4IpaUJbnm

products dedicated to older consumers. This article aims to identify factors affecting the
development of innovation in the packaging of food products dedicated to older consumers.
Trends and scope of creation and innovation of packaging
The packaging sector producing packaging for the food industry is among the sectors whose
development is very dynamic and has a great variety in terms of product innovation. This
involves mainly intensify functionality, ergonomics, economic and ecological values of the
offer, but also with changes in the graphic design of packaging (packaging reflect trends,
define innovative product offerings, identify the brand). Modern packaging must fit into all
dimensions of sustainable development, namely the social, economic and environmental
(Hartenstein, Issard & Fontanet, 2011).
Development of packaging innovation is determined by many factors related both to the
potential of the company (financial resources, state of the art, infrastructure), as well as the
modalities of macro- and micro-environment in which the company operates. Among the
trends determining the creation and innovation of packaging, including the significant ones
from the point of view of older consumers, are the following: legal, technological, sociocultural
and ecological (Gawasane, Bix, Fuente, Sundar & Smith, 2011).
Unit packaging of food products belong to the group of products with high potential in the
implementation of innovative solutions. Analysis of innovation of packaging of food
products allow distinguish the following directions and aspects of their development:
material, design, technology and marketing (Irvine, 2008).
Materials innovations in food products packaging are designed to meet the ecological needs
of their users and take into account the aspect of environmental protection. The growing
influence of importance of the type of material used in the production of packaging and
method of disposal for the purchasing decisions of consumers encourages food producers to
use less material packaging. Analysis of the results of tests carried out under a grant funded
by the National Science Center entitled: "Modelling of food packaging based on the
valuation of correlation functions of packaging and socio-economic needs of consumers
seniors" older consumers prefer a single material packaging made mainly of glass, and paper
and cardboard. The second aspect of the development of innovation in materials is a
modification of the composition of packaging. Packaging in the mainstream includes bio
(Shimada, 2011):
hydro-biodegradable materials based on raw materials (eg. Cellulose),
which are destined for recovery through composting and biodegradation
and
materials made from biomaterials.
Another type of packaging innovation in the field of food products are design innovations.
They constitute the most numerous group among the new solutions dedicated to the older
consumers.They are primarily designed to emphasize the function of promotional packaging
and to expand and improve its usability and ergonomics. Currently, special attention is paid
to the innovative closure of packaging of food products that do not cause difficulties when
opening and closing containers. As examples specify the type of closure: Flip-top, Snap-on,
150