Packaging has been around for as long as anyone can remember. But just how far back does it go?
Well, packaging was originally developed to preserve food, but in early human history there was no need for food preservation. Everything was done instantaneously – eating, drinking, and so on. If they were in a pinch, they would use things like leaves, branches and stones to help them out.
As time went on, and civilisations grew, the need to transport food and water became apparent and this led to the development of different containers, known today as packaging.
After much research, we thought an infographic would be the best way to detail the evolution of packaging from 1500BC to 2020.

Packaging is evolving everyday, with no plans on stopping anytime soon.
As everything else evolves, so do consumer needs. With different trends throughout history (glass, plastic, alternative materials), it’s no surprise that researchers are always looking for the next new thing. Sometimes, that means reviving old trends like glass bottles in an effort to be more sustainable.
Look out for our upcoming blog series on alternative materials! We go in-depth on unlikely packaging materials, including how manufacturers make them and what their main uses are.
Want more information on a particular product? Have some interesting facts to share with us? Contact us with any questions, or comment on the blog post! We love hearing from you guys.
Such an interesting blog post! Learned so much about bubble wrap’s origin and I love the colour changing plastic!
Glad you enjoyed reading! Who knew that a lot of packaging innovations were actually accidents?! I’m excited to see what’s to come in the industry…