Popular fizzy drink brands Pepsi and Coca-cola have always been at a head with one another in terms of popularity. Coke is an iconic brand which has had a memorable packaging journey, commonly recognised and acknowledged by consumers. Pepsi however has never been a memorable brand in the packaging stakes, their changes in bottle shape have only recently been noticed and appreciated but in the last few years their popularity is on the rise and their packaging is starting to win over more and more consumers.

This new Pepsi bottle pack really goes a long way to standing up to its competitor. It looks a lot more attractive than the previous packaging, with a more ergonomic shape to the lower part of the bottle and a clear and minimalist label. The whole feel to this new design is far better than its clunky predecessor. It also gives the brand a more defined image, they are no longer 'the one a bit like coke' they have their own brand identity and their new packaging should go a long way in boosting them to a more popular consumer opinion.

The highly popular tortilla and dip brand Doritos has tuned its self into the needs and desires of their target marketing to create a great new packaging range to be used globally. Dortios has a huge market it teens and young adults, they have long been established at the top of the tortilla snack tree and have in recent years began to conquer the individual crisp packet industry too. Their appeal has long been seen in the element of party food meant for sharing, targeting themselves at those with busy social lives and regular get togethers rather than at the quick snack market, their packaging has reflected their originality and the well establish flavours and shape.

To better reflect their cool and fast paced brand personality they have given their whole image an update. The logo/brand name has been made more streamlined and now incorporates the the iconic shape of the product which is so well known. The packaging also invites the consumer to purchase other products in the range which will enhance their experience as Doritos salsa is another popular product of theirs. Having two products which go together and advertising this on their packaging has helped Dortios on its way to the top of brand recognition and consumer popularity.

Postage bags, along with envelopes and cardboard boxes, are the most critical packaging materials in our world today. Indeed, they have had that status for a very long time thanks to their undeniable usefulness and versatility.

The mail bag has been around for more than a century. Indeed, since the mail was developed, the mail bag has developed with it. The bag was ideal because it was lightweight and it was flexible. You can literally send it anywhere and it will hold out just fine. With the bag, couriers and mailmen were able carry around thousands of letters a day and deliver those to their respective destinations.

Now, the mail bag has not changed a lot. Indeed, the use of the bag has remained unchanged, and it seems that it will not be changing for a longer time still. Of course, generally, much has changed about the bag itself. Particularly, the materials used for making the bag have significantly improved. Centuries ago, the contents of the bag were unprotected from the elements. If it rained, the bag which was made from ordinary cotton cloth, offered no protection to the contents. Nowadays, things are very different. Bags now are made up of waterproof and fireproof materials. Basically, mails are now protected from water and fire. Of course, this is to assume that there is not too much of the latter.

It is said that the mailing bags have solved many – if not all – of our packaging problems and concerns. In the first place, what are these concerns?

First, we used to worry about our goods being able to arrive at the destination in one place. The advancement in the materials which are used in creating the bags has relatively guaranteed the protection of the goods.

Second, we used to think twice in buying the mailing bags because of the cost. Basically, these packing materials are among the cheapest. Furthermore, they can be reused. It might be true that there are cheaper alternatives, but these are disposable alternatives.

Finally, we used to worry about the negative effects of the bags on the environment. Indeed, since the later part of the last decade, we have grown significant concern over the well-being of our natural surroundings, and rightfully so. Fortunately, the postage bags are among those environment-friendly materials that do no damage to nature. In the first place, they are recyclable. Furthermore, they are made from materials which do not contribute to pollution.

Spring has sprung and the time of baby animals and chocolate eggs is upon us once again. Every year companies persuade consumers to buy their products by making them seasonal and the biggest seller this time of year is chocolate. More specifically, chocolate in the shape of an egg (in varying formats) is the most popular choice for consumers and brands to create at this time of year and some of the packaging involved looks fantastic.

The above packaging has some interesting use of shape and a very high quality finish. The classic egg shape is almost put in a display case style package with this shape, with its own little pedestal. The clear plastic allows the consumer to see almost the entire egg and the chocolates that come with it. This 'show case' style of packaging combined with the luxurious style of the decoration, which matches the decoration found on some of their non seasonal related product packaging. The whole packaging style reflects the luxurious feel of the entire Thorntons brand which is renowned for being so.

Kleenex are an internationally known brand when it comes to the tissue market. They have created and changed the standards in packaging design for tissues, selling several different sizes and in the past couple of years making patterned packaging the must have tissue box design. To keep on top of the game they have started bringing out limited edition ranges of their packaging. These have been based on different styles and designs, giving the consumer the opportunity to purchase something that will match their own style and home decor.

This year Kleenex are working with the online community for artists and creatives, talent house. Submissions will be based on a brief working around the ideas of current and future interior and fashion trends. After a 6 week submission period a top 10 list will be created and the consumers will be able to chose the final three designs on Kleenex's Facebook page. This not only gives consumers the chance to be directly involved in the packaging design process but also to support and take an interest in today's young and talented designers - giving them some exposure. Stay tuned in the next couple of months to take a look at the shortlisted designs and the finalised packages.

There are different types of packaging companies. We all know that there are many types of packing materials. As such, there are companies which decide to specialize and dedicate their crafts to a specific type of packing material. Indeed, this is actually good for the companies, and for everybody else. Focusing on one type of material means that they will be able to know how to make the best quality packing material at the cheapest way possible.

So, what are the different types of packing materials? It is essential that you know what kind of packing material and what packing company to choose for your goods. Indeed, there are many factors that must be put in mind in coming up with this decision. For instance, you have to consider the weight of the goods that you are going to send. You also need to consider the fragility of your goods. And, of course, you have to know whether the packing material can withstand and hold off moisture.

