Demand for cups and lids in the United States are projected to expand 3.9 percent a year to $10.6 billion in 2020, according to a new study from The Freedonia Group, Cleveland. Gains will be supported by food trends that favor convenience and smaller portions, the market research firm details in its “Cups & Lids” report. 

In the competitive beverage marketplace, products need to create a memorable first impression and stand out from the rest on retail store shelves. Inks and coatings help to convey what is inside a can or bottle, but also play a key role in differentiating brands, according to packaging materials experts.

The old saying goes that a picture is worth 1,000 words. For beverage-makers, the design of their packages far exceeds that word count as it serves as the first in-person connection to consumers — both new and old.

When Madonna sang, “You know that we are living in a material world, and I am material girl,” the American singer could not have foreseen that her “Material Girl” song would eventually characterize her in the mainstream media. Although Madonna was not singing about glass, aluminum or plastic, these primary packaging materials, like the 1984 pop hit, have become classics.

According to Cleveland-based The Freedonia Group, demand for pouches in the United States will grow 4.4 percent a year through 2020 to $10.1 billion,primarily driven by the introduction of pouch packaging into new markets and the integration of high-value features, such as re-sealable closures and spouts, in more mature markets.