Bringing a new product to market is never easy. It can be a lengthy process, full of rules and regulations before finally launching.

Many brands are easily distracted by the aesthetics of the product, overlooking the importance of ingredients and labelling.

We’ll be honest it’s not the sexiest part of our job, but believe us when we say, food labelling and packaging regulations are some of the most important aspects of your brand packaging.

Let our team take you through just some of the reasons why…

Don’t fight the law

Reason number one, and the most important has to be legislation.

Legally, your packaging will need to show certain information, list ingredients and disclose allergen warnings, all of which may differ depending on which markets you serve.

Incorrect labelling can leave customers with severe health issues and in some extreme cases may even cause death. So, disclosing full ingredients, highlighting allergens and including other important information on your food packaging is paramount.

Communication

Just as creative design helps to communicate USPs and differentiate your product, labelling can help to guide consumers on how to use, reuse, recycle or dispose of the product and packaging in a responsible way.

This is especially important for materials that can and should be recycled, as the public become more aware of their sustainability footprint. If you are able to be creative about encouraging re-use and helping your consumers to contribute to a more circular economy it can only have a positive impact for your brand in the long term.

Product recalls

We’ve all seen the product recall headlines. And for a business, this ain’t pretty. Not only does it cost a small fortune to trace, replace or destroy all the mislabelled stock but it can have long-term implications for your brand.

Studies have shown that consumer perception of brand quality and trust can be greatly affected by recalls, not only for the problem product but all other brands in a company’s portfolio.

Brand Transparency

As long established suppliers and well-trusted brands hit the headlines, for all the wrong reasons, its only natural to become more distrusting of brands, manufacturers and regulatory bodies. Well publicised product recalls and food scandals only heighten the desire to learn more about the origin of our food and drink.

As consumers become more concerned with complete brand transparency and traceability, accurate labelling becomes ever more important for your packaging.

If you export to various markets, you are likely to face a lot of different labelling regulations. At DCP we can advise you on current regulations and adjust your product’s labelling where needed. Feel free to drop us a line if you need to have a chat about food regulations or take a look at our case study here to learn more about how we help brands meet regulations.