sustainable folding carton made of Metsä Board’s fresh fibre board – for a natural, sustainable and consistent product presentation.

​Answering to the packaging needs of a growing market for takeaway food, Metsä Board’s new eco-barrier paperboard offers a sustainable and cost-efficient option.

​Finnish craft distillery The Helsinki Distilling Company combines a true respect for raw materials with an uncompromising attention to detail. Their White Dog new-make spirit and its packaging both communicate a brand aesthetic where the raw and uncut meets a luxurious finish.

​How is urbanisation affecting the way families and individuals live in the modern city, and what are the effects of these changes upon packaged consumer goods?

​15 years of close collaboration help Metsä Board and Essentra meet the key trends for luxury and personal care packaging.

​In this, the first of an ongoing series of articles exploring urbanisation and its effects on the global packaging industry, we provide an introduction to one of the world’s most challenging megatrends.

​Metsä Board’s SkinCare 2.0 gift box design is following in the footsteps of its predecessor that has received multiple awards for its innovative design. On December 4th, the new, improved gift box was named Champion of Packaging Printing, Paper Packaging, at the 29th Hong Kong Print Awards.

As the head of the jury of Metsä Board’s Better with Less – Design Challenge, Design & Innovation Director Cyril Drouet explains the contest’s goals, motivations, and the packaging innovations he hopes it will inspire.

Metsä Board has been recognized as a global leader in two programmes by CDP, the international not-for-profit organization advocating sustainable economies through a global disclosure system. This is the third consecutive year Metsä Board was rewarded a position on the CDP Water A list, and the second year on the CDP Climate A list.

​The world is changing fast. More people than ever before live on our planet and the majority of them will be living in cities. Digitalisation is impacting upon retail and many goods are now enjoyed on the go or delivered straight to customer’s doorstep. The number of brands and products is constantly growing, but at the same time we are battling the challenges posed by the climate change. There is a clear recognition that in the near future the world will need to run on renewable energy. To meet these challenges, we need innovation in all fronts.

​Confectionery manufacturer Ferrero shared us their views on the role of suppliers and packaging with regards to sustainability.

​Cartons, using Metsä Board’s paperboards, were awarded in three categories at the European Carton Excellence Awards, held on 21 September in Salzburg, Austria. The awards recognised excellence in design, convenience, brand communication and the major role paperboard plays as an innovative packaging material.

​In his column, Mark Beamesderfer, technical marketing & services director at Metsä Board Americas, talks about how online purchasing has changed the demands for brand packaging.