Food Packaging Goes in and out of Style Just Like Clothing — Here’s What’s in Season Now

When 2025 began, packaging experts agreed that the number one trend in their industry this year would be sustainable materials, ranging from biodegradable and compostable packaging to eco-friendly alternatives to plastic and paper.

What prompted this prediction? Major policy changes, like bans on single use plastics in Canada and the UK, were compelling companies to rethink the way they deliver their products. 

Then came the tariff debacle, launched in February against trade partners including China, Canada, and Mexico, coupled with a number of shifts in environmental legislation, agencies, and efforts.

Suddenly, goods coming from outside the United States faced the possibility of becoming much more expensive, and companies were left wondering if their green credentials were still a selling point.

“The prospect of tariffs will increase the cost of both foreign packaging and domestically assembled packaging made with materials sourced outside of the U.S.,” says a trend forecast from InnoPak, an Ohio-based packaging design company with operations in the U.S. and Canada. 

So what can you expect to see on grocery store shelves moving forward? Here’s what the landscape of food packaging looks like now and what experts anticipate more of in the coming year.

Sustainable packaging

In spite of rising grocery prices, consumers are not letting up on their demands for more earth-friendly packaging — and in some places, it’s still the law.

In 2022, California enacted a statute requiring that by 2032 all single-use packaging and food service materials sold in the state be recyclable or compostable. The Golden State is aiming for a 25% reduction in plastic packaging and successful recycling of 65% of single-use plastic packaging and food ware.

This would be a major step forward from the current status quo, with less than 9% of plastic being recycled nationwide, which means more than 90% of plastic in the United States is simply thrown away. 

Along with its packaging goals for the next decade, California created a $5 billion fund that the state plans to use to address plastic pollution. “For too long, plastic polluters have passed the buck on the growing burden of plastic waste contaminating the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement last year. 

“California is leading the way to hold producers responsible, drive sustainable innovation and green jobs, and support the most impacted communities. We have to act now, with urgency, to give our kids a future without plastic pollution.”

InnoPak says the California law and other measures will result in a greater use of paper, plant fibers, glass, recycled metal products, and plastics that are made from recycled materials. 

Even if other states neglect to implement similar changes, California’s status as the most-populated state in the country, with over 39 million people, means these changes will undoubtedly have a significant impact.

More QR codes

Besides shifts toward sustainable materials, the way packaging presents information about a food product may also be changing. 

Instead of printed labels or stickers, scannable QR codes are part of the effort to repackage the way products are sold. A 2024 survey by GS1, the nonprofit that administers Universal Product Code barcodes, found that 79% of shoppers would be more likely to buy a product with a scannable bar code or QR code if it provided useful, detailed information about the product.

GS1 explains that these codes would go beyond simply listing ingredients and nutritional information and could even give consumers insight into sustainability practices or possible recalls. This would make in-depth information about what we eat more accessible when technology is accessible.

New design aesthetics

Carefully designed logos and product appearances have been part of the food industry since packaged goods reached shelves. But with so much visual stimulation coming at consumers via social media, video content, and the internet, a clear product image has never been more important for capturing customer attention. 

As a result, at least 50 major brands, from Dunkin to Diet Coke and even including Pepto Bismal, have undergone logo overhauls in the past few years, according to media and marketing consulting company Superside. 

Whether they’re redesigning an earlier logo or creating a new product’s original look, brands can opt for a number of visual strategies to catch the consumer eye. In its early notes on 2025 design trends, Packaging Digest says minimalist designs are increasingly prevalent as “consumers are drawn to more modern, fresh, and authentic designs.” 

But minimalism doesn’t mean boring, and Packaging World explains that bold typography or vivid colors are a popular pairing with minimalistic designs, as evidenced by the simple, effective visuals of RXBAR energy bars which list the ingredients in large letters on the front of the packaging. 

Among other aesthetic trends are what Packaging World calls “dopaminergic packaging design.” You may have witnessed these maximalist designs in the bright colors and busy, abstract patterns of craft beer cans or nonalcoholic drinks. These vivid and eye-catching motifs are “designed to trigger an instant mood boost,” the publication says. 

Vintage-style logos and packaging like the designs chosen by tinned-fish brand Fishwife point to an interest in nostalgia, too. InnoPak says these retro looks “remind people of something happy,” a sentiment that may be sorely needed amid the turmoil of fluctuating food prices and tariffs. 

Among competing design interests and different strategies for engaging consumers, Innopak admits that it can be a challenge to find just the right look for a product. 

“If you’re not sure which approach is best for you, ask yourself which one makes the most sense for your brand,” the company’s trend report says. “You might prefer a minimalist look if your brand prioritizes simplicity in ingredients and transparency. If your brand is built for individualists, then you might want to opt for a maximalist approach.”

One thing is certain: No matter which direction companies take, we can expect to see changes in packaging, logos, and other consumer-facing designs in the near future.