When it comes to retail inventory tracking, traditional barcode labels reign supreme. However, after a few bumps in the road, RFID tags are making a comeback in some high-end brick and mortar stores. Find out what makes RFID tags so appealing to retailers, and the challenges these products face going forward.

A trend toward premium packaging has led to a rapid rise in demand for shrink sleeve labels. Find out how manufacturers are working to improve the sustainability of these labels, and which materials are at the forefront of these efforts.

Video: Watch Freedonia Analyst Mike Richardson conduct a hands-on discussion of the different types of wine caps and closures.

Innovations with water soluble PVOH packaging film technology have spurred the rapid growth of single-use dose detergent products, despite safety concerns. Find out how some manufacturers are capitalizing on this technology to cater to consumer preference for similar convenience products.

Recent innovations in pharmaceutical packaging include products to help solve problems facing the pharmaceutical industry. Increasing medication adherence rates, preventing misuse, and improving environmental friendliness are some of the problems tackled by recent packaging innovations from WestRock, 3M, and Gerresheimer.

Video: Watch Freedonia Analyst Mike Richardson discusses different types of protective packaging.

Hydrocolloids are used in a wide variety of applications in the food and beverage industry, primarily as thickening or gelling agents. But many new applications for hydrocolloids are still being developed, including one that could alleviate the environmental impact of single-use bottle packaging.

America has long been a nation of snackers, with over 60% of the population filling out their three meals a day with a snack or two. However, as snack foods increasingly replace traditional meals, it means big business for not only packaged food producers, but also for suppliers of convenient and highly marketable packaging.

Trends focused on quick and easy meal preparation for home cooks have led to greater demand for food products that help to take the frustration out of the cooking process. This means that retailers are shrinking down meat packages and adding new lines of precooked and preseasoned products in convenient and ready-to-use formats that can be priced at a premium. A Freedonia analyst explains what this means for the packaging market.

Trends in cosmetics packaging design for 2017 emphasize luxury and convenience across many retail channels. A Freedonia Group expert and a marketing coordinator at a consumer products packaging producer weigh in.