How consumer feedback is shaping innovation in plastic bottles
Chris Parry , product specialist , Industrial Physics
Food and beverage packaging has been the subject of scrutiny for several years now . Recycling and sustainability are high on the agenda of end-consumers - and various organisations , such as big retail players , are increasingly looking for packaging solutions that
38 FDPP - www . fdpp . co . uk fulfil those preferences . At a global level , this has resulted in a tangible change in the way food and beverage packaging is presented and marketed . For example , with data on the level of recycled materials now being included on labels .
One material which has been under the spotlight as part of these conversations is polyethylene terephthalate , a form of polyester better known as PET . Used across the industry in the form of trays , films , and bottles , PET is the most recyclable plastic in the world and is used widely in global plastic bottle manufacturing .
Industrial Physics ’ 2024 research of packaging professionals in the food and beverage industry shows that almost half ( 49 %) of those working with plastic packaging agreed their company ’ s top goal is to meet consumer preferences . Reactions to brand choices are loud and prominent in 2025 , particularly with the dominance of social media platforms . Therefore , packaging professionals are evolving their products to address these requests and maintain relationships with their own audience - the brands and retailers .
This has led to innovation across food and beverage packaging , with manufacturers seeking to balance sustainability with quality by utilising a variety of techniques and materials .
Sustainability in structure
Brands that have pushed to innovate off the back of consumer feedback are already seeing positive results . 59 % of plastic packaging professionals agree that innovations within their