The tight economy and growing interest in the environment are changing many items you find on store shelves. You may have noticed the packaging looks different. Local 12's Paula Toti shows you examples that could change the way you look at bottles, boxes, and bags.

Maybe you've noticed the Costco milk jug that's been getting a lot of buzz. The flat top makes it tougher to pour ... but it's easy to stack and therefore ship and stack in the store. That saves on shipping and store costs.

The so-called "green movement" has a big influence on new packaging. So does the fact that more consumers are design conscious. Most shoppers make their buying decisions in the store ... so it's no wonder the look of a package is so important.

Much of the design worldwide on packaging comes from Tri-State designers, including those at firms like Landor Associates. They say plastic isn't going away but the green movement has given rise to bottles that are eco shaped using 30 percent less plastic.

"The structure has changed in shape, when empty it is soft and squishy, made the wall of plastic so thin."

So thin the bottle needs added support. "So they put all these ridges in it .. So that it actually won't collapse when you hold it."

Much of the green movement started overseas. Green beer from Landor's Sydney office is a good example ... it's what's called Net Zero.

"That term means from the time the hops are picked to the time the bottle is in the recycle bin .. A net zero impact on the earth."

At the local hardware store you'll see this new Schlage packaging ... the door handles are in a container redesigned to cut package materials in half. And even in a tight economy ... there's a trend toward upscale.

"Cream Savers we designed for the Wrigley Company, again an indulgence, we talk about people spending less, but still want that treat at the end of the day."

And the next time you see a black bar on a package like this ... check to see if the designer is trying to suggest a premium product. You see that again here with these cookie dough nuggets that are just now hitting the freezer section at local grocers. And this isn't your grandmother's Kleenex ... or Life Savers. The new packaging is pretty ... bright, and contemporary.
 
Finally there's a trend on packing to have fun facts or tell a story, especially when it's about the environment.

"There are a growing group of consumers that will be willing to actually pay more for a product if it's in an eco friendly package."

When designers have clients fully devoted to the green movement they're even looking for package manufacturers that will use vegetable inks ... and wind or solar energy to make the packages. Now if we could just do away with all those foam peanuts.