Prospects brighter, says French food packaging industry

Speaking at the Emballage show in Paris, the organisation’s communications director Celine Glineur told FoodProductionDaily: “This is the first time since the recession that packaging manufacturers have been as optimistic about prospects as packaging buyers. In last year’s survey, buyers were significantly more optimistic than sellers. But this year sellers agree with them.” ​

Of the liquid food packaging buyers surveyed, 64 per cent planned to increase purchases over the next two years, according to the survey Observatoire de l’Emballage.

59 per cent of non liquid food packaging buyers expected to buy more over the same period.

Packaging materials​

Over the next three years, 46 per cent of all packaging buyers said they expected to buy more packaging materials. 40 per cent predicted that their purchases would remain stable.

Flat cardboard is expected to show particularly strong growth with 54 per cent of survey companies expecting to increase their purchases of this material.

53 per cent of companies predicted placing increased orders for plastics, 48 per cent expected to buy more glass and 47 per cent more aluminum and corrugated cardboard.

The three dominant innovation trends for packaging buyers were recyclability, ergonomy or convenience and the elimination of over packaging. “Recyclability and the use of recycled materials is the leading trend for 67 per cent of buyers,”​ said Glineur.

54 per cent of buyers identified ergonomy while the elimination of over packaging was most important for 46 per cent of buyers. The next priority was the protective and transport functions of packaging which was highlighted by 44 per cent of respondents.

41 per cent singled out the search for new materials. “The main motive for introducing packaging innovation was a reduction in costs​,” said Glineur.

The online summary of 419 French packaging buyers, manufacturers and equipment makers and suppliers was conducted last month. Food packaging companies, producing for both liquid and non liquid products, accounted for 29 per cent of the surveyed companies.

European regulations​

A statement from Emballage acknowledged the challenges facing the European packaging industry but predicted that the sector would remain innovative: “The increase in European regulations, the rise in power of public opinion favouring simplication and reduction of packaging represent constraints which nevertheless contribute to the development of more innovations by professionals.”​

The global market for primary, secondary and tertiary packaging, estimated at €422bn in 2007, reported growth of 1.2 per cent in 2008.

Last year the global market was valued at US$560bn, according to WPO2.