US demand for converted flexible packaging to top $18bn

Supporting the growing popularity of converted flexible packaging will be cost, performance and source reduction benefits compared with rigid packaging formats.

Also driving growth will be demand for value-added materials to enhance shelf life, product protection or convenience of preparation and technical innovation. This is likely to take the form of improvements in self-venting films that enable steam cooking of frozen and other foods in their packaging.

Stand-up pouches​

Pouches will lead the gains among converted flexible packaging products in a range of food and nonfood uses. This will reflect the advantages of stand-up pouches in delivering product differentiation and convenience features such as zippers and spouts, said the report.

Strong growth is also anticipated for newer pouch types such as flat-bottomed, side-gusseted pouches and stick pouches.

But growth will not be as fast as during the period between 1998-2008 period, warned the report’s authors. Demand will be limited by the established presence of pouches in a number of markets and more moderate raw materials price increases.

Bags will show below-average growth due to the maturity of many applications plus loss of share for paper bags to plastic bags and sacks, and pouches.

Rising demand in the food sector will reflect the increasing popularity of convenience-oriented and other further processed food items. Such packaging products often use more costly higher barrier packaging materials for extended shelf life.

Demand will benefit too from demographic trends such as more single-person household and those without children or where all adults work.

These trends are likely to boost demand for food in smaller package sizes and more convenient foods designed to reduce food preparation time, said the report.

Meat and related products, produce and beverages will be the fastest growing food packaging markets, it added.

Barrier properties​

The most popular film will remain polyethylene due to its cost

effectiveness, versatility, good barrier properties and suitability for down gauging.

But polypropylene is expected to log faster gains reflecting its combination of cost, light weighting and performance attributes.

Biodegradable films such as polylactic acid will experience the fastest gains among the smaller volume films due to its lower prices, growing popularity of green packaging and improved formulations.

Above-average growth is predicted for polyester and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) on the basis of rising barrier requirements in food packaging.

The report, Converted Flexible Packaging, is available from Reportlinker.com