Major Opportunities for Product Innovation and Development in Flexible Packaging
08 October 2009
Leatherhead, UK, 7 October, 2009. The global flexible packaging market is forecast to grow from $127.1 billion in 2009 to $137.5 billion in 2014, according to a new study by Smithers Pira.
Based on extensive primary research and expert analysis, The Future of Global Flexible Packaging - market forecasts to 2014, quantifies current and future demand for flexible packaging and provides an understanding of key market drivers and trends during 2009-14. The study gives market sizes and forecasts for flexible packaging types, substrate types, end-use sectors and selected national markets. It also includes an analysis of the competitive landscape and key suppliers and their products.
Flexible packaging has been one of the fastest-growing sectors of the packaging market over the past decade. Flexible packaging substrates provide opportunities to reduce materials, lower package weight and cut costs. Properties of flexible packaging can be easily tailored to meet demanding specifications for a wide range of products. Over the years, the flexible packaging market has developed from simple paper wrapping and bags to very sophisticated multilayer and multimaterial packaging for barrier protection and shelf-life extension.
Flexible packaging films can be made of single-web substrates such as flexible plastics (PE, PP, polyester or PA), flexible foils and flexible papers or can be coated, laminated or coextruded with other materials to enhance their physical properties in various ways.
According to Publisher Adam Page: "There are many choices for material conversion and combination, numerous selection criteria and cost factors and a large number of processing methods and functional requirements. This creates huge opportunities for product innovation and development, a key element in the growth of flexible packaging."
According to the study the flexible packaging market also faces key challenges during 2009-14, not least the impact of the global recession on demand for packaged products. Other key market drivers and trends identified for flexible packaging include:
- Biodegradable, sustainable and recyclable flexible packaging materials gaining favour as retailers and brand owners seek to improve the environmental footprint of their packaging.
- Flexible packaging films and bags being continually downgauged to reduce costs and minimise waste after use.
- Public concern about excessive packaging gaining ground in many developed countries.
- Flexible packaging products such as SUPs replacing bottles and other traditional pack types for a range of food and beverage products.
- Flexible barrier films that preserve product freshness gaining market share.
Industrial flexible plastic packaging is the largest category of flexible packaging products; it is projected to be 33.7% of all flexible packaging value in 2009. According to the study other consumer flexible plastic packaging films are projected to be 21.2% of all flexible packaging value in 2009, the next largest category. The fastest-growing flexible packaging products are SUPs, plastic bags and pouches, and industrial flexible plastic packaging.
The world consumer flexible packaging market is projected to consume 14.8 million tonnes of material in 2009 and is forecast to consume 17.5 million tonnes in 2014. According to the study, flexible plastics, particularly higher-barrier plastics such as BOPET, EVOH and PA, have the highest forecast growth rates. PVC consumption is forecast to remain almost static and RCF will continue to decline. Paper and aluminium foil are forecast to grow at lower rates than all flexible packaging.
Flexible packaging covers the manufacture, supply and conversion of plastic and cellulose films, aluminium foils and papers that can be used separately or in combination for primary retail food packaging and non-food packaging applications such as pet food, tobacco, cosmetics and personal care, household detergents, and pharmaceutical and medical products. The definition excludes flexible substrates used in secondary packaging such as supermarket carrier bags and pre-made consumer bags.
The Future of Global Flexible Packaging - market forecasts to 2014 is available now for £3,500. For more information, please contact Stephen Hill on +44 (0) 1372 802025, or contact us online
Press contact: For editorial queries, details of the report or an expanded article please contact: Rebecca Leigh +44(0)1372 802207 rebecca.leigh@smitherspira.com
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