2024 Trade Show Recap: Key Packaging Trends and Insights

The packaging industry thrives on innovation, collaboration, and staying ahead of ever-changing trends—and trade shows are where it all happens. This year, events like Packaging Innovations were brimming with advancements that promise to redefine the future of packaging. From breakthroughs in sustainable materials to the rise of automation, 2024’s trade shows were a showcase of creativity and functionality.

In this article, we’re reflecting on our experiences, sharing key takeaways, and exploring what these trends mean for the future of packaging. Whether you attended or not, consider this your one-stop recap of 2024’s exciting events and where we plan to be in 2025.

Where We Showed Up: Highlights from 2024’s Top Packaging Events

This year, we had the opportunity to participate in several leading industry trade shows and some smaller regional shows. We are grateful to have the ability to be present at so many shows and to network in person with so many wonderful people! Here’s where we showed up this year. 

In the US

Winter Fancy Food (Las Vegas, January 2024) 

The Winter Fancy Food Show draws in recognized names to rising stars of the specialty food industry. It was an exciting event to network, forge new business connections, and strengthen relationships with our existing partners. Read the full recap here.

Natural Products Expo West (Anaheim, March 2024)

Expo West is a massive multi-day event where the whole natural products industry comes together to network and showcase their products. This is where leaders and newcomers unveil groundbreaking products, network with like-minded professionals, and gain exclusive insights into the latest trends shaping the natural product industry’s landscape. Read the full recap here. 

Summer Fancy Food (New York City, June 2024)

Summer Fancy Food showcased global specialty foods and beverages, emphasizing sustainability, diversity, and networking. We were excited to inform potential partners that we have a new East Coast warehouse. The event included a Diversity Pavilion and sustainability measures like waste diversion and food donations. Read the full recap here. 

Newtopia Now (Denver, August 2024)

Newtopia Now debuted this year in Denver as a platform for conscious products, attracting buyers, retailers, and brands in the consumer packaged goods industry, replacing Natural Products Expo East. The show was also an excellent opportunity to inform attendees about our new 3PL partner in Colorado. The event featured four themed neighborhoods—Thrive, Regenerate, Represent, and Glow—highlighting innovations in health, sustainability, diversity, and natural wellness. We showcased packaging solutions and engaged in sustainability-focused conversations. Read the full recap here.

SupplySide West (Las Vegas, October 2024)

SupplySide West is a multi-day event that brought together over 20,000 professionals from the dietary supplement, food, beverage, and personal care industries. We showcased packaging solutions and connected with attendees to address challenges in a competitive market. Highlights included innovative product displays, wellness activities, and a strong focus on sustainability initiatives. Read the full recap here.

IFT Regional Suppliers’ Night Events

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is a community of food scientists and technologists dedicated to advancing the science of food. These events provide a platform for food professionals to discover the latest ingredients, concepts, and technologies. The IFT Regional Suppliers’ Nights are regional trade shows for the food service, dairy, meat, seafood, bakery, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. We exhibited at these regional shows in 2024:

• Portland, OR (February 26, 2024)

• Cascadia, WA (February 27, 2024)

• Northern California (April 23, 2024)

• Rocky Mountains, CO (September 19, 2024)

• Long Horn, TX (November 21, 2024)

In the UK

Packaging Innovations (Birmingham, February 2024)

We made our European trade show debut at Packaging Innovations this year! The trade show highlighted cutting-edge technology and industry trends, emphasizing eco-friendly practices as companies prepared for upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility regulations. Our UK team engaged with over 7,000 attendees. We proudly offered our tailored packaging and supply chain services and informed attendees of our expansion across the UK with a new 3PL partner in Birmingham and another in Darlington. This event attracts designers and technologists from various industries, including food, retail, pharmaceuticals, and personal care. Read the full recap here. 

