Old Bay Returns to Its Classic Tin — A Nostalgic & Sustainable Packaging Shift

Highlights

• On December 1, 2025, Old Bay announced it is replacing its plastic containers — introduced in 2017 — with the brand’s original tin packaging.

• The iconic yellow-blue-red design remains unchanged; the seasoning formula (blend of 18 herbs and spices) is unchanged as well.

• New tins are expected on store shelves during December 2025. To celebrate, Old Bay is offering a limited-edition collectible tin in collaboration with Baltimore Ravens (sweepstakes runs December 1–14).

• The switch back to metal is positioned as a nod to brand heritage, consumer nostalgia, and growing consumer/environmental concern over plastic waste.

What’s Changing: Old vs. New Packaging

Why Old Bay Is Making This Change — Brand & Environmental Signals

The shift appears to be driven by multiple factors:

• Heritage and nostalgia: The tin evokes decades of brand history — for many consumers, Old Bay isn’t just a seasoning, but part of family gatherings and culinary tradition. In the words of the brand’s marketing leadership, the return to tin is “our way of honoring generations of fans.”

• Sustainability concerns: As awareness about plastic pollution and microplastics rises, metal tins — when properly recycled — offer a lower-impact alternative. Thus, the move aligns with consumer demand for more sustainable packaging.

• Consumer feedback & usability: Some consumers reportedly disliked the plastic containers (e.g., plastic lids that detach, messy pouring), and even continued to refill old tins from plastic containers. The tin return restores the original user experience that many preferred.

In addition, the limited-edition tie-in with the Baltimore Ravens adds a collectible and marketing appeal — enhancing brand visibility and emotional connection for long-time fans.

Industry Insight: What This Means for Tin Packaging & Manufacturers

Old Bay’s return to tin packaging highlights a simple but important industry shift: heritage brands are rediscovering the value of metal. For tin packaging manufacturers, this reflects three clear trends:

• Metal = Premium + Sustainable
  Tin continues to offer a stronger premium feel and higher recyclability compared with plastic — a combination increasingly attractive to brands seeking both environmental and marketing advantages.

• Packaging as Brand Asset
  Legacy brands now view packaging as part of emotional storytelling. The Old Bay case shows how metal tins can reinforce authenticity and elevate shelf presence.

• Potential Lift in Small-Batch & Specialty Tin Orders
  With more brands experimenting with nostalgic or collectible formats, tin packaging suppliers may see rising demand for short-run lithography, special editions, and decorative metal can production.

In short, Old Bay’s move suggests a renewed momentum for metal packaging, especially where branding, sustainability, and consumer sentiment intersect.