Here are the most common types of packing materials:

·       There are a large number of packing companies which dedicate their crafts to the manufacture and sale of plastic packing materials. Indeed, they have a pretty good reason for doing so. In the first place, the plastic is a very cheap material and it is also very lightweight. As such, plastic is actually a top choice for consumers. Another important thing about the plastic materials which make them popular for companies is the fact that they are highly versatile. In other words, the manufacturers can choose as many colors as they want in order to make their packing materials more pleasing to the eyes.

·       Boxes are another form of packing materials that people cannot do without. Boxes, especially those made from cardboard, have already been used since the early 18th century. Basically, the boxes were the evolution of the wooden crates, which was the most common form of shipping packages before.

·       Of course, there are a lot of companies which prefer to create and sell bubble wraps. Basically, packing materials are actually made so that they complement each other. In other words, a packing material is not made to stand alone; it needs to be used alongside other packing materials in order to maximize the safety of the contents inside the packing material. For instance, the bubble wraps are not used individually. They are usually wrapped around a sensitive item, and they are then placed in a bigger packing material, like a box.

There are, of course, many other types of packing materials. The packaging companies prefer to create a type or two in order to maximize gains and minimize costs.

Vintage is a buzz world in most categories today. Whether that be fashion, furniture, art, packaging or a whole host of others, vintage is the it thing to have. Needless to say vintage packaging is being re-created everywhere and this Marvis toothpaste is a fantastic example. Vintage refers to something at least 20 years old or more, it is important, especially when something is being described as vintage in style and not actually vintage, that this is the correct label to give it.

Marvis toothpaste is a well established brand which has been around for years. Unlike most of today's toothpaste market they have kept a classic look about them rather than looking ultra slick and modern. This vintage style makes good use of attractive colour options, classic typography and a distinctive packaging shape.

That said, people often refer to certain packaging styles as vintage when they are not. Above is an example of retro Vaseline packaging, retro is something that doesn't fit into the current time period. The above packaging has a very retro feel about it, the style of the designs and shape of the product overall is very pleasant and American feel.

Over the last 5 years people have attempted to be more and more environmentally friendly and companies have picked up on this. Consumers are on the look out for improvements in packaging and in the products themselves and companies have been forced to act. There are tons of packaging designs out there that are supposed to be better for the environment but are they actually?

This resealable mini spooners cereal packaging uses 75% less materials. Meaning that the box has been removed and this is being portrayed as a good thing. That doesn't necessarily mean that it is better for the environment at all however. The previous packaging would have been made from a cardboard box with a sealed thin plastic bag inside. Removing the cardboard box and using a thicker and resealable plastic bag means that it is using more crude oil on something that is not recyclable. This is far worse for the environment than the previous packaging. The outside of the previous packaging could be recycled leaving a much smaller amount of plastic to be thrown away. If you were to try and make the entire piece of packaging from card, the product would go soft within a few days of being produced. This means it might not even make it to the store to be sold. Using plastic that can be recycles might be a more sustainable option but most likely more expensive. Companies are marketing these products as though the reduction in packaging is helping the environment and this is incorrect.

Mailing bags are among the most widely used packing materials. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of people who say that the mail bag is probably the second most important packing material – just behind the cardboard box.

The mail bag is important as a packing material precisely because you can do many things with it. Even at home, we are able to use the mail bag in order to organize things. Of course, even at home, we also make use of the mail bag in order to package some items to our friends and loved ones.

If you are engaged in some kind of business, especially if it has something to do with packaging, you have to look at the mail bag at a different perspective. You have to consider the packing material as something which is critical to your entrepreneurial operations. You have to think that your business will not be able to survive without these mail bags.

One important thing to remember is that you should stack up your supply of mail bags. You must never run out of these because, as we have said, they are critical in your business. Many businessmen prefer to have mail bags with one color only. While this has its benefits, for business, one must use mail bags with multiple colors. Here are three reasons why:

1.     A single color is dull. One of your concerns is to attract the interest and the curiosity of your customers or possible customers. You will not be able to accomplish this end if you provide them with dull packing materials. The human eye is capable of distinguishing thousands of colors. We have been designed specifically to be attracted to color. This is the reason why works of arts like paintings, murals, and mosaics are never made with one color. History proves that we prefer things which come in different colors. After all, colors mean life.

2.     Colors are easy to identify with. If you make use of a single color, your clients might not be able to identify you apart from the others. It is pretty certain that all the other competitors employ a single color. As such, your clients would not identify you as a unique brand.

3.     Your choice of color will speak for your company. You have to understand that, after all, your mailing bags, along with other packing materials, are your advertising platforms. You have to make them attractive. You have to make sure that your customers will decide to buy your products just by looking at your packing materials.

Hatch design are always working hard on something and this time it's something quite special. In the past, people often associate fast food chains with greasy, sub-quality food that does more harm than good to people and the environment. Over the last couple of years many fast food chains have battled against this stereotype. McDonald's for example slashed the amount of calories in its food products. One of the biggest things to change amongst fast food chains worldwide is the packaging.

Burger King are determined to break the 'bad food' label and have started to do so by forming a relationship with 'Seattle's Best Coffee'. By bringing in quality coffee they are raising the standard of the products but this alone isn't good enough. Along with Hatch Design they have created some attractive coffee cup and takeout packaging designs. The plain white with a warm colour scheme looks positive and inviting. Their use of typography also gives an element of trend and style that is starting to show more and more in fast food packaging as they are beginning to keep up with the times. Keeping the brand logo to a minimum and making the decoration the focus means that unless you have bought from Burger King or look very closely, it isn't instantly recognisable. This makes it a product of interest and makes the consumer more likely to go and check out what's new.