London Packaging Week (London, September 2024)

London Packaging Week brought together over 190 exhibitors and thousands of attendees to explore innovative packaging solutions across the luxury, beauty, drinks, and FMCG sectors. We showcased our packaging supply chain solutions and engaged in discussions on eco-friendly practices and supply chain optimization. The event emphasized sustainability and innovation, inspiring industry professionals to shape the future of packaging. Read the full recap here.

Game-Changing Packaging Trends We Saw in 2024

The packaging landscape is constantly evolving, and these are some of the trends we saw dominating the expo halls this year:

Sustainability Takes Center Stage

The demand for recyclable and biodegradable materials continues to surge. We saw innovative materials like bio-based plastics, post-consumer recycled content (PCR), and compostable packaging being showcased across the board, especially in the health and wellness spaces. 

Companies are also doubling down on reducing carbon footprints through lightweight designs and eco-friendly manufacturing practices.

Smart Packaging on the Rise

The incorporation of QR codes and smart packaging is providing brands with new ways to connect with consumers and allowing consumers to deepen their loyalty to brands through interactive media.

Regulatory Compliance and Transparency

With new global regulations, companies are focusing on compliance while maintaining consumer appeal. Labeling transparency and extended producer responsibility (EPR) were major discussion points.

Design Simplicity Meets Functionality

Simple designs with clean lines, clear labeling, and bold typography dominated the show floors, reflecting a shift toward consumer-friendly aesthetics. Another standout was what’s being referred to as chaos packaging, where brands, thinking outside of the box, use unique packaging styles to help their products stand out in an overcrowded and competitive marketplace. Think plastic squeeze bottle with a dispensing top for olive oil–or tampons in an ice cream tub–that’s chaos packaging, and we are here for it. 

What These Trends Mean for Packaging in 2025 and Beyond

The takeaways from these trade shows are clear that the packaging industry is entering a new era. Here’s what we expect to see more of in 2025 and beyond:

• Material Innovation: Expect to see more eco-friendly alternatives being integrated into packaging with a greater emphasis on durability and performance.
• Consumer Education: As consumers demand more sustainable options, brands will need to prioritize clear messaging about recyclability and reusability. Educating the consumer on how to dispose of the packaging (or reuse it) properly will help build trust. 
• Tech-Driven Solutions: The future lies in combining functionality with technology, such as incorporating smart features directly onto containers or labels, allowing for deeper consumer engagement with the brand and tracking capabilities. 

For our team, these insights reaffirm our commitment to providing sustainable, innovative solutions that simplify packaging without compromising on quality or creativity. Going into 2025 we have a clear focus on where the packaging industry is moving and look forward to offering the best packaging supply chain solutions to our partners and customers. 

Trade Shows We’re Attending in 2025 

As we move into a new year, we’re set to attend several trade shows and have added some new ones that we’re excited about! The following is a growing list of trade shows we’ve confirmed for 2025. 

In the US

• Winter Fancy Food
• Natural Products Expo West
• Northwest Food Processing & Packaging Expo
• Superzoo
• Pack Expo
• SupplySide West
• IFT Regional Suppliers’ Night Events
  • Southern California
  • Northern California
  • Portland, OR
  • Cascadia, WA
  • Rocky Mountains, CO
  • Long Horn, TX

In the UK

• Packaging Innovations
• London Packaging Week

Looking Ahead: How Trade Shows Keep Us Innovating

Reflecting on the trade shows we’ve attended and the ones we plan to attend next year, one thing is clear: they’re not just about showcasing our products and meeting new or potential customers. These shows are about pushing boundaries, building lasting connections, and shaping the future of our collective industries.

We’re proud to be an active participant in these shows and eager to integrate the lessons learned into our work. 

At Paramount Global, we take pride in delivering high-quality packaging and supply chain solutions for a number of industries, including food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical, pet, industrial, and more. With warehouses across the US and the UK, we’re ready to be a packaging and supply chain solution partner.  If you’re looking to elevate your packaging game, contact us today to discover how we can be a partner to you.

We hope to see you at one of the shows next year!

Want more? Check out our 2024 trade show video recaps here!