Across industries, AI is proving its value — and the packaging world is no exception. 

If you're exploring how to leverage AI in your work — whether you're designing new packaging, managing a brand portfolio, or leading sustainability initiatives — this article is for you.

We'll explore where AI and its accompanying technologies are already making an impact in the packaging space, emerging trends, examples in the field, and how your team can start putting these innovations to work.

1) Driving Recyclability

We see AI playing a crucial role in driving the industry towards more recyclable packaging.  

To improve recyclability, it is important for brands to understand where their portfolio currently stands, identify packaging units that need improvement, and come up with more recyclable alternatives. 

While the process may sound straightforward, it becomes complex in practice—especially when managing thousands of SKUs and aligning with recyclability guidelines across multiple markets. This is where AI can streamline the process!

AI, coupled with digital platforms, can primarily assist you in introducing packaging innovations. With the help of AI, you can quickly compare different packaging concepts to find the optimal one for your products with regard to recyclability and compliance.

At the very least, any general-purpose AI model can help you here if you prompt it with the details of your current packaging specifications and ask for innovative concepts that use other materials, mentioning any guidelines or regulations relevant for you.

But this approach has its limitations if you have data integrity considerations or want to do this more professionally, perhaps for a larger portfolio.

Using AI for improving packaging recyclability

Here at Recyda, we are also tapping into the power of AI. Our latest innovation helps you simplify and accelerate the shift toward more recyclable packaging across your entire portfolio.

As part of our Packaging Sustainability Management Platform—built to assess recyclability and EPR obligations—AI capabilities enable users to:

• Add existing packaging data to the platform and find areas where recyclability can be improved.

• Generate new packaging innovations via a prompt, and compare the impact they will have on recyclability directly within the platform.

The bottom line: In one place, do a comparison of the packaging options generated, detailing recyclability considerations and EPR costs in the countries that you select. 

Learn more about our AI feature here

2) Packaging Artwork Concepts

AI isn't just transforming the way companies generate and manage packaging specifications. It's also reshaping how packaging looks and feels.

Chances are, your current design tool already includes AI features to help here — or soon will. 

You can also turn to a wide variety of general image-generation tools like Midjourney or ChatGPT to generate packaging ideas. These tools, however, aren’t tailored for packaging workflows.

Alternatively, you can explore specialised AI tools that have emerged in this space, like Sourceful, DYP, or Packify that are built for packaging artwork. They let you:

• Generate creative design concepts.

• Edit and customise artwork.

• Choose from a variety of packaging types.

• Visualise variations and potential market performance.

These tools are fairly new and evolving, but one area where they are exceptionally beneficial is the generation of creative concepts for your packaging, which you can use as a starting point for your artwork design workflow.

3) Packaging Waste Management

AI is also supporting circularity efforts by improving waste sorting in recycling centers.

Using a combination of hardware and software, AI detects and classifies the packaging waste flowing through recycling systems. 

It helps provide more clarity on the type of materials flowing through and improves sorting. In the bigger picture, this reduces waste and improves recycling.

WeSortAI and GreyParrot Analyzer are two good examples of tech within this space. With the help of AI, these solutions:

• Identify the materials flowing through recycling centres to better sort and recycle them. They also help identify hazardous substances, such as batteries, in waste streams.

• Track material flow; analyse and visualise this data to inform smarter, data-driven decisions. 

4) Understand Consumer Behaviour Towards Packaging

AI is starting to influence how brands test packaging concepts with customers. 

Innovation in this area has just started, and solution providers that provide AI-based testing are mostly focused on testing visuals and creative artwork for all marketing channels, and only a subset of their services focus on packaging. 

While not a replacement for traditional focus groups and other well-established methods within the industry, AI can:

• Rapidly test visuals and messaging

• Deliver actionable insights when time or budget is limited

A few examples include Swayable and Vizit. Both of these platforms test your marketing visuals, with a subset of their services focusing on testing how packaging artwork will perform on the shelf. 

Conclusion

While most AI solutions in packaging are still in their early stages, adoption is expected to accelerate as the technology matures.

Now is the right time to explore these tools — only by getting started can we accelerate progress in the development of these technologies to drive value.

At Recyda, we're committed to helping teams leverage AI to drive more sustainable, cost-effective packaging decisions. 

Interested in testing our AI Capabilities and exploring how Recyda can support your team? Feel free to reach out—our experts are here to demonstrate and answer your questions.