Cannabis Industry Embraces Automation: Over 80% of Cultivators Moving Toward Automated Packaging by 2024
In 2021, just 10% of cannabis cultivation operations utilized automation technology for packaging. Fast forward to 2024, and more than 80% of cannabis cultivators are now adopting automation to streamline operations, particularly for plant trimming and packaging. This significant shift has been driven by the cannabis industry’s recognition of automation’s potential to improve efficiency, lower costs, and increase productivity.
What led to a 70% jump in just three years? The answer lies in the growing awareness of the benefits of automation and the launch of movements like the Anti Hand Packing Movement, which advocates for more efficient cannabis packaging practices.
What’s Behind the 70% Increase in Automation?
The shift towards automation in cannabis cultivation over the past three years has been nothing short of transformative. In 2021, automation technology was still considered a luxury for many cannabis operations, with only 10% of the industry using it for packaging. However, by 2024, a staggering 80% of cultivators are moving towards automation as they realize the value it brings to their operations.
One of the primary drivers behind this change is the widespread recognition of automation’s advantages. Automated packaging ensures consistency in product handling, which is crucial for maintaining compliance with cannabis regulations. Moreover, automation dramatically increases productivity and operational efficiency, allowing cannabis businesses to scale faster.
With automation in place, companies can redeploy staff to more value-adding roles, such as customer service and quality control, while also reducing human error in tasks like packaging and labeling. For many cannabis companies, this shift has been essential to staying competitive in an industry that’s rapidly evolving.
Enter the Anti Hand Packing Movement
One of the key initiatives driving the push for automation is the Anti Hand Packing Movement. This movement has emerged as a response to the labor-intensive nature of manual cannabis packaging, which, as many operators know, can be slow, error-prone, and inefficient. The Anti Hand Packing Movement aims to modernize the industry by advocating for the adoption of automated systems, particularly for packaging processes.
Interestingly, this movement isn’t exclusive to the cannabis industry—many startups in sectors like produce, beef jerky, and candy face similar challenges when it comes to manual packaging. However, cannabis cultivators are beginning to realize that automation is not just a productivity booster, but a necessity for staying competitive in a crowded market.
The movement also focuses on educating cannabis operators about what automation really entails and how it can help streamline their packaging processes. By doing so, the Anti Hand Packing Movement honors the community-driven spirit of the cannabis industry while helping operators transition to more efficient packaging solutions.
Why the Anti Hand Packing Movement Matters
Manual cannabis packaging can be likened to an infamous scene from the classic TV show I Love Lucy, where Lucy and Ethel struggle to keep up with a fast-moving chocolate assembly line. In the cannabis world, the reality is not far off—there’s simply too much product for a small team of people to package every day. This can lead to mistakes like inaccurate weights, mislabeling, poor sealing, and inconsistent dosages, all of which are problematic in a heavily regulated industry.
The inefficiencies and errors associated with manual packaging have created the need for a better solution, and that’s where the Anti Hand Packing Movement comes into play. Automated packaging systems can significantly reduce these issues, doubling or even tripling daily output for cannabis operators.
For example, one cannabis company previously produced 2,500 packaged tins per day using manual labor. After incorporating an automated packaging system, that same company was able to package 10,000 tins in a single day, with just one operator. This kind of efficiency not only saves time and money but also reduces the margin for error in the packaging process.
Automation: The Future of Cannabis Packaging
For many cannabis operators, packaging is often the most frustrating and time-consuming part of their business. Without the right technology, packaging can be a slow and tedious process, which is why more cultivators are turning to automation to solve their production challenges. In fact, 40% of cultivators now consider automation to be essential for improving operational efficiency.
As demand for cannabis products continues to rise, especially with more states legalizing recreational use, the need for scalable, efficient packaging solutions is becoming increasingly apparent. Manual packaging systems simply cannot keep pace with the industry’s growth.
In the near future, we are likely to see a shift toward packaging materials and technologies that support even higher-speed automation. This could include innovations in packaging materials such as film, new types of jars and caps, and more unique and rigid packaging styles that are compatible with automated machinery.
Automation Is the Key to Scalability
For cannabis cultivators looking to scale their operations, automation is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. With automated packaging systems, companies can dramatically increase their output while reducing costs and errors, ultimately allowing them to grow faster and meet the demands of an expanding market.
The Anti Hand Packing Movement highlights the need for the cannabis industry to embrace automation fully, especially in packaging processes. As more operators make the shift, the industry will continue to evolve, leaving behind outdated manual systems and embracing a future where technology plays a critical role in productivity and scalability.
The question now is, will you be joining the Anti Hand Packing Movement?
